NEWSLETTERSummer 2013
Barnes Wallis Memorial TrustCharity Number 518023
ContentsEditorial 2BWMTAnnualReport2012/13 3TheHowdenCivicSocietyR100AirshipTrail 4BrooklandsMuseum-GrantforStratosphereChamber 5HighAltitudeandClimaticSimulation 6TheWorkofBarnesWallisonStampsetc. 11125thAnniversaryofBarnesWallis’sBirth 18Dambusters70thAnniversaryDinner 20GarySaunt-Painter 22
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Editorial
This issue of the Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust newsletter includes thechairman’sAnnualReportforthepastyearandarticlesrelatingtothelife
andworkofSirBarnesWallis.DuringtheyearanumberoftrusteesvisitedBrooklandsMuseumandwere
informed of the bid by the museum to restore the Stratosphere ChamberdesignedbyBarnesWallis.Thatbidhasbeensuccessfulandworkhasalreadystartedonthisambitiousproject.Ilookforwardtoreportingontheprogressinfutureissuesofthisnewsletter.Our annual open evening at Howden School was a great success and I
welcomethenewsupportersoftheTrustwhosignedupontheeveningwhenwewereentertainedbytwoexcellenttalksbyJamesHollandandRobertOwen,followedbyaninterestingquestionandanswersessionwithMaryStopes-Roeand‘Johnny’Johnson-theonlysurvivingBritishmemberoftheDamsRaidseventyyearsagoin1943.
Chris HendersonEditor
Contributions of articles and photographs for the Newsletter will be mostwelcome.IdeallytheyshouldbesentbyemailinWordformatforarticlesandacommonimageformatsuchasJPEG(.jpg)forphotographs.However,typedarticles and original photographs can be accepted and will be scanned andreturnedtothesenderassoonaspossible.Pleaseposttotheaddressontherearcoveroremailtonewsletter@barneswallistrust.orgor.Theviewsexpressedbycontributorsofarticlesdonotnecessarilyreflectthe
viewsoftheBarnesWallisMemorialTrust.
Articles for Publication
Cover Photo: The Dams Raid byGarySaunt,availableasalimitededition(25copies)signed,fineartprint-seepage23fororderingdetails.
View this Newsletter in Full ColourAfullcolourelectronicversionofthisnewsletterisavailableasaPDFfile.Torequestacopypleaseemailnewsletter@barneswallistrust.org.
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Barnes Wallis Memorial TrustAnnual Report - 2012/13
Asuccessful andwell-attended exhibitionwas held at SewerbyHall, nearBridlington,between31Mayand24June2012.BarnesWallistookakeeninterest in education and would have welcomed the fact that the exhibitionwasviewedbymanychildren.Twotrustees,KenDeaconandPeterRix,gaveassociatedtalks.OurannualpublicmeetingwasheldatHowdeninJune2012.Thethemeon
thisoccasionwasBarnes Wallis the Man.ThespeakerswereSirBarnesWallis’sdaughterMaryStopes-Roe(BarnesWallisatHome),RichardMorris(BarnesWallistheCitizen),andRobertOwen(Warriors).TheBarnesWallisAwardfor2012atHowdenSchoolwasjudgedbyMary
Stopes-Roe,helpedbyBarryLowe (engineeringmentor fromBeverley) andGerryCarroll (Chairmanof theTrust).Thewinnerof theawardwasRobertShand.TheTrustcontinuestooffertalkstooutsidegroups,societiesandclubs.Peter
RixandChrisHendersongavethesein2012-13;othertrusteescanbecalleduponifspecialistsubjectmattermakesthisappropriate.ThetalksstretchfarandwidebothintopicandgeographyandareausefulformofincomefortheTrust.Ifyouwouldliketoarrangeatalk,pleasecontactusbylettertotheaddressonthebackcoverorbyemailtotalks@barneswallistrust.org.Events to mark the 125th anniversary of BarnesWallis’s birth at Ripley,
Derbyshiretookplaceon26and27September2012.MaryStopes-Roe,guestof honour, planted an oak tree in her father’smemory in theBarnesWallisMemorialPark.Shealsogavetwotalks.MaryopenedthebeerfestivalorganisedbyAmberAles.Thebreweryproducesbeersthatarenamedafterherfatherandhiswork:Barnes Wallis,Grand Slam,andamorerecentlyDambuster.TrusteePeterRix gave two talks, one atRipley Junior School, and another to localresidentsaspartoftheanniversaryprogramme.TheTrustcontinuestobenefitfromactivefamilysupportwiththreemembers
ofthefamilybeingtrustees.Ithaswelcomedtwonewtrustees:JamesHolland,author and TV historian, andMrs ElaineWard representing Howden TownCouncil.TheChairmanthankshisco-trusteesfortheirworkandguidanceoverthelasttwelvemonthsandlooksforwardtogreatprogressintheyearahead.TheTrust’scollectionofdocumentsandartefacts iscurrentlyheld instore
attheMuseumofScience&IndustryinManchester,towhomweextendourwarmthanks.Along-termhomeforthecollectionisunderactivediscussion.
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TheTrust thanksGarySaunt for his design and production of our postersandpaintings.Anexampleofhisworkcanbeseenonthefrontcoverofthismagazine. TheTrustcommissioneda limitededition,only25copies,ofhiswork commemorating the events of the night 16/17May 1943 entitledThe Dams Raid. Ifyouwouldliketopurchaseacopyof thissuperbworkofart,pleaseseethedetailsonpage23.Finally,ifyouwouldliketobecomeasupporteroftheTrustordiscussways
inwhichyoucouldassistitswork,weshallbegladtohearfromyou:[email protected].
Gerry CarrollTrust Chairman
The Howden Civic Society R100 Airship Trail
HowdenCivicSociety istryingtoraisefundstoproduceanAirshipTrailwhichwillstretchthroughtheMarketPlace.TheCivicSocietyaimsthat
thisprojectwillencouragethegrowthoftourismtoHowdenandensurethatvisitorslearnaboutSirBarnesWallisandthehistoryofaeronauticalengineeringinthisarea,thesizeoftheR100andthecontributionmadetowardsbuildingtheairshipbythepeopleofHowden.Thetrailwillbe216metreslongand41metreswiderunningthroughHowden,
thatwilloutlinethesizeoftheR100airshipwhichwasbuiltnearthetownintheyears1926-1929.Thetrailwillbeusedbylocalsandvisitors,youngandold,andwillcelebratetheR100,itsdesignerSirBarnesWallisanditschiefengineerNevilShute(Norway).ItisenvisagedthatthetrailwillconsistofmetalpicturesoftheR100insertedintopavingstonesandthattherewillalsobemarkersatstrategicpointstoconveyrelevantinformation.Visitor numbers to Howden will be increased by creating interest in the
town’slinkswiththeR100,SirBarnesWallisandNevilShute.Thiswillhaveabeneficialimpactonlocalshopsandfoodoutlets,therebybringinggreatertradeandmorejobsforlocalresidents.Howdenisasmallmarkettownandthistrailwillenablelocalinhabitants(as
wellasvisitors)togainagreaterunderstandingof,andpridein,thediversityandchangingnatureoftheirenvironment.PublicitygainedwillwidenknowledgeofthedistinctivecharacterthatHowdenpossesses.TheTrustisfullycommittedtosupportingthisproject.
Kenneth Deacon
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Brooklands Museum - Grant for Stratosphere Chamber received from AIM
BrooklandsMuseum hasreceivedagrantof£120,000fromtheAssociationof IndependentMuseums (AIM) to restore and interpret BarnesWallis’
StratosphereChamber.
TheStratosphereChamberwasconstructedbyBarnesWallisin1947asahugelaboratoryinwhichhigh-altitudeconditionscouldbesimulatedforresearchintohigh-speedflight.ItformedpartofhisResearchandDevelopmentDepartment,whichwassetupaftertheSecondWorldWarattheVickersaircraftfactoryatBrooklands.
TheChamber,whichoperateduntil1980,is25ft(7.6m)indiameterand50ft(15.2m)long,andwasabletoaccommodatecompleteaircraftuptothesizeofaDeHavillandSeaVixen,fuselageandcockpitsectionsoflargeraircraftandguidedweapons.Itwasalsousedforcold-weathertestingofobjectsasdiverseasNorthSeafishingtrawlers,dieselenginesandArcticclothing,assnow,iceandblizzardscouldalsobecreated.Itwascapableofgeneratingtemperaturesbetween-65°Cand+40°C,andbeingevacuatedto1/20thsea-levelairpressure.
TheprojectwillincludecleaningandrepaintingtheinterioroftheChamberandinstallationofnewexhibitsanddisplays.Someoftheoperatingmachinerywillberestored, togetherwith theControlRoomof theChamber,whichhasnever before been open to visitors. Until now theMuseum has not had theresourcestorestoreandproperlyinterpretthisuniqueresearchfacility,sowearedelightedtoreceivethisgrantfromAIM,underitsnewNationalHeritageLandmarksPartnershipScheme.ThishasbeensetuptodistributeBiffaAwardfunds to create a high-profile network of projects across the UK that willshowcasethefar-reachingchangesinindustrialdevelopmentthathaveshapedournation’shistory.
Brooklands Museum aims to inspire people of all ages, including youngpeoplewhomaybeconsideringcareers inscienceand technology,using thetechnological achievementsofpeopleatBrooklands,both in thedaysof themotorracingcircuitandduringthe80yearsofaviationonthesite.ThisprojectwillenabletheseaimstoberealisedfurtherbysharingtheinspirationalstoryofBarnesWallis,bestknownforthedevelopmentoftheBouncingBombmadefamousbythefilmThe Dam Busters.
Reproduced from www.brooklandsmuseum.com
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High Altitude and Climatic SimulationWeather to Order
by Dagmar Heller of the British Aircraft Corporationreproduced from Engineering 1972
AIRtwiceasrareasatthesummitofMountEverest;temperaturescolderthan at the Poles or desert heat; blizzards, driving rain, ice, snow or
junglehumidity;anyof theseconditionscanbesimulated inBritishAircraftCorporation’sHighAltitudeandClimaticTestChamberatWeybridge,Surrey.Thelargestinthecountry(50ftlongand25ftindiameter)thishugeweldedsteelcylinderhasheldabridge-layingtankandfightertypeaircraftcomplete.The brainchild of Sir Barnes Wallis, the chamber was built by Vickers-
Armstrongs at Barrow and erected in 1947. It differs basically from otherchambers in that thewhole of theworking section is encased in a house ofinsulationratherthaninsulatingtheinside,therebyenablingwatertobesprayedaround, brackets to bewelded on to the sides, and so on, and itsweight of250tonmeansthatthismassofsteelhastheadvantageofbeingaverygoodstabilizedheatsink.Theamountofair tobeevacuatedfromthechamber(atstandardatmosphereandpressure)weighsjustoveratonandmeasures30,000ft3
Fig. 1. Above. The size of the BAC climatic chamber can be judged from the man within it. Temperatures from -60°C to +60°C can be attained and pressures from sea level to 80,000ft. Internal diameter is 25ft.
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equivalenttothatcontainedinaJumboJet-andthepressurecanbereducedtol/20thofanatmosphereoraheightof80,000ft.Designedoriginallyforthetestingofaircraftpressurecabins,itssizeandthefactthatspecifiedconditionsoftemperature(withintherangeof-60°Cto+60°C)pressureandhumiditycanbemaintainedalmost indefinitelyandvariedatwill,havemade iteminentlysuitableforawidevarietyofindustrial,electrical,medicalandotheruses.Theinstallationandremovaloflargetestspecimensiseffectedbythecomplete
removaltoonesideofoneentireendofthepressurechamber(the‘GreatDoor’)whichweighs65tonandismountedonatwo-directionalcarriage.Entryforpersonnelandsmallitemsofequipmentispossibleunderallconditionsthroughoneorbothoftheairlocksatthefixedend.Vaporizedwater,blowninwithcompressedair, isused toproduce iceand
snow toanyquantity.Up to six tonanhourcanbeachieved,butone ton isgenerally sufficient andmore than this would be impractical to shift. Snowdependsontemperature,sizeofdroplet(usingdifferentshapedwaternozzles),distanceof travel andwind speed.Dry, orCanadian type snow,wouldneeda temperature of say, -20°C,whereas the soft, floppy type of snow can beproducedat-7°C.Ateachendoftheworkingsectionarethefourcircularopeningsoftheair
circulationducts,onepairofwhichpasses externallyalongeach sideof themain chamber.Theducts are 6ft 9in in diameter and four-bladed fans - onein each corner of the duct - control the speed of the air flow.The usual airflowspeedisabout6ktwithanormalmaximumof40kt;ifhigherspeedsarerequired,60ktcanbereachedusingspecialnozzles.Thefirstandsecondstagesofrefrigerationarebyammoniagasandmethanol
respectively, the latterbeingcirculated at the rateof20,000gallons anhourthrough16heatexchangerssituatedateachcornerof thefourairducts.Thetotalsurfaceareaofthecoolersis20,000ft2andittakesapproximately30hourstolowerthechambertemperaturefrom+15°Cto-60°C.Toavoidicinginthechamberatlowtemperatures,thecirculatingairispassedthroughanair-dryingplantconsistingofabedofsilicagel.Thisplantiscapableofsupplyingthreecharges(30,000ft3each)ofdryairevery24hours.Test programmesTestscarriedoutinthechamberhavevariedconsiderably.Fromthesimplest-themeasuringofthelightvalueoftwoparaffinlampsat5,000ftforexporttoJohannesburg-toperhapsoneofthemostcomplex,themeasuringoftheicebuilduponfishingtrawlers.Usingcanvasdamsateachend,thechamberwasfloodedwith60tonofwaterinwhich18ftmodels(to1/12thscale)ofthetrawlers
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werefloated.Thetemperaturewasthenreducedtobelowfreezinglevelandairblown through the ducts to simulate highwinds and towhip up thewaves.As the ice built up thiswasmeasureduntil the pointwas reachedwhen themodelscapsized.Thesetests,carriedoutonbehalfoftheBritishShipResearchAssociation, resulted in improvements in the design of the superstructure oftheNorthSeafishingtrawlers,forexample;unnecessaryrailswereremoved,mastsskimmeddown,funnelsstreamlinedandlifeboatsreplacedbyinflatabledinghies.
Line Gear Ltd of Adderbury, Banbury, who manufacture high voltagetransmissionequipmenthaveonanumberofoccasionsusedtheBACClimaticChamberasthisistheonlyonelargeenoughtoholdtheirequipment.Inoneoftheseteststhree8ftlong5ft6inhighisolatorswhichformedpartofsubstationequipmentdestined for theUnitedStates,were tested in rainat -6°Cas theswitcheshavetooperatewithabuild-upofice.A great many cold starting tests have been carried out on diesel engines
associated with electrical generating and air compressing machinery andhavealsoincludedacompletebusforuseovertheAndes.Thislattertestwas
Fig.2. An 18ft model trawler begins its tests under icing conditions; as yet the layer is thin. Driving rain and blizzards can be produced if required.
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interestingastheenginewasrequiredtostartat-18°Cat16,000ft,butatthesametimebrakes,grease,oilsandtransmissionwerealsosubjectedtorigoroustesting. Other tests have included the uncoiling of flight refuelling hoses atlow temperatures andminesweepingwinches for theRoyalNavywhich areexposed towindandweather, seawaterand icing.Studieson thebehaviourofanumberofaircraftandhelicopterstructures,controlsurfaces,systemsanditemsofelectronicequipmentundervariouslowtemperatureandhighaltitudeconditions have also been carried out, and the ability to mount an aircraftpressurecabinoracompletehelicopterisanadditionaladvantage.Othercoldstartingtestshavebeencarriedoutonarmouredtrackedbridge-
layers,bulldozersandrecoveryvehiclesfortheMinistry,forwhomworkhasalsobeendoneonpetrolanddieselengines,gasturbinesandoutboardmotors.Otherexamplesarehotandcoldinflationoflife-raftsforRFD,theeffectsoficing on radar scanners for Ferranti, the testing of foulweather clothing fortheMedicalResearchAssociation, andman-madefibres rope for Id.BridgewindowshavebeenfrequentlytestedfortheRoyalNavy,thistakingtheformofheatingthewindscreenundersevereicingconditionsandtestingthewiperswhichhaveslippingclutchestoovercomethebuildupoficeatthesidesofthewindows.Theotherendof the temperaturescale iseasilysimulated,heatingbeingsupplied frombanksof200kWheaters, anddryorhumidheatcanbeproducedatwill.Infra-redandultra-violetlightcanbeusedtosimulatesolarradiationandtemperaturesforanypartoftheworldcanbefaithfullyreproduced.Someofthemachinerytestedissubjectedtoextremesintemperatureduringthesameperiodofoccupationofthechamber,forinstance,thedieselengine-drivenelectricalgeneratorsetshavetheircoldandhotcycletestscarriedoutconsecutively.
When the chamber is not inuse for its climatic function itserves as a vacuum reservoir forasupersonicwindtunnelwhichiscapable of speeds up to Mach 3.The time taken to evacuate thechamber is about 90minutes andwhilst the running time is only amatterofseconds,itoffersacheapandsimplemethodofcarryingoutselectedtests.The Weybridge High Altitude
andClimaticChambertodayhelpsFig 3. Scimitar fighter being tested for the Arctic
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to solvediverseclimatic testproblems inmanyfieldsother thanaeronauticsandoffersdesignersandengineersareadilyaccessibleandinexpensivemeansfor testing equipmentwhichwould otherwise have to be shipped to variousparts of theworldwhere such extremes in temperature and humidity are tobefound.Whilst theseengineerswouldnotclaimthat, inall instances, thesetestseliminatetheneedforonsiteenvironmental tests,anumberof irksomeproblemswhichwouldholdupveryexpensivefieldtestscanbefoundoutverycheaply,andithasbeenknownfortestsfinallytobecarriedoutintheclimaticchamber on equipmentwhich had spent severalmonths in the cold areas oftheworld, suchas theAntarctic,because temperatures lowenoughwerenotforthcomingthatparticularyear.
The Stratosphere Chamber under construction
Preparing part of a Valiant fuselage for testing in the Stratosphere Chamber
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The Work of Barnes Wallis on Stamps etc.Traditionallystampcollectorscollectstampsbycountry.However,manycollectors
combinetheirinterestinstampswiththeirotherinterestsandcollectstampsrelatedtoaparticularsubject,ortheme..ThisisThematicCollecting.Athematiccollectionusually includes a lotmore than just stamps showing relevant illustrations. It couldincludesome,orall,ofthefollowing:Postmarks,FirstDayCovers,PostalStationery,Commemorativecovers,illustrationsonstampbooklets,Coverswithrelevantsignaturesetc.Theaimistotellastoryaboutthechosenthemeusingaswideavarietyaspossibleofmaterialproducedforuseinthepostalsystem.
Popular themes include, birds, trains, ships and aircraft. There are catalogues forsomeofthesethemeslistingallstampswithrelevantillustrationsissuedthroughouttheworld.StanleyGibbonsisprobablythebestknownpublisherofstampcataloguesandtheyhaveissuedacatalogueofAircraftonStamps.It listsmorethan25,000stampsissued by countries fromAbu Dhabi to Zimbabwe. It also has a very useful crossreferencefacilitysothatitiseasytofindout,forexample,whichstampshavebeenissuedshowingaWellington.-TheAscensionIslands(1993and2008),Belize(1990),BritishIndianOceanTerritory(2003),Canada(1999),TheGambia(1990),Guernsey(1998), Jersey (2000), Poland (1941,1943), andTrinidad&Tobago (1991)haveallissuedstampsfeaturingtheWellingtonintheyearsshown..In1941aseriesofstampswasissuedforusebyPolishForcesinExileintheUK.The
1zvalueistheearlieststampissuedfeaturingapictureofaWellington.In1943a5gvaluewasissuedshowingaWellingtonattackingasubmarine(seeFig1).
TheWellingtonalsofeaturedinthecoverillustrationofastampbookletissuedbyRoyalMailin1980whenfirstclasspostwas12pandsecondclass10p.Interestinglythecurrent(2013)ratesareexactly5timestheseratesforbothfirstandsecondclassletters.
TheWellesleywasshownonastampissuedbySt.Kittsin1993andtheWarwickonastampissuedbyFijiin1998.
MovingontoanotheraspectofBarnesWallis’work–theUPKEEP“bouncingbomb”andOperationChastise.Fig2showstheminiaturesheetissuedbyTheGrenadinesofSt.Vincent in1990. Instampcollecting termsaminiaturesheet iswhere thestamp,orstamps,formpartofalargersheetwhichusuallygivesabiggersceneofwhichthestamp(s) formpart.. Ifyou think theseareproduced largely tosatisfycollectorsandhavelittleornopostalnecessityyoumightwellberight.
Fig 1 a) A Wellington attacking a U-boat b) Wellington cockpit c) Wellington in flight
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Fig 2 Miniature sheet issued by Grenadines of St Vincent in 1990.
In1993GuyanaissuedasetofstampsfeaturingaircraftoftheSecondWorldWar.Aswell asbeingavailable individually thesewerealso issuedasasheetletwithanillustrationoftheattackontheMoehnedamasthecentrepiecealthoughthiswasnotthesubjectofanyoftheactualstamps,seeFig3.
Fig 3 The illustration of the Dams raid did not appear on any of the stamps in this set, only on this miniature sheet which showed the ten actual stamps.
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In2003theBritishIndianOceanTerritory–agroupofsmallislandsintheIndianOceanto thenorthofMadagascar– issuedasetofstampstomarkthecentenaryofpowered flight. One stamp featured theWellington and another theDams raid (seeFig4).2003wasthe60thanniversaryoftheDamsraidaswellasbeingthecentenaryofpoweredflight.Itisaninterestingthoughtthattherewasonly40yearsbetweentheWrightbrothers’flightandtheDamsraid,thatwas40yearsofdramaticprogressinthescienceofflight.
Fig 4 Issued for 60th Anniversary of Operation Chastise.
Guernseyissuedasetofstampsin2003tomarkthe60thanniversaryofOperationCHASTISEandinthesameyeartheIsleofManissuedaminiaturesheetwhichfeaturedRobertTaylor’swellknownpaintingoftheattackontheMoehnedam.InconjunctionwiththepostalauthoritiesinGuernseyandtheIsleofMantheTrustproducedsomecommemorativecoverswiththestampscancelledbytherelevantPostOfficeswithacommemorativecancellationdesignedbyJohnRabbetsfor theTrust.Wethenaskedrelevantpeopletosignthecoversandsoldthemtoraisefunds.Weonlyhad50ofeachproducedandtheysoonsoldout.
In 2008Kiribati, theformerGilbert Islandof theGilbertandEllisIslandsintheSouthPacific, issuedaminiaturesheetfeaturingtheDambustersRaid.Thestamppartoftheminiaturesheetonlyshowspartofoneof theLancastersbut thewholesheet isamorecomprehensiveillustration.
Tallboyisnotforgotten.TheMarshallIslandsissueda series of stamps between 1989 and 1995 tomarkthe50AnniversaryoftheSecondWorldWar.In1994apairofstampsfeatured thesinkingof theGermanBattleshipTirpitz.Onestampshowedan illustrationoftheshipandanothershowedaLancasterdroppingaTallboy bomb. In the bottommargin of the sheetof stampswas a quote fromWinston Churchill, “Itisagreatrelieftogetthisbrutewherewehavelongwantedher.”
Fig 5. The sinking of the battleship Tirpitz
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Movingonfromstampstopostmarksthefieldismuchlarger.PostmarksareusedbyPostOfficesthroughouttheworldtocancelstampssothattheycannotbesoakedoffandre-usedandtogiveinformationaboutwhenandwheretheletterwasposted.Usuallytheyarefairlyboringbutsometimescommemorativepostmarksareused.Theseoftenincorporate somewords explainingwhat is beingcommemoratedand sometimes anillustration.RulesvaryfromcountrytocountrybutforRoyalMailthepositionisthatanyorganisationcandesignapostmarkbutithastoapprovedbyandappliedbyRoyalMail.
Fig6ashowsthepostmarkthatwasproducedforthereunionof40SquadronheldatAbingdonin1988.TheSquadronflewvariousmarksofWellingtonsfromNovember1940throughtoMarch1945.Fig6bshowsacommemorativepostmarkusedin1999to commemorate the 60th anniversary of theMark IIIWellington. The code lettersLFreferto37SquadronwhoflewWellingtonsfromMay1939throughtoDecember1944.ThereferencetoBrooklandsinthepostmarkisinteresting.AlthoughmostofthedesignworkfortheWellingtonwasindeeddoneatBrooklandsproductionwaslargelydispersedwitheachoftheshadowfactoriesatBlackpoolandChesterproducingmoreWellingtonsthandidBrooklands.Fig6cshowsthepostmarkproducedforuseintheIsleofMantomarkthe37thAnniversaryofthefirst1000bomberraid–thatof30/31May1942onCologne.Ofthe1,047aircraftdispatchedonthatraid602wereWellingtons.
Fig 6a Fig 6b
Fig 6c
Fig 6 Various postmarks featuring a Wellington.
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Inadditiontopostmarkssomecommemorativeenvelopes,orcoversasphilatelistscallthem,haveanillustrationonthem.TheearliestrelevantsuchcoverthatIhavecomeacrossisshowninFig7a.Thepostmarkshowsthatthecoverwaspostedon28January1929.TheillustrationisofthemooringmastthathadbeenbuiltatMontrealAirportreadyfortheR100’sflighttoCanada.Fig7bshowsacoverpostedon13August1930,thedaythattheR100departedfromMontrealtoreturntotheUKafteritstransatlanticflight.
Fig 7a Cover shows the mooring mast for the R100 at St Hubert Airport, Montreal.
Fig. 7b With R100 commemorative cachet. Posted at St. Hubert Airport, Montreal on the day the R100 left to return to Cardington.
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Inmorerecentyearsmanyspecialpostmarkshavebeenproducedtocommemorateparticularevents,especiallyanniversariesoftheattackontheDamsandthesinkingof the Tirpitz. Although these postmarks can be applied to plain covers they areusually applied to speciallydesignedcommemorativecovers.Many suchcovers areproducedbycommercialcompaniessometimessimplyforcommercialgainbutofteninconjunctionwithappropriatecharities.Alsomanycharitiesproducetheirowncovers.OveraperiodofmanyyearsanumberofdifferentseriesofcoverswereproducedbytheRAFMuseumandtheJointServiceCharityConsortium.AnexamplefromtheseriesaboutPlanesandPlacesisshowninFig8.Thisseriesof30commemorativecoverswasissuedbetween1997and2001eachfeaturedatypeofaircraftnamedafteraplaceandshowedapictureoftheaircraftflyingovertheplace.TheseriesincludesWellingtonaswellastheWarwickshown.TheillustrationswerebasedonpaintingsbyTonyTheoboldwhohasproducedmanyoftheillustrationsusedonthecoversproducedbytheJointServicesCharityConsortiumbuthehasalsodesignedmanystamps.
Fig 8 The Warwick - a Warwick flying over Warwick.
Sometimesthedesignofthepostmarksraisesquestions.DoestheoneshowninFig9refertothecorrectDerwentDam?
Fig 9 Did they really mean the Derwent Dam in Cumbria not Derbyshire?
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Anotheraspectofinteresttomaycollectorsistohavecommemorativecoverssignedby relevant people.These are usually produced as limited editions and are usuallyindividually numbered. These signatures are often arranged by the cover producersthemselvesbutsometimesindividualcollectorsmaketheirownarrangements.Oneofthemostpopularsubjectsis,notsurprisingly,OperationCHASTISE.Otheroperationsby617Squadronarealsopopular.BarnesWallishimselfhasalsobeencommemoratedinpostmarksasshowninFig10.
Fig 10 The 20th Anniversary of the death of Barnes Wallis.
TheultimateBarnesWalliscoveristhatissuedbytheRAFMuseumin1976aspartoftheirHistoricAviatorsseries.ThecoverisillustratedwithanimageoftheR100andBarnesWallis.ThecancellationfeaturesanimageofaWellingtonandthecoverwasflowninavariablegeometryaircraft–albeitanAmericanone.TheicingonthecakeisifthecoverhasbeensignedbyBarnesWallishimself,asshowninFig11.
Fig 11 The ultimate Barnes Wallis cover. ImayreturntothesubjectinlatereditionsoftheNewsletter.MeanwhileIwould
be interested to see a copy of any relevant cover that you have found particularlyinteresting.Icanbecontactedbyemailattalks@barneswallistrust.org.
Peter Rix, Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust
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Ripley marks the 125th Anniversary of Barnes Wallis’ birth
Barnes walliswasbornon26September1887inRipley,Derbyshire.Thehousewherehisfamilylivedatthetimestillexistsandhasanappropriate
commemorative plaque on the wall.A number of events were organised inRipleytomarkthe125thanniversaryofBarnesWallis’birth.In themorningof26September2012 representativesof theBarnesWallis
Memorial Trust met representatives ofAmber Valley Borough Council andofRipleyTownCouncilat theCouncilOffices where reduced copies of theexhibition boards that the Trust hadproduced for exhibitions in Goole,BeverleyandBridlingtonwereonshow.In addition the Library in Ripley hadproduced their own exhibition. Thetrusteesandcouncillorsthenmadetheirway to the Barnes Wallis MemorialParkwhere SirBarnes’ elder daughter,Mary Stopes-Roe, planted an oak tree.This public open space already has acommemorative stone marking BarnesWallis’linkstothetown.Theparklooksout over the picturesque Derbyshirecountryside.
IntheafternoonMaryStopes-RoespokeatameetingarrangedbythelocalU3AgroupaboutherparentslifeinRipley.Marybasedhertalkonmanyofthelettersandnotesetcwhichhermotherhadwritten.Hertalkwasentitled‘Thebeginningof a famouscareer’.Barnes’parents,CharlesandEdith,hadonlymovedtoRipleyin1886.CharleswasalocalGP.TheymovedawaytoanewpracticeinNewCrossRoad,London,in1891.AfterabreakforrefreshmentsMary’stalkwasfollowedbyatalkgivenbyPeterRix,oneoftheTrust’strustees,on‘TheWorkofBarnesWallis.’Themeetingwasverywellsupported,indeeditwasasellout,andwasfollowedbyalivelyperiodofquestionsanddiscussions.ThisshowedthatthereisgreatinterestbytheresidentsofRipleyinthelifeandworkofoneoftheirmostfamouscitizens.AmberAles then offered refreshments at their public house, ‘The Talbot
Tavern’.Thiswasanopportunity tosample thenewGrandSlamale.AmberAleshadalsoarrangedforacelebrationcaketohavebeenbaked.
Mary Stopes-Roe planting the commemorative oak tree
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The nextmorning, 27 September, theBWMTtrusteeswere invited toaspecialassemblyatStJohn’sPrimarySchool.AtthisAssemblytheYear6 children put on a presentation about BarnesWallis. This was impressive;the children wereclearlyverywellrehearsedandseemedtoenjoywhat theyweredoing.After theassembly,PeterRixspoketotheYear6childrenaboutsomeoftheinventionsofBarnesWallis.Becauseoftheworkthat thechildrenhaddone inpreparingfor theirpresentationtothewholeschoolassembly,Peterstartedbyaskingifanybodyhadanyquestionsas
aresultoftheirresearches.Thereweremanyandthissuggestedthatthechildrenhadfoundtheirresearchesinteresting.Peter’stalkseemedtobewellreceivedandtheheadteacherdidsaythatshewouldliketodothesamethingnextyear.IntheafternoonMaryrepeatedhertalkofthedaybeforetoanaudiencein
thetownhall.A leading light in organising and co-ordinating
these events was Jayn Sterland of Amber Ales.ThesebrewersalreadyhadaregularbrewofBarnesWallis ale but for this anniversary theybrewed alimited edition of ale which they named GrandSlam.ThisnewbeerwaslaunchedbyMaryStopes-RoeattheopeningAmberValleyRailAleFestivalat theMidlandRailwayCentre in the evening of27thSeptember.
Coincidentally Peter gave a talk to ReptonVillage Society on 4 October,closetotheanniversarydate.Reptonisabout15milessouthwestofRipley.TheVillageSocietyhaddonequiteabitofpublicityandtogoodeffect.Theynormallygetabout50memberstomeetingsbutthistimetheyhad65plustenvisitors.Overall these various activities provided a fitting celebration of the 125th
anniversaryofBarnesWallis’birthand theTrust isverygrateful toall thosemanypeoplewhohelpedorganisethemparticularlyAmberales,AmberValleyBoroughCouncil,RipleyTownCouncil,theU3AgroupandtheteachersandstudentsofSt.John’sPrimarySchool.
Peter Rix
The Transport Trust red plaque on the house where Barnes
Wallis was born
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Dambusters’ 70th Anniversary Commemorative Dinner
On Wednesday 15th May 2013, forty eight paying guests attended afundraising dinner, hosted by Sir Gerald Howarth MP, Member for
Aldershot.Thebeneficiarieswere theBarnesWallisMemorialTrust and theLeonardCheshireDisabilityCharity.AchampagnereceptionwasheldontheTerrace of the Palace ofWestminster,with guests later enjoying a deliciousmealinthediningroom.
Leonard CheshireDisability is the officialcharity partner forRAF617 Squadron as theycommemorate the 70thanniversary of theirfamous Dambusters’raid this year. Thepartnership honoursGroup Captain LeonardCheshire, one of themost decorated WorldWar 2 bomber pilotswho was awarded the
VictoriaCrossandcommandedtheDambustersin1943-44.Afterdinner,ClarePelham,theChiefExecutiveofLCDgaveanemotionalthoughtprovokingtalkabouttheworkofLCD.JamesHolland,author,
historian and Trusteeof the Barnes WallisMemorial Trust gave avalediction.The Parliamentary
Commissionerhadgivenconsenttoholdacharityauction foranumberofexquisite items relatingto the Dams Raid, inaidofLeonardCheshireDisability. The Raffle,
Wg Cdr David Arthurton, OC 617 Sqn (second from right), members of the Squadron and senior RAF officers
James Holland giving the Valediction
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in aid of Barnes WallisMemorial Trust, includedbespokechampagneflutesand a bottle of House ofCommons Champagne,kindlysignedbythePrimeMinisterandaprintoftheWellington, featuring thegeodetic structure devisedby Sir Barnes Wallis,which had been donatedbytheTrust.The print of the
Wellington, Over the Fence by John Rayson, was much admired by theassembledguestsasitwassignedbytheartistandanumberofwartimemembersof617Squadron.TheBarnesWallisMemorialTrust,inconjunctionwith617SquadronAircrewAssociation,hadarrangedfor50copiesoftheprinttomarkthe70thanniversaryofthefirstflightoftheprototype.
Helen Varey, a BarnesWallisTrustee, representingthe Trust on this occasion,presentedthemuchadmiredprint to the successfulwinner.Onherreturntoherseat learned thatshewas totake home the champagneandtheflutes-awonderfulendtoamemorableevening.
Helen Varey
Helen Varey presents the Wellington print
Sir Gerald Hawarth MP, Helen Varey, Clare Pelham and Wg Cdr David Arthurton, OC 617 Sqn
Trust ActivitiesTheTrustiscurrently(June2013)exhibitingitsdisplayofthelifeandworkofSir
BarnesWallisattheMerchantAdventurersHallinYork.MembersoftheTrustareavailabletogiveillustratedtalkstointerestedgroupsthroughouttheUK.ForfurtherdetailscontacttheTrustattalks@barneswallistrust.org.Details of future exhibitions and open evenings will be published on the Trust’s
websiteatwww.barneswallistrust.org.
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Gary Saunt - Painter
Gary sauntisapainterlivinginEastYorkshire with his wife Janet and
daughter Kate. He was born (1951) inGrimsby into a fish curing family. Butforgoingthedelightsoffilletingandsmokehouses,Garyescapedthefamilybusinessand took up art instead.He firstwent toartschoolin1966andstudiedpaintinganddrawinginGrimsby.In1970heobtainedaplaceinArtCollegeinSunderlandtostudythesametopics,plusarthistory. HeandJanetweremarriedinSeptember1973andhe completed his postgraduate studies in1974,addingateachingcertificate.Promptedby thedeathofhis father,he
moved back to Humberside area to benearhisstepmotherandtwoyounghalf-brothers.Withnoimmediatevacanciesinteaching in the area,Gary foundhimselfapplyingforthefirebrigade.Havingavoidedthehardshipofthesmokehouse,Garywasnowafireman.HewasoperationalforfiveyearsridingfireenginesinandaroundGrimsby.Subsequently, he was promoted into the fire prevention department and
policedfire safety in public and commercial buildings for someyears.Garygainedpromotionmovingbetweenfront linepostsandfire investigationandfirepreventionintheGrimsbyarea.HewasStationOfficer(redwatch)whenhewaspostedtoBrigadeHeadquartersinHessle.TherehedidstaffworkandbranchedoutintoDivisionalManagementinHullandHoldernessareas.Afteraspellofrisk/resourceplanning,backatBrigade,Garystudiedfireengineeringandwent through thecommandandmanagement trainingsystemat theFireServiceCollege(Gloucestershire).IntheninetieshewasputinchargeofFireSafetyenforcementforNorthHumbersidethengivencommandof‘A’Division–thewesternhalfoftheEastRidingandthecityofHull.Aftercompletinghis30yearservice,GaryretiredfromtheFireServiceinNovember2004.ThroughouthisFireServicecareerGarycontinuedtodrawandpaint.When
heretiredhisaimwastothrowhimselffull-timeintooilpaintingonceagain.However,hisdaughterKate(BAHonFineArt),urgedhimtogetintocomputer-
Gary Saunt - digital self-portrait
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based artwork. Since then he has never returned to conventional paints andcanvas.Garysaysthatiftheoldmasterswerealivetodaytheywouldnotbeusingthe
oldmethods–butbeusingmodernmedia:“Thoughoilpaintisactuallyeasiertoworkin,itislimitedandlackstheflexibilityandcreativepotentialofdigitalpainting.Oneoftheoddest thingsaboutit ishowmypersonalstyleremainsexactlyasifIwasstillusingoils–Iwouldhavethoughtsuchadifferentmediaandtechniquewouldoverridemystylebutitdoesnot.Iwillneveragainuseoilpaints(orsawcowsinhalforpicklesharks).”Gary feels lucky that his artwork has proved popular – every painting he
hasshownhassold.Hefeels thathis realisticstyleand the familiarsubjectsseemreadilyaccessibletothepublic.Someworkissomewhatsurreal;dream-like townscapes often containing a strangemix of objects but there are alsocelebritiesandlocalfiguresandfamiliarscenesportrayed,sothatpeoplecanstill readily identifywith thesepaintings.Garyalsomaintainsaseparateandverydifferentthemeinhispainting–AviationArt.“Aviationisanunder-ratedsubject.Youarefreetocomposeyourpicturewith
the aircraft arranged in anyorientation. It is also an interesting challenge tocapturethevariedsurfaces–metallic,canvas,Perspexorflatcamouflage.Thenaturalluminosityoftheskycanprovidegreatlightingtoo.”Gary regularly showsat theFerensArtgallery inHull,where thisyearhe
exhibited(andquicklysold)threepaintingsintheopenexhibition.HealsosellsworkthroughthesmallMytonGalleryinHull.WithregardtotheBWMT,Garyclaimshecannotrememberhowheactually
became associated the Trust; though he has vague recollections involvingalcohol,photographsandblackmail.However,heismorethanpleasedtohelpBWMTwithgraphics/artworkofanykind.“I feel I have a bold imagination, tempered by plenty of practical and
engineeringexperience.However,IknowthatIwouldneverhaveconceivedofbouncinghugespinningbombsoverthewavestobreachmajordams.NorwouldIimaginedeliverysuchweaponsusingheavybombersattwentymetrealtitude-attackinginthedark.Nowthatreallyisbold.”
Limited edition A2 fine art prints of Gary’s The Dams Raid signed by Mary Stopes-Roe and Sqn Ldr George ‘Johnny’ Johnson DFM are available from the Trust at £50 plus £8 p&p - cheques made payable to BWMT, orders to:
Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust, Springfield Farm, Old Church Lane, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, HG3 5LY.
PublishedbytheBarnesWallisMemorialTrustSpringfieldFarm,OldChurchLane,PateleyBridge,Harrogate,HG35LY
©BarnesWallisMemorialTrust2013www.barneswallistrust.org
Charity Number 518023
Barnes Wallis Memorial Trust
Trustees(at31March2013)
Elected TrusteesGerryCarroll(Chairman)
WgCdrChrisHendersonRAF(Retd)(Treasurer)ProfessorRichardMorrisOBE
JamesHollandRobertOwenPeterRix
DrMaryStopes-RoeJonathanStopes-Roe
HelenVareyAndrewWallis
Nominated TrusteesKenDeacon,HowdenCivicSocietyElaineWard,HowdenTownCouncil