THIS photographic postcard, taken by local photographer Fred Wright, is of a crash that occurred on the way from Larkhill to Aldershot on 6 September 1912.

Captain James Austin, who was piloting the Avro bi-plane, experienced engine trouble just before reaching Andover and managed to land the craft in a field at Balksbury farm (or Bagsbury as it was often called), just north of Upper Clatford.

The report at the time said he managed to land ‘just clear of the Bridle Track’ which I suspect must have been the little track that originally ran from the mill end of Rooksbury Road and came out at Stirling’s Poultry, now Era Park.

The Rooksbury end has now been subsumed by the Kemmitt Way housing estate but the old track can be picked up after passing under the A303 bridge on the Test Way and immediately bearing uphill, following the line of the A303 until the track is reached, which leads to the Andover - Clatford road.

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Andover Advertiser: The military plane crash at Balksbury, 6 September 1912

The crash site itself is probably in the area where the new tennis courts have been built.

Aeroplanes of this period were fragile machines, being not much more than a construction of wood, wire and canvas, around a metal engine.

Only nine short years had passed since the Wright brothers had flown a few hundred yards at Kitty Hawk which is generally regarded as the first successful flight, but during the early years of daredevil experimentation accidents were frequent and there were many fatalities.

Indeed, Andover had mourned the loss of one of its sons, Staff-sergeant Richard Wilson, only two months before this crash at Balksbury, when the town saw its biggest funeral procession ever.

However, aeroplanes were here to stay and the military was quick to take advantage of this form of air travel, particularly for reconnaissance purposes.

Some years earlier, there had been experiments with air balloons and airships flying over enemy territory but these were slow and cumbersome, and consequently vulnerable to attack.

The potential of the aeroplane was obvious and the first army training school for pilots was set up at Larkhill in 1910 where an area of the sloping downs was re-landscaped to create a suitably-flat airfield, arguably the first military airfield in England.

But it was short-lived and by 1914 it had closed, with operations being transferred elsewhere. Larkhill then became a base for troops awaiting deployment to France.

Luckily, Captain Austin was uninjured but the plane came down too quickly and skidded into the soft earth, causing it to turn a complete somersault, with the pilot hanging upside down in his seat.

He escaped with just a few scratches but the plane was badly damaged with buckling to the seats, wires and steering apparatus, though the wings were ‘untouched’.

Coincidentally, on the same day, the Royal Flying Corps lost two other flyers when their plane crashed near Hitchin; it underlines the heroic bravery of these early pioneers and how hazardous a pursuit it was.

Through word of mouth only, it is amazing how quickly people gathered at this remote spot to get a look at the stricken plane.

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Many were schoolchildren who the following week would have been back at school and thus unable to enjoy the excitement.

Among the spectators was photographer Fred Wright who had probably cycled over from Andover to take some photographs which he could turn into postcards.

Ever the entrepreneur, he posted this view and another of the wreck to the Southampton Pictorial, winning a prize of 10s. 6d. for the best photographs sent in that week.  

If you are interested in local history, why not join Andover History and Archaeology Society? Details can be found at andoverlocalhistoryarchaeology.uk.