Thanks guys for both the replies and welcome….

yep the village was originally called ‘Barton In The Clay’ but was meddled with by the parish council back in the 1960’s to become ‘Barton-Le-Clay’… no idea why!

Newforest the Ariel shot is the right location as GrahamSimons map shows and what’s left on the ground….

Thanks Graham for the info it backs up nicely some of my info and you have a few dates I didn’t have.

Marendaz seems to be a great old character, a real 1920’s Arthur Daily with numerous court appearances for dangerous driving and the odd dodgy business deal!!. I managed to track down his family and this info I am sure is fairly spot on now.

1897- 17th January: Donald Marcus Kelway Marendaz- born Upper Court Farm, Margam, Neath, Glamorgan, Wales
1916- DMK Marendaz joins the Royal Flying Corps
1918- DMK Marendaz (Royal Flying Corps) serving as a pilot in France until invalided out with the rank of lieutenant
1918- DMK Marendaz marries Dorothy Robinet Evans, Pembroke Dock, Pembroke, Wales.
1940- DMK Marendaz jailed on security charges but he was released after a few days post links to the British Union of Fascists
1965- October: DMK Marendaz appears in court in Johannesburg, charged with “theft, fraud and contravening the company and insolvency acts” in connection with Marendaz Tractors Ltd. No further details
1972- Marendaz returns to England from South Africa
1988- DMK Marendaz dies at the age of 91. Asterby Hall, Asterby, Lincolnshire, England

Tracking back his life I also ran across his companies and employers..

1918- ex RAF joins Alvis to launch the company.. But gets sacked so goes to Emscote and then joins up with Seelhart to for Marseel in the early 20’s
1926- DMK Marendaz Ltd (Marendaz Special cars) start production in Brixton Road, London SW9, England
1932- Marendaz Special cars finish production in Brixton Road, London SW9, England and move to Maidenhead, Berkshire, England until 1936 estimated production run of 30-50 cars. Marendaz Special Cars Ltd is formed and moves to ‘Cornwallis Works’ Maidenhead where GWK and Burney cars had been built previously using Marendaz parts.
1937- Marendaz Special Cars Ltd ceases production at Cornwallis works, with an approx run of 80 vehicles.
1937- 30th December: BEDFORD SCHOOL OF FLYING LTD.—Private company, registered December 1. Capital, £1,000 in 10,000 shares of 2s. each. Objects : To teach aerial navigation in all i ts forms ; to establish and maintain a club, etc. The permanent directors are :—Dorothy O. Summers, 26, Tilehurst St., Hitchin, secretary ; Leslie C. Hilditch, ” Scylla,” Pirton Road, Hitchin, flying instructor.

Dorothy Summers was with him most his life and moved from company to company (and it appears house to house!) with him living at Brayfield house, Bray and then The Manor, Little Tring before Hitchin.. I as have found reference that that they had two children (Donald and Ann Summers) and even though DMK was devoiced in ’75 whilst running Marandaz Tractors in South Africa they never married. I have no information the whereabouts of Don or Ann but hope to locate them. It’s also been noted that DMK is ‘linked’ to a lady by the name of Cartwright?

DMK himself ….”Pilot with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War “at a time when the life of a pilot was 50 hours and 900 machines a month were being lost. Attached to 35 Squadron in the Battle of Cambrai of 1917 he served with the Cavalry, on patrol operations. On the first day of the battle, he was the only pilot to take off from the aerodrome of Mons-en-Chausée. He was able to observe that a bridge at Masnieres was down, and was able to relay a message to this effect, saving the Cavalry from slaughter. Sixty years later he was the guest of the French people at the Anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai….”

Marendaz cars were well regarded so much so that Sir Sterling moss’s father and mother both drove cars for him in competition, Aileen Moss at Brooklands alongside Dorothy Summers! DMK was also a race driver with credits to his name at La Mans and many UK tracks.