The Airship 'Beta' II Lands in Moulton

At 11.00hrs on September the 19th 1912, H.M.Airship 'Beta II' developed engine trouble as it passed over Moulton. Ropes were thrown out and willing village hands hauled the airship down to safely in Mr Camp's meadow (Moulton Manor farm - Whitehall), for repairs to be carried out on its engine. During the two days it was there Moulton blacksmith, Charles Poulter assisted in the repair of the engine. The crew staying at the Kings Head Inn.

It's arrival caused quite a sensation, people from the surrounding countryside and nearby Newmarket came to see it, arriving on bicycles, two wheeled buggies, carriages, farm carts or just walked.

The airship ascended on Saturday the 21st of September at 07:45 and reached its destination, Farnborough at 12:00 the same day. Photographs were taken on the Friday afternoon by Mr J F Hindell, A.R.C.O. of Newmarket. One of the crew, a Sgt Barnes, sent a photograph of both H.M.A. 'Beta II' and her sister airship H.M.A. 'Gamma II' to Mrs Tweed, of the Kings Head. Of H.M.A. 'Beta II', he said "This is the one that got smashed".

One or two people in the village still have a post-card souvenir of that momentous event; but Mr Camp's field is now covered by a small housing estate, St Peter's Avenue.

At the time of writing this article, January 2000, my uncle Gilbert Vincent, who is 92 years of age can still remember the event and the excitement it caused in the village.

©John Gunson, Village Recorder January 2000.