Description
Object description
Papers, photographs and publications relating to the weapon designer Frederick Marten Hale, with particular reference to his work during the First World War.
Content description
Documents, publications and photographs relating to Frederick Marten Hale and his development of weapons during the First World War. These incluse two letters from the Air Department of the Admiralty (signed by the Director, Murray Sueter). The first, dated 25 October 1914, informs The Cotton Power Company of the use by Flight Lieutenat Marix of a 20 lb Hales bomb in the attack on airship sheds at Dusseldorf on 8 October and the resulting destruction of a Zeppelin airship L 9. The second, addressed to Frederick Marten Hale, thanks him for sending a silver 20 lb Hales bomb to the Air Department to commemorate Flight Sub-Lieutenant Warneford's successful bombing of airship LZ 37 over Ghent on 7 June 1915. A third letter, from the Naval Flying School, Eastchurch, to Frederick Marten Hale and dated 21 August 1915, thanks the latter for the silver-plated commemorative bomb to mark Warnford's feat, which was forwarded by the Air Department.
Also included are two copies of a souvenir booklet published by Frederick Marten Hale in 1921 to commemorate his contribution to the British war effort through weapon invention and design including rifle grenades, hand grenades, aircraft bombs and depth charges. Both copies include a printed letter of thanks from King George V's Private Secretary, dated 11 June 1921, to Marten Hale for forwarding a copy of the publication. A letter in the collection from A H L Hardinge at Windson Castle, dated 11 June 1921, passes on the King's thanks for the publication to Marten Hale. Other publications are a copy of 'The Whitehall Gazette' for April 1920, containing an account of F Maten Hale's war work and a printed paper detailing Marten Hale's eleven year flight to gain patent rights and financial award from the British government for the invention of the rifle grenade and aerial bomb.
The collection also holds four passports for Frederick Marten Hale, two issued by the British government, dated 4 February 1886 and 21 October 1895, one from the Austro-Hungarian Embassy in London dated 16 December 1908 (with handwritten English translation) and another from the Italian Embassy in London dated 21 April 1909. An additional British passport made out for Matthew Henry Hale, dated 19 June 1853, is also included.
A handwritten note, dated 16 May 1925, details successes in the Court of Appeal by Marten Hale regarding his patent dispute with the British government over rifle grenades and aerial bombs. There is also a handwritten letter from James Robert Ford to Mrs Skilton, dated 20 June 1977, relating to Hale family history. Four photographs also form part of the collection, including one showing Frederick Marten Hale demonstrating the firing of a rifle grenade and one dated 30 August 1918 showing him on his horse Orby.
The collection is completed by a typescript and newspaper obituary for Frederick Marten Hale.