Those Wonderful Men in their Flying Machines

I'm currently reading Natalie Fergie’s 25 Library Terrace which I would recommend to members of our Facebook group, particularly as much of it is set within the neighbouring communities which encompass the geographical sphere of Oxgangs – A Pastime from Time Past. The book’s structure covers census years 1911, 1931, 1951, 2011 and 2022 providing a fascinating insight into the social history of the past century, especially the impact upon women.

One aspect that occurred to me was how effortlessly knowledgeable the author is on 1911 Edinburgh – the death of The Great Lafayette, and throwaway references - the young protagonists, Ann and Finlay told by their guardian to get a local cab (from Morningside Station) - Finlay skiving off school to go to Redford Barracks to see the Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race. Really most impressive.

As to the form of cab, would they have aimed to get the horse and Hackney cab or one of the new motorised types.

1911 was a pivotal year as the former were beginning to decline in number, whereas motor cabs were on the increase.

A strong image for me from the 1960s into the 1970s was of Forrest Cabs with their distinctive wee office set above the Morningside railway line, opposite the station.

As to the air race, today few people would be aware of it, but one stage of the race included landing at the new Redford Barracks, established only 3 years beforehand. The race was a 1,010-mile (1,630 km) circuit around Britain with 11 compulsory stops, including Edinburgh. The aviators arrived in Edinburgh on July 25, 1911, after flying from Newcastle before the aviators proceeded to Stirling as the next compulsory stop.

The Strathard Heritage write ‘A number of entrants would abandon the race before the start, for a variety of reasons. One hopeful, named Gilmour was obliged to withdraw because his licence had been suspended by the Royal Aero Club for dangerous flying over the Henley Regatta just two weeks previously. The remaining seventeen aviators started at Brooklands on Saturday 22nd July in the midst of a heatwave. Brooklands was then the centre of aviation. It was here that Harold Barnwell would shortly come to work and meet his death some seven years later. A crowd of several thousand, which included the Maharaja of Gwalior and Prince Henry of Prussia, featured amongst the dignitaries gathered to witness the start. The hot turbulent air made flying hazardous. When Lieutenant Porte of the Royal Navy attempted take off, his wing tilted to vertical and he plunged back to earth wrecking his machine. A relieved cheer rose when Porte walked away unhurt. He was the first of many competitors who in the next days would be forced to withdraw from the competition. By the time the race had reached Redford Barracks at Edinburgh, only three competitors realistically remained in the running. Jules Vedrines and Andre Beaumont were both French: James Valentine was British.’

In those the early days of flight, Andy Arthur writes ‘In early April 2011, the Edinburgh Evening News reported that the Alexander brothers had been secretly testing it on the ground at an undisclosed “sports enclosure” on the outskirts of Edinburgh, towing it there behind their car in the early mornings. Following extensive ground runs they had managed a 20-yard flight in the dusk of Monday April 4th. When interviewed by the reporter of the Daily Record, the brothers informed them that their intention was to overhaul and improve the engine before trying for the sky again. The description of the site, along with a grainy photo of it, identifies it as Myreside, the playing fields of the brothers’ old school, George Watson’s. They were limited to runs of only 150 in the capital by the confines of the grounds, surrounded by high walls.’

Andy goes on to write: ‘The Daily Record reported in April 1910 that an unknown machine, based at Swanston farm to the south of the city, had been flying high over the southern outskirts of the city on more than one night, with people seeing “a flying machine, brilliantly illuminated, which was at a considerable height from the ground“. On the 5th April, the “moving lights of the aeroplane were seen by several people over the Hunter’s Tryst“. Given the progress (or lack of) of the known aviators in the city at this time, and that there are no other corresponding news or magazine reports, it is likely that this was Scotland’s first UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) caused by local hearsay, rumour and excitement.’ 🤣