Local WW1 Ace to be commemorated at Sywell
Major Edward Corringham, ‘Mick’ Mannock VC DSO** MC*
1897 – 1918
Mick Mannock was the leading British fighter pilot of the First World War. Born in Ireland in 1897 Wellingborough was his adopted home whose early years were spent in India, Ireland and England (his father being a soldier in the Scots Greys). After leaving School at 12, Mick worked as a grocer’s delivery boy, labourer and clerk before becoming a telephone lineman with the National Telephone Company and moving to Wellingborough. Here he lodged in Mill Road (a plaque has been sited on the house in which he stayed). He joined in community activities, playing cricket and the violin with a local orchestra and enjoying debating politics. Mick joined the Wellingborough Territorial detachment of the Royal Army Medical Corps and eventually transferred to the Royal Engineers. By November 1915 he was a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps and was generally criticised for being overly cautious – in his first 3 months in action he shot down only one plane. However, he soon began scoring victories at a remarkable pace and by the time of his heroic death in action on 26th July 1918, he was variously credited with 61-73 victories (the latter figure more than any other pilot) , and had earned the title that his fellow pilots gave him of “King of the Air Fighters”. His many awards included the Victoria Cross, Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order.
2008 marks three anniversaries, the creation of the Royal Air Force (April 1st) Mannock’s death and the Armistice (November 11th).
Sywell Aviation Museum in conjunction with the Borough Council of Wellingborough will be remembering Wellingborough’s local ‘ace’ at a special event to be held at the Museum on the anniversary of his death on the 26th July 2008. The Worshipful Eileen Higgins, Mayor of Wellingborough has authorised the refurbishment of the memorial to Mannock and the plaque on his former dwelling. Her worship will also be unveiling a new plaque at the Museum on the day dedicated to his memory.
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th October 2008 at 18:37
TT
Ah, that Mannock Road!
I knew that really….!!!!! 😮
I was just testing to check that you had been paying attention when reading the book…..! Well, thats a better excuse than senility, anyway.
By: nigelrob - 28th October 2008 at 15:52
Yep there is a Mannock Road in Wellingborough – named in 1939 (according to YOUR book Mr S!! :diablo:)
Mannock is also commemorated at Doddington Road Cemetary, The War Memorial at Broad Green and there is a plaque on his former lodging in Mill Road, his picture also hangs in the local library and council chamber, plus there is now a plaque at Sywell.
He’s well commemorated locally.
Interestingly the first air VC ALSO lived in Northamptonshire
William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse VC RFC
“2nd Lieutenant William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse, Special Reserve, Royal Flying Corps.
For most conspicuous bravery on 26th April, 1915, in flying to Courtrai and dropping bombs on the railway line near that station. On starting the return journey he was mortally wounded, but succeeded in flying for 35 miles to his destination, at a very low altitude, and reported the successful accomplishment of his object. He has since died of his wounds.”
(London Gazette – 22 May 1915)
This was the first VC awarded to a member of Britain’s air services
Thats interesting as Mannock Way, on my housing estate, is located near Moorhouse Way. For some reason I’ve struggled to find anything out about Moorhouse, thats very useful information! Any idea who Insall could be?
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 28th October 2008 at 15:08
Yep there is a Mannock Road in Wellingborough – named in 1939 (according to YOUR book Mr S!! :diablo:)
Mannock is also commemorated at Doddington Road Cemetary, The War Memorial at Broad Green and there is a plaque on his former lodging in Mill Road, his picture also hangs in the local library and council chamber, plus there is now a plaque at Sywell.
He’s well commemorated locally.
Interestingly the first air VC ALSO lived in Northamptonshire
William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse VC RFC
“2nd Lieutenant William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse, Special Reserve, Royal Flying Corps.
For most conspicuous bravery on 26th April, 1915, in flying to Courtrai and dropping bombs on the railway line near that station. On starting the return journey he was mortally wounded, but succeeded in flying for 35 miles to his destination, at a very low altitude, and reported the successful accomplishment of his object. He has since died of his wounds.”
(London Gazette – 22 May 1915)
This was the first VC awarded to a member of Britain’s air services
By: nigelrob - 27th October 2008 at 18:58
Is there a Mannock Road, too?
I think I am right in saying there is one in his honour at Wellingborough, but TT could probably confirm it. Maybe I just imagined that?
Sure is a Mannock Drive! I live in a road called Hawker, mistakenly thought it was named after the aeroplane company until I found out about Lanoe George Hawker VC, shot down by the Red Baron!
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th October 2008 at 17:13
Is there a Mannock Road, too?
I think I am right in saying there is one in his honour at Wellingborough, but TT could probably confirm it. Maybe I just imagined that?
By: nigelrob - 27th October 2008 at 14:20
Fascinating stuff about Mannock. Co-incidentally I live on a new housing estate built on an ex RAF comms base. All the roads are named after flying VC winners such as Gibson, Esmonde, Hawker etc. I often wonder whether the residents have ever stopped to think why their roads are named so!
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 23rd October 2008 at 15:49
Read the nice Mr Saunders’ book JDK! 😛
Thanks for the gen Andy – look forward to the documentary, but will miss MK12 standing in a puddle… 😀
TT
By: JDK - 23rd October 2008 at 12:11
All fascinating stuff, good to see this thread back.
But…
…by the time of his heroic death in action on 26th July 1918, he was variously credited with 61-73 victories (the latter figure more than any other pilot)…
My inner Editor says ‘MvR’. 😉 Insert ‘British’ and maybe ‘at the time’; ‘the latter figure more than any other British pilot at the time.’ It’s them qualifiers wot stops ya getting dun for false advertizin’ mate. 😀
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd October 2008 at 11:35
TT
I can confirm that the case is currently under active consideration by the MOD and Commonwealth War Graves Commission. I think deliberations will take some while, but we have also been able to supply the authorities with some fresh information and evidence which is highly relevant but came too late to be included in the book.
Also, I have recently finished filming in France and Belgium with BBC 2 “Timewatch” a programme that covers the story of Mannock and, specifically, the Mannock grave mystery. The programme, produced and directed by John Hayes-Fisher, is due to be broadcast Jan or Feb 2009 but we have no transmission date as yet. The programme is called “Aces Falling”.
Watch out for it!
Andy
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 23rd October 2008 at 11:13
Having just finished Andy’s book I note that the CWGC were to reopen the file regarding Mannock’s grave in Feb 2008 – I wonder if anything further has happened since that time – ref redesignating the ‘mystery airmans’ grave as ‘believed to be’ ….
ATB
TT
P.S.
Did email pics of the launch to the publishers but never heard anything back.
By: The Blue Max - 28th July 2008 at 21:29
BE2 pilots worst nightmare!!
What we got upto later!!!!
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 28th July 2008 at 14:28
Cue Blue Max and Low n Slow…. they are who you need Andy -and have previous filming experience (eg Heroes of the Victoria Cross for C5)
Chaps bung Andy an e-mither please!
ATB
Ben
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th July 2008 at 14:23
PM me now that I have cleared messages. The film makers may well be interested. They have been talking to other historic aircraft owners/operators but I will be seeing the Producer tomorrow lunchtime so it would be good to have some contact details for him.
Andy
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 28th July 2008 at 14:11
Andy – check your PM inbox – its full, left you a ‘visitor message’
Documentary eh…so you’ll be needing the only airworthy BE-2 in the country and a Fokker tripe then….
(shameless plug – its catching… :diablo: )
TT
By: low'n'slow - 28th July 2008 at 14:09
Well done to all, on celebrating the life of a hero who might otherwise have been forgotten by his local community.
Do I guess that there’ll be a ‘Mannock’ flavour to the Sywell Airshow on 24th August??
(shameless plug!!!) :diablo:
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th July 2008 at 13:59
Wish I could have been there. But here is the book, out last week, available from Grub Street direct or all good bookshops!
Watch out for the up-coming documentary in 2009. More later!
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 28th July 2008 at 10:49
The Mannock Commemoration at Sywell Aviation Museum took place on Saturday as planned with the benefit of some stunning weather. It was the 90th anniversary to the day of Micks death in action.
Prior to the unveiling of a plaque at the Museum there was a small service at Mick’s memorial in Wellingborough, meanwhile at 11.00 GMT members of 371 (Mannock) Sqn ATC laid a wreath on his grave in Belgium.
The Squadron also provided a colour party for the unveiling.
Paul and Sarah Ford’s resident Fokker DR1 Rep G-FOKK flown by Matt Boddington gave its first public performance and Mike Waldron very kindly flew his SE5 replica G-BUOD in specially for the day, both aircraft providing a moving flypast in Micks memory.
The aeroplanes
The Mayor of Wellingborough and 371 (Mannock) ATC Colour Party
Also that day was the launch of a brand new book on Mick – ‘Mannock – The Life and Death of Major Edward Mannock VC DSO MC RAF’ By Norman Franks and Andy Saunders, published by Grub Street
http://www.amazon.com/MANNOCK-Death-Major-Edward-Mannock/dp/1906502129
Thanks to the pilots, aircraft owners and those who attended and supported us
See you at the airshow
TT
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 22nd July 2008 at 09:23
Cheers Andy!
ATB
TT
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st July 2008 at 20:36
TT
I do know that John Davies at Grub Street is keen to attend (with yours truly, possibly!) although Norman Franks is away on hols. I have been away but understand John’s assistant, Hannah, is trying to fix something and I will speak to her/John tomorrow. Am on the case!
Andy
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 21st July 2008 at 17:06
BUMP
The Mannock Day is this saturday – we hope to have an SE5 and the resident DR1 in attendance, weather permitting, due to the kind offices of Blue Max and Mr Mike Waldron.
Oh and some bloke has written a book on him apparently so he may be flogging a few! :diablo:
Hope to see some forumites there – the cockpits should be out for inspection weather permitting so if you havent visited us yet and the superb Art Deco aerodrome here’s your excuse!
ATB
TT
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June 9, 2008 at 2:52 pm