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March 2004 Medal NewsletterThe Fanstone Archive of Flying Memorabilia
As a Captain in the Royal Flying Corps, Fanstone commanded D Flight, 39 Squadron, the first flight to operate out of Biggin Hill, in December 1917. Fanstone flew 296 missions over France and England during the three years May 1916 to April 1919, accumulating 674 hours flying time. Conservatively estimated at £2,000-3,000, this fascinating archive includes numerous photographs, letters, documents, a very rare leather flying helmet, and two rare early ‘joysticks’, the wooden control columns from the new 'dual-control' two-seater B.E.2d. A summary of Fanstone’s postings is as follows:
While in France, on 6.12.1916, Fanstone was involved in the crash that resulted in the death of Captain L.O. Crowther. Flying a new dual-control B.E.2d, Fanstone was in the pilot’s rear seat, with Crowther in the forward seat. ‘Captain Crowther duly arrived in the new B.E.2d (serial no. 5832) and ordered me into the pilot’s cockpit whilst he put himself in the observer’s seat. The emergency controls consisted of a rudder bar and a detachable joystick only, the latter of which, when not in use, was clipped to the side of the cockpit. I took control of the machine to begin with but once we were airborne Crowther signalled to me that he was taking over. All went well until we reached Avesnes whereupon he took us round on a circuit of the airfield. The observer’s controls did not include the usual flying instruments, and in view of both this and the fact that Crowther was a very careful pilot, I stood by in readiness, expecting his orders to land the aircraft. The very next instant the nose dropped suddenly and we nose dived some 300 feet into the ground, just missing the Officer’s mess. Crowther was killed instantly and I knew nothing further until I came round in a field hospital. An enquiry followed, the result of which showed that whilst making the initial circuit, the turn that the aircraft was carrying out, coupled with the torque of the engine, had a tendency to pull the nose of the aircraft down. To counteract this, Crowther had back pulled on the stick, at which point it came right out of its socket, causing him to loose all control. The joystick was found some distance away from the wreckage and this fact confirmed the findings of the enquiry. Tragic though Crowther’s death had been, it at least brought to light a very serious defect which was immediately remedied and an order was issued grounding the machines until the old control columns had been replaced with metal ones which could be held firmly in place by means of a locking pin.’ (‘Fanstone of the B.E.s’, by R Bateman and L.A. Quinlan, in Cross and Cockade, Spring 1972, refers).
The original wooded control column, and an example of the smaller modified column with metal base, are both in the Fanstone archive. During his time with 39 Squadron, a Home Defence Squadron flying B.E.2s and B.E.12s, based at Sutton’s Farm, Hornchurch, Fanstone was ordered to take ‘D’ Flight to Biggin Hill. Arriving on 1 December 1917, Fanstone and his fellow pilots were at first housed in bell tents. The first call to action came at 4 o’clock in the morning of 6 December. Three aircraft took off, Fanstone flying B.E.12 (serial no.6308). They searched in vain for Gothas over London. This was the first operational flight from Biggin Hill, a small beginning for what was to become the R.A.F.'s most famous airfield. The original order to Fanstone, dated 13 December 1917 instructing him to move the Officer’s quarters from the bell tents to four newly completed Armstrong Huts, and a second order, dated the next day, concerning the collection of a F.E.9 from R.A.F. Farnborough and the sending of a Hispano-Suiza Fitter, are also in the archive. From Biggin Hill, Fanstone was sent to 37 Squadron, Stowe-Maries. Here he took over ‘B’ Flight from Fred Sowery, V.C., of Zeppelin fame. His leather flying helmet from this period, covered with signatures, including that of Sowery, is included in the archive. His last posting was to command a detached home defence flight at Elsham, where he remained until the Armistice.
__________ Although we have not yet seen the April catalogue, the summer sale, scheduled for 22 July, is already under way. First onto the cataloguer's table are more medals from the large family collection being gradually dispersed under the heading 'Property of a Lady'. The selection of groups in the July sale will include: • Five: Captain E.B.Leese, Gold Coast Regiment, late East Yorks. Regt., and 11 Imperial Yeomanry, O.B.E., Q.S.A., 1914-15 Trio • Three: Major R.P. Cork, 22 London Regiment and Machine Gun Corps, O.B.E., British War and Victory Medals • Five: Lieutenant Colonel R. Marriot-Dodington, West Somerset Yeomanry, O.B.E., British War and Victory Medals, Territorial War Medal, Territorial Decoration • Three: Ethel Boyd-Carpenter, British Red Cross and O.St.J., M.B.E., British War and Victory Medals • Four: Rev. S.L. Webb, Army Chaplain Service, O.B.E., British War and Victory Medals, General Service, two clasps, Iraq, Palestine • Five: Captain P.B.B. Oldfield, 5 London Regiment, O.B.E., 1914-15 Trio, Defence Medal, a casualty on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme • Five: Lieutenant Colonel J Williams, British Red Cross Motor Ambulance and Army Service Corps, M.C., 1914 Star trio, Defence Medal • Six: Lieutenant Colonel F.G.G. Bailey, R.F.A., Q.A.S three clasps. 1914 Star and Bar Trio, Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, Coronation 1937 N.B. Consignments for the sale will be accepted until the last week of May. __________
The Spink Book Department has just published on its website an extensive list of over 300 second-hand titles of books on orders, decorations and medals and medal related topics. The list can be accessed here. The list includes many classic works from Tancred and Carter to more more recent works published during the 1960s and 1970s which, though essential to any good reference library, are now becoming more difficult to source. The list also includes Army Lists, Navy Lists, regimental histories and casualty rolls. This month new works of reference (available from the Spink Book Department) for medal collectors are: a) Honours and Awards of the Prince of Wales' North Staffordshire
Regiment 1914-19 These two volumes examine and list the Honours and Awards earned by these two regiments during the First World War. Both British (including Mentions-in-Despatches) and Foreign awards are included. The volumes contain full citations and photographs where available and the awards are listed alphabetically within each category. War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army
1941, including Army of India Reserve of Officers, Auxiliary Force India,
Indian Territorial Force together with Honours and Awards This volume is an invaluable directory of the war and staff services of British and Indian Officers serving in the Indian Army in 1941. The information given includes service in the Great War, on the North West Frontier, and in Waziristan, Persia, Burma, Iraq, Mahsud, Malabar, Tirah, Kurdistan, Africa, Macedonia, Russia, the Black Sea. A few officers even served in the Boer War and China 1900. Also included are casualty details and Mentions in Despatches with dates. The Honours and Awards section includes recipients of the Victoria Cross, Order of British India, Indian Order of Merit, Military Cross &cc together with authority details. There is also a comprehensive list of Non-Effective Officers with dates of birth, 1st commission, rank and retirement date. The Spink Book Department has published a 96 page catalogue of books on coins and medals, which can all be ordered through the Department. The bulk of the material listed in the catalogue are in-print books which are considered to be standard works for collectors, dealers, museum curators and those interested in any aspect of numismatic study. The catalogue is £3 including postage. If you would like a copy then contact: Book Department Please include credit card details to cover the £3 charge. __________ Catalogues Spink Representatives Out and About Our representative in Australasia is Mike Downey who can be contacted
at:
Spink Auction Service Selling Medals at Spink •Click here to browse a selection of medals online __________
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