Airship Beta II in Cambridge 1912
Airship Beta II on Jesus Grove, just off of Jesus Green Cambridge. Note the crowds behind watching.
Both of the photographs here of Beta II are original and within an old photograph album that I own - you can read more about the album and other photographs within HERE
Airship Beta II - Sir Arthur Marshall, in his biography ‘The Marshall Story’ writes this of the Beta II incident:
“1912…During the big Army manoeuvres in September, the Army Airship ‘Beta II’ had engine trouble over Cambridge soon after dawn and was drifting over a large Army encampment on Midsummer Common. The Captain megaphoned down handling instructions to the troops and it was manhandled to a clear patch by the River Cam with the intention of carrying out repairs. The 45 hp Clerget engine spluttering overhead had roused the population, who flocked to the common, in many cases with coats thrown over their night attire, crowding around the airship and making it impossible to work. The Captain ordered the removal of sufficient ballast to allow the airship to rise slightly; troops the walked the airship to a position immediately behind our garage in Jesus College grounds where fencing and a stream kept out the crowds. The garage, which was a big converted coaching stable, had windows opening onto Jesus College grounds and I helped carry petrol and oil cans to the airship. The garage workshop was used by the Army technicians to repair the airship’s engine.”
Army Airship Beta II Leaving Jesus Grove, just off of Jesus Green, Cambridge. September 16th 1921