Page 3 - Life in Langham 1914-1919

Sharrad’s Field - Aircraft

A biplane was observed passing over this

parish [Langham and Barleythorpe] on

Wednesday afternoon, in a

southerly direction.

Grantham Journal 25 September 1915

Rita Duffin, a resident of Langham, recorded her

first experience of an aeroplane.

It was a warm midsummer’s

day in 1917. I talked with

Mr Eric Munday about this

one, and he said Yes, I

remember it well.

We were both thirteen

years old. It was the

dinner hour and we were

at home, when the noise of a plane going over

(a very rare thing to happen) made us prick up our ears. When we realised it

was very low and coming lower, in trouble, we ran out to watch. We were madly

excited as it came down and landed in Sharrad’s Field up the Burley Road. We

were all so busy examining it and touching it, when we realised that another one

was coming down - no doubt to help his friend - but all their efforts failed

to get it up.

Eventually a message was sent, no doubt

from Harewood House, Langham,

[the residence of Mr George Ruddle],

another plane came down with repair

parts. Fancy, three biplanes down in one field!

When the propellers started turning we all stood behind to let the wind nearly

take us off our feet.

We all played truant that afternoon from school, but we were not punished - only

had to write a composition about it. Life has changed enormously since those days,

but I’m grateful for good memories and friends to share them with.

Rita Duffin - The Langham News & Langham Village History Group