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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0416.PDF
FLIGHT, APRIL 29, 1932 SERVICES FENCING CHAMPIONSHIP BECAUSE fencing is now recognised as one of, if not the finest forms of training for pilots, it has in the Royal Air Force received considerable official encouragement. Their general standard, individual successes, and average of match victories have literally zoomed during the last few years, and particularly this season. Last week at Aldershot, the Royal Air Force scored one of their greatest triumphs in beating the Army 20—16, in the third and last of the annual inter-services four-weapon team matches. Both sides had previously defeated the R.N. and R.M., and so their meeting decided the unofficial title of " Services team match champions." This is the first time since 1929 that our youngest Service has beaten both their rivals the same year, while they have not lost to both since 1926. To date they have fought the Army 14 times, winning seven and losing seven ; while of 13 matches against the "R.N. and R.M. they have won nine, drawn three, and lost only one. In this year's matches they beat the R.N. and R.M. at Uxbridge, 20—16, winning the foil, 7—2, the epee, 6—3, and losing the sabre, 4—5, and the bayonet, 3—6. The Army defeated the R.N. and R.M., 19—16, scoring 5—4 in sabre, 6—3 in bavonet, drawing the epee at 4 all and a double hit, and losing the foil, 4—5. ' When the victors met at Aldershot in the deciding match the odds were comparatively even, though slightly in the Army's favour by reason of their formidable bayonet record, a weapon which has for some time been the R.A.F.'s weakness. Play opened with the foil. The Army trio of Service champions of the P.T. staff was a fearsome combination of fine, seasoned foilists who might have been backed to win by a wider margin than 5—4. The R.A.F. side was led by the British international and ex-amateur foil champion, Sqd. Ldr. Sherriff, one of the finest all-round swordsmen this country has produced, and one whose Service and inter-Service victories are quite unique. His second string was Fit. Sgt. Digby, recently returned from abroad, and the third man a fine, though variable player, Sgt. Hancock, the R.A.F. foil champion. The foil play was superb. The R.A.F. started with their tails up, for Sherriff scored a bloodless win over Parsons in the opening fight, and Hancock secured the odd point over Wyatt, before the Army checked them by Reid's 4—3 win against Digby. Parsons then scored another last point over Hancock, and the figures were 2 all. Digby then beat Wyatt 4—0, and Reid equalised when he secured the odd hit on Sherriff, and the event remained to be decided on the final bout. Another great fight ran level to 3 all before Reid secured the event for the Army by one point over Hancock. Though the epee is the R.A.F.'s strongest weapon, to win this by the ample margin of 7—2 was as surprising as it was creditable. Fighting for a single point, Stubberfield, R.A.F. epee champion and a fine all-round swordsman, was undefeated, while even the variable Bellairs was all out and only surrendered to Keen. Jarrold, a new " Blue," also contributed two wins, his loss being to the Army's title-holder, Harris, and the epee closed with the total scores 11—7 in the R.A.F.'s favour. For sabre they fielded another fine-quality three, but the Army side was more varied in style, and consequently a slightly more difficult combination to tackle. The redoubtable Scott beat Stubberfield 4—2, and Hancock 4—3, but went down to the more combative Turner on the odd point. Reid, the best Army sabreur in the team, contributed another two wins, his only loss being 4—-2 to Hancock, while the latter proved the R.A.F.'s most successful man. A magnificent battle resulted in another Army win, as in the foil, decided on the odd point of the final fight, and the totals were 15—12 in the airmen's favour, with the bayonet to go. Last year the R.A.F. lost to the Army through bayonet weakness, but then- lead on this occasion meant that they had only to win four of the nine fights to secure the match. This was a sufficiently severe task, but they tackled it gallantly. The Army opened with a 3—1 win by Gelder over Digby, but Eyles replied with a similar victory over Laxton. Turner registered the R.A.F.'s second win when he made the odd point against Williams, but Gelder equalised by beating Eyles 3—1. Laxton brought the Army totals to 15—17 with four to go by his last point victory over Turner, but Digby's odd hit against Williams made the R.A.F. 18—15 and safe to draw, at least. Followed a terrific battle between Turner and the unbeaten Gelder, which ended 3—-1 in the airman's favour, and secured the day for his side at 19—15. Laxton reduced the Army's deficit by a 3—1 score over Digby, but, equally determined, Eyles, the champion, wound up the R.A.F.'s day of glory with a similar score against Williams, to close with the totals at 20—16. TEAMS AND SCORES Foil.—Army : S.M.I. J. T. Reid, 3 wins, 0 defeats, 9 hits ; Q.M.S.I. H. Parsons, 2—1—7 ; S.M.I. G. A. F. Wyatt, 0—3—12. Total, 5 wins. Royal Air Force : Sqd. Ldr. F. G. Sherriff, 2—1—7 ; Fit. Sgt. Digby, 1—2—9; Sgt. W. R. Hancock, 1—2—10. Total, 4 wins. Upte.—Royal Air Force : Fit. Sgt. F. J. Stubberfield, 3—0; F/O. E. H. Bellairs and Sgt. Jarrold, each 2—1. Total, 7 wins. Army : S.M.I. A.J. Keen and Q.M.S.I. Harris, each 1—2 ; Lt. East, 0—3. Total, 2 wins. Sabre.—Army : Lt. C. R. Scott and S.M.I. J. T. Reid, each 2—1—9; Lt. R. D. S. Anderson, 1—2—11. Total, 5 wins. Royal Air Force: Sgt. W. R. Hancock, 2—1—8 ; Fit. Sgt. F. J. Stubberfield, 1—2—9 ; Cpl. W. H. Turner, 1—2—11. Total, 4 wins. Bayonet.—Royal Air Force: Sgt. R. F. Eyles, 2—1—5; Cpl. W. H. Turner, 2—1—6; Fit. Sgt. Digby, 1—2—8. Total, 5 wins. Army: CM.S.I. Gelder, 2—1—5 ; CM.S.I. Laxton, 2—1—6 ; Bugler Williams, 0—3—9. Total, 4 wins. M. P. S. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MEMORIAL FUND THE first meeting of the governing body of the above Fund was held at Iddesleigh House on March 23. Sir Charles McLeod, Bart., Chairman and Honorary Treasurer, was in the Chair and was supported by Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, G.B.E., Deputy Chairman, and there was a large attend ance of members. After the usual financial matters had been disposed of the Committee proceeded to give approval and sanction to the publication of the Annual Report for 1931, the accounts of the Fund having been audited and passed by the Auditors, Messrs. Barton, Mayhew & Co., Alderman's House, Bishops- gate, E.C.2. The accounts showed that the Fund had distributed during the year 1931 under report the very large sum of £12,994, this being entirety spent in relief of distress amongst officers and airmen and their families. The Committee approved of the publication of the Report, which will be issued in a few days' time. The meeting were informed that the School, supported and administered by the Fund at Vanbrugh Castle, Blackheath, opened for the Spring term on January 12 last with a full complement of forty boys. The Grants Committee since the last meeting of the Executive Committee on December 9, 1931, had dealt at their fortnightly meetings with 105 cases (98 war cases and 7 post-war cases) and that, in addition, the Secretary had dealt with 237 cases (170 war cases and 67 post-war cases) in all of which grants had been made. The Committee, after discussion, approved of the stone work of the R.A.F. Memorial on the Victoria Embankment being cleaned during the Spring. The last item on the agenda was a very important matter, which concerned the organisation of the Fund in the future, and in this respect a sub-committee had been formed and held a meeting in January last, and the proceedings of that meeting were put before this meeting for consideration, and after dis cussion, it was decided that the body now known as " the Executive Com mittee " be in future known as " the Council," and various rules were adopted as to the constitution of the Council, and the period of membership therein and three committees under the Council were adopted as follows :—Vanbrugh Castle Committee for the administration of that School; a Grants Committee for the administration of relief; a Finance Committee to decide all matters of finance, subject to confirmation of the Council at subsequent quarterly meetings. The present members of the Executive Committee were re-elected to the Council, and the same rule was followed in respect to the existing members of the Vanbrugh Castle School Sub-Committee and the Grants Sub-Com mittee. Copies of the new constitution have already been furnished to members of the Executive Committee, and in the course of a short time will be forwarded to H.R.H. the Duke of York, who is President of the Fund and to all Vice- Presidents, Trustees and to others concerned. The following are extracts from the Twelfth Report, covering the year January 1 to December 31, 1931 :— " For the past eleven years by far the largest annual contribution to the Fund has been the donation from the Air Council, which represents part of the proceeds of the Royal Air Force Display at Hendon. In 1931 £9,362 13s. lid. was received from this source. A further sum of £1,600 was received from this source. A further sum of £1,600 was provided by the Air Council, being the Royal Air Force share of the profits of the Royal Tournament at Olympia. " The Executive Committee have received from the Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force, Middle East, a donation of £512 16s. 5d., the product of an Air Display held in Egypt on February 20, 1931. From the Air Officer Commanding in India a donation of £262 6s., part proceeds of a Display at New Delhi, was also received. " With the consent of the Chaplain-in-Chief, and with the approval of Air Officers Commanding, collections at Church Parade Services of all denominations were again made throughout the Royal Air Force at Armistice time, and, with other Armistice donations, realised a sum of £156 16s. 4d. The Executive Committee again wish to thank the Rev. J. H. P. Still, M.A., Chaplain, R.A.F., Manston, Kent, for kindly collecting and forwarding these donations. " The total amount expended during 1931 on relief and assistance of all kinds was £12,993 13s. 6d. " A few cases selected irrespective of the amounts concerned, are epitomised below :— " G. 2730. Mother of a flying officer who died as the result of a flying accident. This widow's total income is £95 a year, and she has received help in 1925, 1929, 1930, and in the year under report was granted £7 to clear arrears of rent. " G. 5232. An ex-Corporal (invalided). Has been helped by the Fund on several occasions since August, 1929, and in the year under report received a grant of £25 to set up a small business. " G. 6472. An ex-N.C.O., R.F.C. and R.A.F., 1916-1919. Granted £13 13s., towards cost of three months' treatment in a sanatorium. Suffering from neurasthenia. " G. 6319. An ex-airman. Was granted £10 towards travelling expenses of his son, ordered to Switzerland in the hope of curing a long-standing attack of asthma. " G. 5783. An ex-Flight Sergeant (a post-war enlistment). In this case the Grants Sub-Committee made a grant in August, 1931, of £50 towards cost of fees at King's College, London, for training for ordination, a grant of a similar amount having also been made in July, 1930. " G. 4476. An ex-officer, R.N.A.S. (invalided for T.B.). Married. No rension. Granted a maintenance allowance from time to time since August, 1928." The " Comrades of the Royal Air Forces " Association A LADIES' dance band from the West End, known as " The Bandits," has been secured by the Hounslow, Heston and District Branch of the above Association for their First Annual Carnival Dance, to be held at the Osterley Hotel, Great West Road, on Friday, May 6, 1932. This band is composed entirely of society ladies, who have just completed a tour of the Continent. There are numerous Spot and other prizes offered, includ ing tickets for flights from Hanworth and Heston, balloon prizes and novelties. The Branch is steadily increasing its membership, and forthcoming fixtures are being arranged. 384
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