Leonard Bentley
Aldwych
This is a postcard taken and published by the Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd, commonly known as AIRCO. The company was the largest manufacturer of aircraft during the first world war, their chief designer was Geoffrey De Havilland. At the end of the war they branched out into other things such as air transport, an airline, aerial photography and postcard publishing from their premises at Hendon Aerodrome in north London. The company was bought by British Small Arms in 1920 and liquidated by them, Geoffrey De Havilland went on to greater things. The photograph shows the aerial view looking northeast whilst the aeroplane is flying over the Aldwych and the Strand, on the right is the new Australia House and to the left a number of low rise buildings on the sites later occupied by India House and Bush House. The buildings were collectively known as the Eagle Hut, opened in August 1917 as a rest and recreation centre for American servicemen, it was the idea of four American businessmen based in London and the YMCA. At the opening ceremony in September the American Ambassador was joined by a group of American Civil War veterans living in London, during it’s operation which lasted until August 1919, it was visited by King George V where he sampled his first American pancake. The hut could provide up to 5000 meals per day and accommodate over 400 men in dormitories, it was truly a home from home for the American troops. In March 1919 the local police from Bow Street made several arrests of American servicemen for playing dice in the street outside the Eagle hut. A rumour went around that one of them had been killed by the police, this was not the case but between 1000 and 2000 servicemen besieged Bow Street Police Station and a riot ensued with injuries to both Police and servicemen. Following an investigation into the events, 30 servicemen were arrested, with seven American soldiers and sailors handed over to the American Military Police and the US Navy shore patrol respectively. Four Canadian servicemen appeared at Bow Street Magistrates' Court charged with riot and six other servicemen who were injured in the riot were kept under guard in hospital before a later appearance in court.
Aldwych
This is a postcard taken and published by the Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd, commonly known as AIRCO. The company was the largest manufacturer of aircraft during the first world war, their chief designer was Geoffrey De Havilland. At the end of the war they branched out into other things such as air transport, an airline, aerial photography and postcard publishing from their premises at Hendon Aerodrome in north London. The company was bought by British Small Arms in 1920 and liquidated by them, Geoffrey De Havilland went on to greater things. The photograph shows the aerial view looking northeast whilst the aeroplane is flying over the Aldwych and the Strand, on the right is the new Australia House and to the left a number of low rise buildings on the sites later occupied by India House and Bush House. The buildings were collectively known as the Eagle Hut, opened in August 1917 as a rest and recreation centre for American servicemen, it was the idea of four American businessmen based in London and the YMCA. At the opening ceremony in September the American Ambassador was joined by a group of American Civil War veterans living in London, during it’s operation which lasted until August 1919, it was visited by King George V where he sampled his first American pancake. The hut could provide up to 5000 meals per day and accommodate over 400 men in dormitories, it was truly a home from home for the American troops. In March 1919 the local police from Bow Street made several arrests of American servicemen for playing dice in the street outside the Eagle hut. A rumour went around that one of them had been killed by the police, this was not the case but between 1000 and 2000 servicemen besieged Bow Street Police Station and a riot ensued with injuries to both Police and servicemen. Following an investigation into the events, 30 servicemen were arrested, with seven American soldiers and sailors handed over to the American Military Police and the US Navy shore patrol respectively. Four Canadian servicemen appeared at Bow Street Magistrates' Court charged with riot and six other servicemen who were injured in the riot were kept under guard in hospital before a later appearance in court.