Sir Bertram Hyde Jones

A Runwell Resident

During World War 1, Wickford played its part in the development of flight and had its own airfield primarily used as an emergency night landing strip for aeroplanes from Rochford and Stow Maries.

Runwell airfield was located ¾mile from Wickford Railway Station, at the Church End Farm owned by the Lord of the Manor of Runwell. The site occupied 32 acres and had a useable landing runs of 400 x 500 yards.

Due to adjacent woodland and rising ground 1 mile north of the site, it was classified as a Category 2 NLG in August 1917. The site was initially used by 61 (HD) Squadron, based at Rochford, and then by 37 (HD) Sqadron from October 1917 to March 1919.

There was a bungalow at this site for the personnel manning the site, however there was no telephone to the site. Instead there were despatch riders based at the site to carry messages to and from the Main Flying station at Rochford.

The site is now used for horse grazing and Church End farm has been replaced by housing.

Known flights to/from Runwell from pilot’s log book (thanks to Trevor Neale at Stow Maries)

F1385Camel11.08.191812:30-12:45From Stow Maries pilot Coote for lunch with Bertram Jones
F1385Camel11.08.191816:55-17:10Coote returned to Stow
E4108Avro 50416.11.191809:45-10:00To pick up Bertram Jones and take to Rochford for 198 Sqdn inspection. Pilot Coote
   

But who was Bertram Hyde Jones, and why was he inspecting an R.A.F. Squadron? 

Born in 1870, he lived at ‘Ilgars’, in Runwell Road, together with his wife Constance Elizabeth, the daughter of Mr W. J. Renshaw. They had married in 1905.

During World War 1 he was a high ranking civil servant, working as the Civil Assistant to the Controller-General of Equipment. At the request of the then Air Minister, Viscount Rothermere, he and the late Arthur. C. Roberts undertook the financial and other matters for the merger of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the RNAS into the RAF. Bertram Hyde Jones was also a pilot.

Sir Bertram Hyde Jones, K.B.E, was Knighted for his work in 1920.

He later moved to the White House, Sanderstead, Surrey, and retired to Cape Town, South Africa, where he died in 1961.

Comments about this page

Add your own comment

  • Great guy, fascinating material.

    By simon Hyde jones (10/07/2018)
  • I am extremely proud to know that Sir Bertrum Hyde-Jones was my Great Grandfather. However I too have little information about him and would love to have more if anyone has it or can guide me to where I might find out more.

    By Guy Armstrong (28/03/2018)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.