Images Dated 2016

Preparations for the Easter (Dublin) Rising of 1916 Mary Spring Rice and Molly

Preparations for the Easter (Dublin) Rising of 1916
Mary Spring Rice and Molly Childers on the yacht 'Asgard' bring guns from Germany to the Irish Volunteers, July 1914.
The box of ammunition is clearly marked Hamburg - the guns were sourced from Germany, Britain's oppoment in WW1
Asgard was Erskine Childers 's last, and most famous, yacht: in June 1914 he used it to smuggle a cargo of 900 elderly but serviceable Mauser Model 1871 rifles and 29, 000 black powder cartridges to the Irish Volunteers movement at the fishing village of Howth, County Dublin (later known as the "Howth gun-running"). It was acquired by the Irish government as a sail training vessel in 1961, stored on dry land in the yard of Kilmainham Gaol in 1979, and finally became a static exhibit at The National Museum of Ireland in 2012. Topfoto stills library picture library stock archive vintage Ireland Irish Rebellion 1916

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Vickers Supermarine ' Walrus ' Amphibian Flying Boat with a Bristol Pegasus engine

Vickers Supermarine ' Walrus ' Amphibian Flying Boat with a Bristol Pegasus engine .
Walrus is a single engined ( pusher ) biplane amphibian flying boat constructed almost entirely of metal, stainless and duralumin, the hull is flush riveted and the fabric covered superstructure has spars of stainless steel .
It is designed for service with naval cruisers and aircraft carriers for reconnaissance, fleet spotting, photographic and training purposes .
A retractable undercarriage, hydraulically operated, provides for landing on an aerodrome or on the sea . In the raised position the wheels are housed in recesses in the bottom main planes .
Walrus will be carried by vessels equipped with catapult launching gear . It was the first military aircraft with a retractable undercarriage to be adopted by the Royal Air Force and the first amphibian aircraft to be catapulted with full military load . Slinging gear is provided for hoisting on board on the conclusion of a flight .
The pilot and observor have a clear field of view, unrestricted by floats or wings from the forward enclosed cockpit .
For stowage purposes the wings can be easily and quickly folded .
A production order for the Fleet Air Arm for the Royal Navy has been received . The same type known as ' Seagull ' V, has been supplied to the Royal Australian Air Force .
18 June 1936

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A special letter from the King to Sir Patrick Duncan, Governor General of South Africa

A special letter from the King to Sir Patrick Duncan, Governor General of South Africa, was included in the first 2 1/2 tons of mail which left Southampton for Durban on the Imperial Airways flying boat "Centurion" at a flat rate of 1 1/2 d. per 1/2 ounce, without air mail surcharge. Major Tryon, the Postmaster general putting the King's letter in the mail bag before sending it on the "Centurion" inaugurating the Post Office's new "all the way by air" scheme.
29 June 1937

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