Balmoral
BALMORAL: Temporary display site
NOTES: This picture from the John Stroud Collection is captioned: "Balmoral - Blériot - Astley - 1912."
My initial guess and listing for the location of this picture was the BALMORAL of Royal family fame in ABERDEENSHIRE. How wrong can you be?!
I was kindly put right by Malcolm, (no surname given), and his comment is listed below. One of the joys of producing this 'Guide' has been the kindness and generosity of so many people to help and advise.
This display was being given by Henry J. Delaval Astley, and, without too much doubt given the information provided by Malcolm, this picture shows Astley and his Blériot just a second or two before his fatal crash on the 21st September 1912.
THE GREAT DUBLIN TO BELFAST AIR RACE
It now appears that the presence of Henry J D Astley, and James Valentine, at this event at the Balmoral Show Grounds in Belfast was due to their having competed in the air race held on the 7th September. At this event they were also joined by Henri Salmet who was doing his own 'thing' in the region at that time.
Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', has kindly undertaken to investigate this event. Note that in those days Dublin was a regional town within the UK.
Oddly perhaps, their departure point in Dublin, at Leopardstown, is well documented although their arrival locations are not. This said, there is a record of Valentine setting a distance/speed record from Dublin to Newry, which is a long way short of Belfast. So, did he land here whilst en route to Belfast? Valentine was flying a Deperdussin and Astley a Blériot.
Note: The second item is from the RIAC (Royal Irish Automobile Club) Archive. The fourth item was published in Flight magazine on the 14th September 1912.
The fifth item was obtained from Google Earth ©. The sixth item, the portraits, are also from the RIAC Archive. The seventh item, although quite fuzzy, clearly shows that the Balmoral Show Grounds were once much larger than seen in the Google Earth © picture above.
Note: The article in Flight magazine was published on the 28th September 1912. The local area view is from my Google Earth © derived database. Perhaps worth mentioning that many locations listed in this 'Guide' are not shown on my database.
SALMET JOINS IN
Mike Holder has unearthed information that after completing his astonishing tour of England in 1912, (see the article devoted to this subject), and whilst displaying in this region, Henri Salmet decided to join up with Astley and Valentine for this event.
Note: The second item was published in the Belfast News-Letter on the 9th September 1912, regarding a proposed exhibition of flying by Salmet at the Lurgan Agricultural Show on the 11th September. The picture of Salmet landing at Balmoral is from the RIAC Archive. The fourth item, a newspaper article, was also published in the Belfast News-Letter, but on the 13th September 1912. Relating to Salmet performing at both Lurgan and Balmoral, a very poor scan of course, but hopefully you can get the drift?
Note: This fifth item was also published in the Belfast New-Letter, but on the 14th September. The sixth item, the photo, taken shortly before Astley was killed, is from the RAIC Archive. The last two items, an article in two parts to make it easier to read, was published in the Dublin Daily Express on the 14th September 1912. Describing Salmet making an aerial display at the Glentoran football match, but being unable to land.
NOTES: As mentioned many times elsewhere in this 'Guide', the appearance of an aeroplane anywhere in the UK at this time, generated a huge amount of interest for the public. Most of whom had never seen one, let alone one in flight. And indeed, an exhibition of flying, even if only one pilot and his aeroplane was involved, generated huge crowds to witness the spectacle.
Has to be said though, just as today, that many people attending these events, such as motorsports too, have a hope of seeing a spectacular crash, all the better if the results are fatal. Nothing much changes in human nature.
Malcolm
This comment was written on: 2016-09-19 12:35:40The Balmoral referred to in the original caption is Balmoral Showgrounds in Belfast (site of the current Kings Hall on the Lisburn Road). Was owned by the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society and hosted horse shows and other competitions. This was the location of his death when he slide-slipped to the ground after banking to steeply in order to remain close to the display area. Hope that helps clarify!
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Malcolm, Many thanks indeed for this most valuable advice - much appreciated. My best regards, Dick
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