It was estimated that these contained about 75,000 postcards and letters, the total weight being over 600lbs. The Aero Field handbook recorded the event: ‘On Saturday, 9 September, twenty-three sacks of aerial mails were delivered at Hendon. The historic first flight of the First UK Aerial Post, from London to Windsor, took place on Saturday 9 September 1911. The pilot broke both legs and the machine was badly damaged. Only three pilots and three machines operated the service owing to one of the Farman biplanes, piloted by Charles Hubert, crashing when taking off. The lower surfaces of the wings were painted ‘Aerial Mail’. The four machines prepared for use were two Farman biplanes and two Blériot monoplanes.
Postie pete postage stamps driver#
The Committee contracted with the Grahame White Aviation Co for the aerial transit of the mails from Hendon Aerodrome to Windsor and the pilots engaged to operate the service were Clement Greswell, Gustav Hamel, E F Driver and Charles Hubert. In Commemoration of the Coronation of their Majesties the King and Queen’, makes interesting reading. By Sanction of His Majesty’s Postmaster-General. Special pillar boxes were provided at stores where the souvenir postal stationery was on sale and at Hendon Aerodrome. I have in my philatelic library a copy of the ‘Special Edition’ produced with more than 20 black and white illustrations, for the Apex International Air Post Exhibition, London, 7–. Detailed information about the Coronation Aerial Post 1911 may be found in the excellent Aero Field Handbook No 3 written under the same name by Francis J Field and N C Baldwin, published by Francis J Field Limited of Sutton Coldfi eld. The aerial post-project also received enthusiastic support.Īn official notice giving details of the Coronation Aerial Post from the principal newspapers of the day and every opportunity was afforded the public for obtaining and despatching souvenir cards or envelopes, which were already franked with adhesive ½d. An honorary organising committee was formed, among whom were: Capt Windham, Chairman Mr D Lewis-Poole, an architect by profession, a pupil of the late Welby Pugin, who practised successfully for a number of years Sir J C Lamb Mr R C Tombs and Mr John Ardron. His idea was well received and the Postmaster-General, the Rt Hon (later Sir) Herbert L Samuel, and the British Post Office gave whole-hearted support and co-operation. On his return to England soon afterwards, it occurred to Capt Windham that a similar project might be an appropriate and novel addition to the celebrations in London to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King George V in Westminster Abbey on 22 June, that same year, 1911. It was Capt Windham who successfully organised the world’s first Official Aerial Post in India during February 1911 at Allahabad, in connection with the United Provinces Exhibition (see my article ‘Centenary of the World’s First Official Aerial Post’, GSM February 2011). The First United Kingdom Aerial Post owed its existence to the foresight and initiative of Captain (later Sir) Walter Windham, RN. The Centenary of the Coronation Aerial Post 1911 is a historic event in the record of pioneer aviation in Great Britain and the co-operation of the Postmaster-General and the British Post Office. Centenary of the Coronation Aerial Post, September 1911– The First UK Aerial PostĪ special report by Peter Jennings FRPSL, FRGS
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