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1914–2014 FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY SOUVENIR ISSUE The Link www.wellingborough.gov.uk Summer 2014 Victoria Cross heroes of Wellingborough Major Edward Corringham ‘Mick’ Mannock VC DSO** MC* BRITAIN’S most successful fighter pilot during the First World War lived in Welling- borough. His job as a tele phone engineer led him to lodge at 183 Mill Road prior to the war. He joined the Royal Engineers in March 1916, where he was awarded a commission and be- came a second lieutenant. In August 1916 he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and was sent to the Western Front in April 1917. On 22 July 1917, Mannock Major Mannock was promoted to captain and he became a flight commander. Lt-Col The Rev Vann He gave his men 15 rules about flying in combat, which became the bedrock not only for the RFC but also for the fighter pilots of the RAF of the future. Mannock was a highly skilled pilot. On his medals. They are now on display at the Foresters in April 1915. He was awarded 16 August 1917, he shot down four German Imperial War Museum in London. the Military Cross for his efforts in Kemmel aeroplanes in one day. Edward Mannock was awarded the when a small trench he occupied was blown The next day he shot down two other Military Cross (MC) twice, was one of the up and, although wounded and half buried, German aeroplanes. rare three-times winners of a Distinguished he organised the defence and rescued buried On 20 July 1918, Mannock shot down his Service Order (DSO) and was posthumously men under heavy fire, refusing to leave his 58th ‘kill’, making him Britain’s highest- awarded the Victoria Cross. post until directly ordered to do so. scoring ace of the First World War. *Denotes the number of bars awarded to In 1916, Vann was awarded a bar to his On 26 July 1918, about 5am, Mannock, the ribbon of the medal. Military Cross for “conspicuous gallantry flying alongside Lieutenant Donald Inglis, in action”. He led a daring raid against made his final kill above Lestremme. the enemy’s trenches, himself taking five He made a couple of low passes over the prisoners and displaying great courage and wreckage, into a storm of small-gunfire Lieutenant Colonel determination. from the German trenches. At the age of 31, and an acting lieutenant As they zigzagged away from the scene, The Reverend Bernard colonel, he led his battalion during an Inglis is reported to have seen a small bluish attack at Bellenglise and Lehaucourt on 29 flame on his major’s engine cowling. Then William Vann September 1918. the left wing of Mannock’s aircraft fell away VC MC and Bar Through thick fog and under heavy fire and he plunged into a death spin. from field and machine guns, he skilfully To this day, exactly what happened to BORN in Rushden in 1887, Vann was a led his soldiers across the Canal de Saint- Mannock remains a mystery. popular local boy who excelled at sport. He Quentin. He is said to have been buried in an became a chaplain and assistant master at He was posthumously awarded a Victoria unmarked grave by a German soldier, Wellingborough School in 1913. Cross for his bravery in this battle. who returned Mannock’s identity discs, At the outbreak of the First World War, Bernard Vann was killed near Ramicourt notebooks and personal effects to his he volunteered as an army chaplain and on 3 October 1918 when leading his family through the Red Cross. These were finally signed up to the infantry, becoming a battalion in attack. He is buried in Bellicourt later given to Mannock’s father along with lieutenant of the 1/18th Battalion Sherwood British Cemetery. HOW OUR VILLAGES DID THEIR BIT: PAGE IV II The Link First World War Supplement Summer 2014 Summer 2014 The Link First World War Supplement III Heritage trail Young Irchester sailor goes THERE are a number of key buildings that down with HMS Hawke have a link with the MUCH regret is felt throughout the neighbourhood at the loss town’s effort during of the life of a noble young Irchester sailor who went down with the war, including: the Hawke, which was sunk last week. Well-known both in his native village and in Rushden, Alfred G B ‘Watts joined the Navy in March 1913. He wrote frequently – even War memorials Market Square, Broad during the time of the war – and his bright spirit has always shone Green (right), All through in his letters. Hallows Church Mr Watts wired the Admiralty for official news of the occurrence Yard and the Market and whether his son was killed or not and a reply was received on Square. At the end of Monday as follows: “Regret Watts not on list of saved received.” the war, a temporary While we feel proud of Irchester’s brave young son, we offer our memorial was erected sincerest sympathies to the parents in their bereavement. We have at the bottom of the no doubt that he died doing his duty. His fiancée Market Square (far right). It was made of wood, in imitation of white stonework. was Miss Brudenall, of Windmill Road, Rushden. Taken from the Rushden Echo, 23 October 1914. Westlands and the Liberal Club, both in Oxford Street ’ The buildings were used by the army during the war years. Westlands was a brigade headquarters, while the Liberal Club (now Mobile Radio), along with large houses How we’re in Newcomen Road and Ranelagh Road, were used for storage purposes and housing for different units. commemorating Fundraising ________________________________________ the First World efforts August 1916: A FANCY War today fair and sale of goods Wellingborough THE Sywell Great War Airshow was held in the Market returns on 17 August 2014 in aid Square to raise funds of the Warwickshire and North- for the Red Cross. amptonshire Air Ambulance. It was attended by Earl makes a proud It will feature the largest First Spencer, Lord Lieuten- World War dogfight in the North- ant of the County, who ern Hemisphere. said: “I have come here to thank you for the www.sywellairshow.co.uk __________ admirable effort that contribution you’ve made and which I WELLINGBOROUGH Museum MORE than 3,000 men from Wellingborough and an unknown number of women hear will be productive of has re-created a First World War a large amount of money served in the First World War. The memorial on Broad Green (above) gives 677 trench and dugout, which will names but the total number of dead connected to the town is certainly higher. to help those in need. be open to the public on selected “Who could have imag- The average age of those who died was 26, with Frederick Rixon the youngest to days throughout the summer. fall, dying days before his 17th birthday. ined that in this peaceful The oldest person on the memorial is Nursing Sister Elizabeth Adams www.wellingboroughmuseum. Midland county, there co.uk would be hundreds who was 53. The last cas ualty during hostilities in France and Flanders __________ was Frank Thompson who died on the morning of Armistice Day – just of soldiers suffering, 15 minutes before the First World War ended. WELLINGBOROUGH Norse has maimed, wounded and Taken from Wellingborough’s contribution to the First World War by sown poppies at the entrance to disabled, demanding Stephen Swailes London Road cemetery and sur- help that you in Welling- __________ rounding The Lodge in Dodding- borough are most gener- ton Road cemetery. ously inclined to give.” Voluntary detachment hospital __________ AN auxiliary hospital was established in part of the gasworks on Senwick Road/Irthlingborough Road (right). It was run by Dead Man’s volunteers and partly funded by local donations of money, furniture and food. The hospital received its first patients in January 1915 and it treated Penny 1,274 recovering patients before closing in March 1919. memorial THESE memorial plaques were Contributors issued to the next-of-kin of all gether this supplement. Find British and Empire service per- Councillor Jon-Paul Carr out more by contacting North- sonnel who were killed as a re- Councillor John Bailey amptonshire Libraries and In- sult of the war. The plaques were Ben Brown, Sywell Aviation formation Service: made of bronze and popularly Museum www.northamptonshire.gov. known as the Dead Man’s Penny. Wellingborough Museum uk __________ The plaque includes an image of Iona Flanagan, Earls Barton Britannia holding a trident and standing Historical Society Your souvenir issue has with a lion. In her left hand, Britannia holds an oak wreath above Northamptonshire Libraries been funded by the Herit- the rectangular tablet bearing the deceased’s name in raised letters. and Information Service age Lottery Funded Town- Two dolphins swim around Britannia, symbolising Britain’s sea power Stephen Swailes scape Heritage Initiative. and at the bottom a second lion is tearing apart the German eagle. Around the picture the legend reads He died for freedom and Photos contributed by honour, or for the 600 plaques issued to commemorate women, She Wellingborough Museum died for freedom and honour. The plaque shown here was issued to the family of 20981 Private A number of local history Robert Richard Elderkin, 7th Battalion The Northamptonshire books and publications were Regiment. He was killed in action on 8 April 1916, aged 21, and lived at incredibly useful in putting to- 14 Newtown Road, Little Irchester. Image supplied by Cllr Jon-Paul Carr Summer 2014 The Link First World War Supplement IV Village efforts in the war Ecton THE family at Ecton Hall played a huge part as officers in the First World War.

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