Woodbourne Street Names

[Dave Homewood]

I notice that the streets within the base at Woodbourne have largely been named after pre-war aviators who made an impact on the NZ scene and often a connection with Woodbourne.

Kingsford Smith Ave and Ulm Cres are obvious, they made the first east to west Tasman crossing from this airfield in 1928.

Dix Street is after pre-war and wartime office Frank Dix.

Macgregor Street is named after Malcolm Macgregor, WWI ace and airline pioneer.

Fairhall Street is named after the farm that Woodbourne was built on.

Clouston Street was after Arthur Clouston who flew the DH88 from the UK to Omaka I guess.

So, who were Bennett, Chaytor and Spence? I cannot place them. Were they maybe airmen who were killed at Woodbourne?

In the Married Patch we also have:
- Caldwell Road after Keith Caldwell (WWI ace and WWII Station Commander)
- Stedman Road after Gerry Stedman, prewar Aero Club CFI and wartime head of the FTS at Wigram and then Woodbourne
- gainsford Place must be after Tony Gainsford, a highly decorated WWII airman
- Not sure who Woodward, Gartrell and Webb were though.

Any ideas?

[camtech]

Webb could be the Group Captain killed when NZ5908 crashed in 1953.
Gartrell was also a wartime pilot, who retired as an Air Commodore in 1973. He served in Singapore, Java and Sumatra.
Woodward was also a Group Captain, retiring in 1967.

[Dave Homewood]

I see the theme now as Caldwell, Gainsford and Stedman all made that rank of Group Captain too from memory. Thanks Les.

[curtiss]

Chaytors were a well known local family who had large land holdings and farming interests. I believe the street is named after Major Chaytor. Following extract from 1905 publication on

Major D'arcy Chaytor , of the First Battalion Nelson Mounted Rifles, was born in Marlborough, in the year 1873, and is the third son of Mr. J. C. Chaytor, of “Marshlands,” Marlborough. He was educated at Nelson College, and at Clare College, Cambridge, England; afterwards learned farming; and is now (1905) manager of his father's estate. Major Chaytor joined the Marlborough Mounted Rifles
as lieutenant in the year 1895, succeeded his brother as captain of the corps in 1901. and was promoted to his present rank in 1903. He is one of the most popular and capable volunteer officers in the district; served with distinction in South Africa, in the early part of the Boer war; was in the celebrated ride to the relief of Kimberley, and has a medal and five clasps.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. Interesting stuff.

[Peter Lewis]

G M Spence was the Blenheim-based Chairman of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club (the aero club for aero clubs) for many years, possibly from it's foundation in the 1930s.

[davidnzl]

Clouston was also RAF Langahm base CO - and was there when 489 NZ Squadron was posrted there for D Day ops. I ssupect that it is the Omaka connection that is celebrated with the Woodbourne name

[ADG]

Gainsford Place is named after AP Gainsford DSO, OBE, DFC, AFC who was Base Commander Woodbourne 1957 to 1960. He was a pilot on Bomber Command during WWII completing 62 missions. He also Commanded Whenuapai and retired as an Air Commodore in 1967.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks adg.

I'd love to have a catch up with you sometime soon, I've been meaning to do so for ages.

[Antonio]

Oct 21, 2024 8:46:52 GMT 12 ADG said:

Gainsford Place is named after AP Gainsford DSO, OBE, DFC, AFC who was Base Commander Woodbourne 1957 to 1960. He was a pilot on Bomber Command during WWII completing 62 missions. He also Commanded Whenuapai and retired as an Air Commodore in 1967.

AWM Cenotaph entry:  www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C36555

[fwx]

Webb: Group Captain Richard 'Dick' Webb, DSO, DFC, mid RNZAF, decorated Spitfire pilot during the War and at that time, commanding officer RNZAF Whenuapai. On 27 May 1953, tragically killed in a Bristol Freighter crash at Woodbourne, Blenheim.

[davidd]

Webb was also an incapacitated pilot (lost a leg in an accident, or war injury, details of which I am not fully informed at moment), but nevertheless continued to fly in spite of this minor irritation.