Time Team digging a Zeppelin?

Hi Humu thanks I have looked at several and think Frunds Farm maybe a typo error, as Frunds appears never to have existed at all in or around Wickford.The mystery continues. Kind regards …

Hi Jimbo thanks for the info. I need to ask you a couple of questions:-
(1) The gentleman that drew a map I will try and trace. Can you remember approx where the site was? as I think it may have been nearer to Downham than Wickford. At Downham there was a Frierns Farm, and Frunds may have been a typo error.

(2) Can you remember why the site was considered to be not very promising:- was it due to having been built on? Because I think if it hasnt the site could be very good. Please feel free to Email me on [email]j.evenhart@ntlworld.com[/email].
Cheers Julian

Have you looked at the maps from late 19th century?

http://www.old-maps.co.uk/

Hi,

I used to live in Wickford. I was also thrown by the Frunds Farm address when I was trying to research this. As you have found it, Frunds Farm doesn’t seem to exist…

In about 94 or 95 I met a bloke who was doing some kind of exhibition at Wickford library. He was from a local aviation archealogy group. I asked him about it and he knew where the crash site was. He drew me a map. He said that the site wasn’t very promising. Of course, unfortunately, I no longer have the name or details.

The man was a Wickford resident, and he was also involved in organising a tribute when a road in Wickford, Terrance Webster, was named after a downed BoB pilot from 41 Sqdn. Apparently the Grace Spitfire did a flypast, a long shot but maybe they still have contact details?

I would say that this chap would probably be early fifties now, so hopefully he is still around. The local paper is the Evening Echo, they may be able to run a request for help?

Hope this helps.

Adrian I very much appreciate the effort you have made, I will keep you informed of anything I do discover….Jules

Hi Andy this sounds interesting do you have any precise details as to where the impact point is? I feel this could be worth a look at, bet some other interested parties have had these away but you never know…..Jules

Sorry, Julian. No joy anywhere.

No reply from the Essex mailing list

No trace of a Frunds farm, or anything remotely resembling it, in the 1914 trade directory, either in Wickford or any of the surrounding parishes.

Not a squeak in placenames either. All in all a bit of a poor show!

Hope you have better look over on the Great War Forum!

Adrian

Hi Andy I did have but dumped all the info, when I started to concentrate on Wickford. I think the St Osyth one was from Boghol 3, apart from that didnt the crew set fire to it. However if you think some wreckage remains it may be worth a look at that too. Do you know if crash site is still available? Cheers Jules

Julian,
indeed I think the aircraft was from Boghol 3.
The aircraft in question was Gotha G.V serial number 925/16 which came down at 23.50hrs on 19th May 1918.

The reason I raised this was that I was informed that quite large chunks of the aircraft were left laying in the field and sections of the wings were still there incorporated into a fence as late as the end of the 1960’s.

Anything on this??
Cheers
Andy.

I believe it is still in the airship hangers at Dardington. Was definatly there when i was last inside about 5 years ago.

Ollie, I assume you mean Cardington and I doubt that a non rigid airship has been stored in an inflated condition for that long anywhere.

Please try and give a little rational thought before you post.
Andy

not even the Goodyear airship, what happened to that?

I believe it is still in the airship hangers at Dardington. Was definatly there when i was last inside about 5 years ago.

Hi Andy I did have but dumped all the info, when I started to concentrate on Wickford. I think the St Osyth one was from Boghol 3, apart from that didnt the crew set fire to it. However if you think some wreckage remains it may be worth a look at that too. Do you know if crash site is still available? Cheers Jules

Julian,
have you got any information on the Gotha brought down at St Osyth, Essex in 1918?
I can supply dates and some details but I wondered if you had anything.
Cheers
Andy

Neil many thanks, however some references need double checking as two other Gothas were shot down on 06/12/17 on land and I think one or two before that. Probably this one may have been the first Sopwith Kills or summit like that, after 90 years and some of the most appalling “restricted” and vague records Ive seen its amazing we can pin point who did what and where. Ill definitely try the RFC crew as lead potentials…….Cheers Julian

not much to add but it sounds like the one mentionned in the book ‘The Baby Killers’ by Thomas Fegan… it was attacked by Camels flown by 2nd lt Charles Banks and Cpt George Hackwell who were both awarded the Military Cross for bringing down the first Gotha on British soil.. location only given as Wickford.. maybe the RFC crew may be a lead ??
Neil

Hi Adrian many thanks I have registered with that forum. Ha now if only I had the control of TV producers, however the guy in charge of this had a real passion for aviation archaeology having done several before ie “The Billy Drake story”, its not all about Theberton but the first blitz over Britain from all aspects. Anyway Im sure they`ll do the topic proud, but I know what you mean about padding. Cheers again Julian

Julian,

Try here:

http://www.1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/

You will need to register but there is a “war in the air” forum with some very knowledgeable people on it, and there are several from down Wickford way.

Alternatively, try a thread with the farm name as a title – there are at least a couple of people on this forum from that neck of Essex too.

I’ll have a look in “Place Names of Essex” and if I remember try my historic directories for you. I’ve also put a message on an Essex mailing list. PM me on Monday if you haven’t heard anything!

Looking forward to the programme – if you get any input on content, make sure the producers put an hours history in and don’t pad it!

Adrian

Continuing from Zeppelins, I am now researching a Gotha that crashed near Wickford on the night 28-29 Jan 1918. Records show it crashed at Frunds Farm nr Wickford in Essex, I have tried all resources and conclude this is a spelling error, or the farm is lost under development, as I cannot locate this name or property. Does anyone know any other details relating to this incident if so I would be very pleased to hear from you. Also if anyone has a copy of H.G.Castles “Fire over England” this may have details in a list at the back.
Cheers all Julian

not much to add but it sounds like the one mentionned in the book ‘The Baby Killers’ by Thomas Fegan… it was attacked by Camels flown by 2nd lt Charles Banks and Cpt George Hackwell who were both awarded the Military Cross for bringing down the first Gotha on British soil.. location only given as Wickford.. maybe the RFC crew may be a lead ??
Neil

Julian,

Try here:

http://www.1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/

You will need to register but there is a “war in the air” forum with some very knowledgeable people on it, and there are several from down Wickford way.

Alternatively, try a thread with the farm name as a title – there are at least a couple of people on this forum from that neck of Essex too.

I’ll have a look in “Place Names of Essex” and if I remember try my historic directories for you. I’ve also put a message on an Essex mailing list. PM me on Monday if you haven’t heard anything!

Looking forward to the programme – if you get any input on content, make sure the producers put an hours history in and don’t pad it!

Adrian

Gotha quests

Continuing from Zeppelins, I am now researching a Gotha that crashed near Wickford on the night 28-29 Jan 1918. Records show it crashed at Frunds Farm nr Wickford in Essex, I have tried all resources and conclude this is a spelling error, or the farm is lost under development, as I cannot locate this name or property. Does anyone know any other details relating to this incident if so I would be very pleased to hear from you. Also if anyone has a copy of H.G.Castles “Fire over England” this may have details in a list at the back.
Cheers all Julian

Personally, I’m happy to wait until the Timewatch programme’s been shown.

After that – tell us what they left out. 🙂

Theberton Zeppelin

Hi everyone I was the guy who organised the Theberton Zeppelin dig, if anyone wants to know what was found etc please do Email me. As far as I feel it went ok with some very interesting items being recovered. Reckon it was the first ever “Zepp” dig, it should be shown perhaps later this Autumn as a Timewatch if all goes to plan. As far as the fired 0.303 round goes it was found right amongst the debris. There was not one other round fired anywhere that we found on the field or cases ie Homeguard activities. It had not been fired into the surrounding soil as this was very sandy and would have scored the bullet. It does actually have some impact damage at its extreme tip. Although it can never be proved to be one that bought L48 down, due to its find spot and that it has identical patination to copper-nickel artefacts recovered that actually derive from L48 I reckon its got pretty good odds. Cheers all great Forum
Julian.

Pete,
I think that your average Zepp skipper was lost 90% of the time.

I think your average Zepp skipper was trying to cope with something that was very badly affected by wind, in days when weather reporting was rudimentary on a good day, and had the turning circle of a supertanker!

Small wonder that their navigation sometimes left a lot to be desired…

ADrian