WILLIAM BARNARD MOORHOUSE FIRST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT

An incredibly rare and important glass plate negative photograph of William Barnard Rhodes - Moorhouse taken shortly before takeoff in what was the first ever recorded Commercial Aircraft flight in history. From an accompanying newspaper article (copy): ' On the day William Moorhouse was granted his Royal Aero Club Certificate he flew to Northampton to collect a consignment of shoes from Messrs Barratt's for delivery to Hendon. This was hailed..as the first commercial use of an aeroplane .' The glass plate negative depicts Moorhouse looking back at the photographer whilst seated in his Bleriot aeroplane with an assembled crowd gathered behind. The lot is accompanied by some contact-prints taken of the negative in the mid 1970's by a family member. It is believed this image is unique and never-before-published (or seen). An incredibly rare part of aviation history. Measures approx; 6.5" x 5"

During the First World War, Moorhouse went on to be the first airman to be awarded the Victoria Cross medal. When war was declared, he volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) though he had not flown for two-and-a-half years. With a shortage of experienced pilots on the Western Front, Rhodes-Moorhouse was posted to 2 Squadron at Merville, France, on March 21, 1915. His squadron flew the Blériot-Experimental (BE) 2a and 2b aircraft, designed by the Farnborough-based Royal Aircraft Factory, which were sturdy machines but with a maximum speed of just 70 mph at ground level. On April 26 1915, the RFC was ordered to bomb the enemy’s railway network to prevent reinforcements reaching the front lines. Rhodes-Moorhouse, who had been due some much-deserved leave, was instructed to bomb the strategically vital railway junction at Courtrai – one of three targets for just four aircraft. At 3.05 pm, he took off alone from Merville, having been asked to release his 100lb bomb from just below cloud level. However, after making the 35-mile flight, he dropped down to 300ft to ensure a direct hit. He was greeted with a volley of rifle and machine-gun fire, a burst of which perforated his aircraft’s fuselage and smashed into his thigh. At the same time, fragments from his own bomb ripped through the wings and tailplane. Badly wounded and in great pain, Rhodes-Moorhouse had two options: land behind enemy lines, surrender his valuable aircraft, receive medical attention and become a prisoner of war; or try to limp back to base with his aircraft and the valuable intelligence he had gathered. Choosing the latter, he dropped a further 200ft to gain speed and again encountered heavy fire, leading to two new wounds to his hand and abdomen. Despite his appalling injuries, he managed to steer his aircraft home, crossing the Allied lines. At 4.12pm, eyewitnesses saw Rhodes-Moorhouse’s aircraft approaching. He just cleared a hedge, switched off the engine and made a perfect landing. Two officers lifted him from the battered aircraft, which had 95 bullet and shrapnel holes. He was taken to a nearby office, where he insisted on filing his report while his wounds were tended. Rhodes-Moorhouse was then moved to a casualty clearing station, where it was discovered that a bullet had ripped his stomach to pieces. He was given painkillers and it soon became apparent that he was dying. At 2.25pm, with a recently delivered letter from his wife on his pillow and his friend Blake at his side, Rhodes-Moorhouse died. At the time, Field Marshal Sir John French, the British commander, said the pilot had been responsible for “the most important bomb dropped during the war so far”. (taken from an article published in The Telegraph, 29th April 2013).

Note: from a fascinating collection of aviation photographs which also feature in lots: 28, 200 and 330. All once belonged to Albert William Eley, Mayor of Milton Keynes in 1978 who had a keen interest in aviation history, particularly in the Milton Keynes area.