Until the 26th February a fascinating exhibition at Dimbola Museum and Galleries chronicles how aerial reconnaissance came of age during the First World War.
For the first time, cameras mounted in airplanes recorded views above the battle field of action and behind enemy lines. Previously, balloons had offered limited opportunities of capturing such photographs.
Original reconnaissance photographs and maps were collected in two volumes of records amassed by Lt. Frank Vans Agnew. At the start of the war he had signed up (aged 46) to join the British Army.
Collection inherited by great-nephew
This unique collection of historical artefacts was inherited by his great nephew Jamie Vans (Agnew was dropped from the family name in the 1960s) who lives in Gurnard. John Evans, a volunteer at Dimbola, was planning an exhibition to highlight the centenary of the start of WW1. A serendipitous meeting with Jamie led John to learn of his priceless snapshot of history.
Awarded a Military Cross for gallantry
Frank Vans Agnew served with the Canadian Cavalry and was to meet General Jack Seely who lived at Brook. By 1917 Frank was a junior tank commander using imagery intelligence.
Wounded at Messines, Frank was awarded a Military Cross for gallantry. During the first Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 he was wounded again and captured.
By 1917 British aerial personnel were lucky to survive for more than a month of active service. To get secret information out of the French/Belgium warzone often the information was relayed by carrier pigeons.
As a Prisoner of War, held in Furstenberg, he recorded his experiences day-by-day during his captivity and it is these experiences together with the scrap books that have led Jamie to write a book based on Frank’s life. Entitled ‘Veteran Volunteer’ the book will be published later this year.
Of course, the Germans also employed aerial reconnaissance, so it was down to which side best used the intelligence gleaned.
Memorabilia from other Islanders
As well as the memorabilia belonging to Jamie, other Island residents have contributed to the exhibition including Julie Clifton who has loaned her Grandfather’s compass and there are two Kodak cameras dating from 1900 and 1907 which once belonged to the Grandfather and Great Uncle of Richard Morrison from Shorwell.
As part of the exhibition a slide show depicting original film of WW1 is on loan from the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.
The exhibition at Dimbola Museum and Galleries runs Tuesday-Sunday until 26th February.
