Maldon residents must have been quite relieved when the Royal Flying Corps arrived in September 1916.

Just 17 months earlier, during the late evening of Thursday, April 15, and early morning of April 16, 1915, the town had suffered a direct hit during a Zeppelin raid.

Suddenly the war had come home and there was extensive damage to properties in Spital Road, Mount Pleasant, Gate Street and at Fullbridge.

To try to prevent future attacks, 37 Home Defence Squadron was formed with a brief to guard the northern portion of the Thames Estuary and to stop enemy aircraft and the dreaded Zeppelins from penetrating inland.

Squadron Headquarters were established at ‘The Grange’, that attractive red brick, Queen Anne residence on the old Southend Road, in Woodham Mortimer, requisitioned from the then owner, Charles Bentall.

Under the overall initial command of Major W B Hargrave, operational flights of eight aircraft each were deployed at three aerodromes – ‘A’ Flight at Rochford (now London Southend Airport), ‘B’ Flight at Stow Maries (still largely intact) and ‘C’ Flight at Gardeners Farm, Goldhanger.

Regular patrols were flown between those locations, combat with the enemy occasionally ensued, but more often than not, the simple buzz of the primitive machines overhead was a reassurance for those in fear of an imminent attack.

As the war progressed, 37 Squadron consolidated its position.

‘A’ Flight relocated from Rochford to Stow Maries in July 1917, as did Headquarters in June 1918 and ‘C’ Flight in February 1919.

Having been around here for over two years, the personnel of 37 Squadron (initially RFC, but from April 1918, RAF) were a familiar sight during periods of leave and rest time.

On the March 22, 1918, they held a dance at Maldon Council School, in Wantz Road, (now Maldon Primary).

The hire of the hall cost them 5/- and they invited local girls to join in the fun.

It was only natural that friendships were formed and tokens and mementoes exchanged.

One particular Maldon family befriended an airman based at Stow Maries, called Jimmy.

We know very little about him, but he gave his new found friends three quite remarkable photographs which, a century on, allow us a glimpse of contemporary life at this now famous aerodrome.

The first shows Jimmy in the MT (Motor Transport) shed.

This is probably where he worked and he has signed the photograph, appending ‘RAF’, so it must be sometime post-April 1918.

That said, he is wearing an old RFC “maternity tunic”, albeit with medal ribbons (possibly the British War Medal and Victory Medal).

Despite the presence of fuel, he has the obligatory cigarette in hand.

He is leaning against a Crossley Tender, the workhorse of the RFC and easily identifiable by its enamelled badge and radiator shape.

By enlarging the picture you can make out ‘37 HD Sqn RAF’ on the side of the car, just to the rear of the spare wheel.

By 1918 the squadron had 41 vehicles, comprising of 11 light tenders (including Jimmy’s), six heavy tenders, eight motorcycles, three ambulances, other trailers and side cars.

If that wasn’t fascinating enough, the other two photographs go to the very heart of Great War aviation, as they are of an aircraft.

They are different views of most likely the same BE12a with what looks like another man (not Jimmy) sitting in the cockpit.

Sadly we cannot see a serial number, but we know that among the 37 Squadron examples were 6610, B1500, C3183 and C3237.

On the reverse of one of the images is the inscription “Cpl Dimple”.

Again we know that the Squadron was allocated with BE12s, but also the SE5a, Sopwith Pups, Sopwith 1½ Strutters and the BE2e.

Other types included Sopwith Camels and Sopwith Snipes and (possibly) FE2bs.

There are undoubted frustrations with these three humble snaps, but they are wonderful insights into the past.

Jimmy also seems to have ‘acquired’ and gifted to his friends an RFC blackened officer’s cap badge and it is an example which has been typically ‘modified’ by hammering the centre out on a broom handle to accentuate the letters.

I wonder who it originally belonged to?

We could draw up a long-list, but beyond that we will probably never know.

However, what a remarkable cache of mementoes from what is now described as Europe’s largest surviving First World War aerodrome.

We are so very fortunate that it is here on our doorstep and, just like Jimmy, we can still go and experience it today.