Rhodes Moorhouse

[Kate Wills]

Air Ace fans may be interested in this recent story from our local paper:

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Village book tells of the first air VC

THE history of a Northamptonshire village from prehistoric times to the present day is set to be revealed in a new book.

Spratton Local History Society will launch its first book, Spratton – a Village History, tomorrow.

The book, which contains 132 pages and 250 photographs, took the society's archivist Michael Heaton and its chairman, Enid Jarvis, two years to write.

It features the story of Spratton hero William Rhodes-Moorhouse who served in the Royal Flying Corps in World War One and was the first airman to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Mr Heaton said: "The book includes the story of William Rhodes-Moorhouse, as well as detailed information about the children who worked long hours making lace, memories of the local school, and stories of how Spratton celebrated royal occasions and national festivals in the past."

As well as the book, the history society has also made a CD containing more than 1,000 historic photographs from its archives.

Both the book and CD will be launched at Spratton Church of England Primary School at 11am tomorrow, Saturday. They will be on sale throughout the day, the book costing £6 and the CD £5.

[Clive Maier]

Rhodes-Moorhouse VC was one of the very few to be repatriated. He is buried in the grounds of the family home, at Parnham in Dorset. He died in hospital from mortal wounds received while bombing the railway line at Courtrai. According to some accounts, he died clutching a photograph of his infant son. The boy became Hurricane pilot Flight Lieutenant Willie Rhodes-Moorhouse DFC who was shot down in combat over Tunbridge Wells and crashed to his death beside the railway line at Southborough. Willie is buried beside his father.

[Kate Wills]

Please excuse the short notice, but in addition to the ANZAC centenary, which Northamptonshire WFA will be marking once again with a much larger event courtesy the Borough Council, it is also the centenary of the first air VC William Rhodes-Moorhouse.

His home village of Spratton are marking this auspicious event with a weekend of displays, bands, talks and a flypast, and the launch of a new book by Enid Jarvis and Spratton History Society. Please support this tribute to this gallant airman.

More details can be found here.