1889-1964 AKA Henricus Joannes Evert Willem Carel Wijnmalen & Weynmalen & Henry Wijnmalen |
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Library of Congress Collection, 11-12-07 |
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H. Wijnmalen (some write Weynmalen!) with his wife, Leontine Verheijden, at soesterberg-Holland just
returned from his honeymoon travel to participate there in the aviation contests.1911 |
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Courtesy of sjaak boone, voorburg, the netherlands, 8-18-02 Henri Wijnmalen had been born 3 september 1889 in Ovezande (in the province of Zeeland). After studying medicine for a while he went in 1910 to Pau and tried to take flying lessons by Bleriot. He was embarrassed by the slow speed of the lessons and decided to take the initiative and took off for a solo flight. His action was mentioned in the local newspaper. After that episode he took flying lessons with Henri Farman at Etampes. On 29 august 1910 he got his licence (nr 208 from the Aeroclub de France). In Mourmelon with his 4th flight he reached the altitude of 1.100 m. On 1 october 1910 he took the world record of height of 2.780 m. On 16 october he won the prize for the first flight with passenger from Paris to Brussels and back within 36 hours. Wijnmalens uncle was J.F. Verwey, a retired officer of the Dutch East Indies Army, who started the firm Verwey and Lugard. That firm was the importer of the Peugeot cars. The activities of this firm for the promotion of aviation were very important. This firm started with aviation demonstrations for a large public . That was the original start of the Dutch army air base Soesterberg. Wijnmalen was offed a job by his uncle with his aviation firm, the Maatschappij voor Luchtvaart. On 9 november 1910 Wijnmalen gave some demonstrations. In april 1911 Wijnmalen tested a new aerioplane, designed by Henri Farman. On 18 june 1911 Wijnmalen was one of the member of the European flight and was at the start in Vincennes. He had big trouble with his engine and decided to break with Farman. He did some test flights with the Deperdussin monoplane and then subscribed to the English flight that started on Brooklands on 22 july 1911. Wijnmalen was on Brooklands, but decided not to take off. He found the collaboration of his uncles firm so worthless, that he did not want to take part in the race. The relations between Wijnmalen and his uncle grew worse and he decided to quit. Wijnmalen went to France and returned with a Deperdussin monoplane, that he demonstrated above Leiden and Amsterdam. In Amsterdam he distributed flyers for the illustrated monthly magazine "De Prins". One of those flyers came for his carburator, the result was engine trouble and he had to make an emergency landing. In the end of 1911 he went to Hamburg and worked in the service of Max Oertz. Then he decided to do some commercial work for aviation. After a stay in Belgium he returned to the Netherlands in 1913. He started on Soesterberg the NV. Nederlandse Vliegtuigenfabriek. In october 1914 he had to leave Soesterberg. He then found a job at the NV Industrieele Maatschappij Trompenburg in Amsterdam, where he became a director. This firm was the maker of the Dutch car Spyker. These Dutch quality cars were produced until 1927 when the factory had to close down. Editor's Note: I want to thank Mr. Boone for his contribution to the story of Henri Wijnmalen. Obviously, without his help, the story would have been even more incomplete and much less interesting. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Jan den Das, 11-12-07 I found your page concerning Henri Wijnmalen. You wrote that he had to leave Soesterberg in 1914 and found a new job in Amsterdam with Trompenburg. He was asked by the Ministry of War to move his aeroplane factory (the only at that time in Holland) behind the defense line, more to the west. (the WWI was just started and Holland was not involved, but they were afraid it would started). So he started to look for space and found this at the Trompenburg factory in Amsterdam, so that became a car and aeroplane factory. Now I have a question do you have any material concerning these aero planes or do you people who can help me? I hope there are some private papers which gives more construction information? Thanks for your help. With regards, Jan den Das Editor's Note: I thank Jan for his clarification of this event in the life of Henry. I plan to forward his request to each of the other contributors to this story. In addition, if you can help him with his search, please contact me and I will forward your message to him. Thank you. |
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via email from Jean-Pierre Lauwers, 12-31-03 Spijker V.1. : only one prototype! Spijker V.2 : probably at least 80 were constructed, perhaps even more. Some 60 were used by Military Aviation and 20 by Navy Aviation. Spijker V.3 ; 78 constructed, increased eventually to about 164? Spijker V.4 : 118 were ordered by the Dutch Military Aviation, but with the end of WWI, they weren't completed! Jean-Pierre. |
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Via email from Jolanda Wijnmalen 12-20-03 I have more information for you about Henri Wijnmalen. His full name was: Henricus Joannes Evert Wilem Carel Wijnmalen, he was born 3 september 1889 in Ovezande. He got married in Brussel on 10 may 1911 with Leontine Verheijden, they had 2 daughters (Johanna Catharina Henriette born 24 oktober 1913 in Messelbroeck - Belgium and Sussanne Maria Antonia Mathilda born 9 november 1916 in Amsterdam), his wife died in London, 30 september 1932. He got married again with a J. Ward, don't know any date's about that. Henri died on 9 february 1964 in Twijfford-Berks England. I don't have more information about his career. I hope the information is of some use for you, Jolanda Wijnmalen PS I am not an direct relative of him. Somewhere in 1700's there were 2 brothers. I relate to one brother and Henri to the other. Editor's Note: I am extremely grateful to Jolanda for this information which she so kindly provided. It is just this kind of cooperative effort which enables us to have fuller access to the stories of these pioneers. |
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re Julia Ward Via email from Casey Ward, 11-27-05 Having nothing better to do, I did an internet search for one of my relatives, Henry Wynmalen. I vaguely knew that he had been involved in aviation, but I did not know the extent of it. Thank you for your interesting research on his career. I was born in 1962, and never met Henry in person. His second wife, Julia Ward, was my mother's aunt. Julia was born in Peru to a British family. She outlived Henry by many years, and I visited her on several occasions at her home near Windsor. She passed away around the year 2000, at a very advanced age. It might interest you to know that in later years Henry Wynmalen became an authority on horses. He wrote five books on the subject, some of which can still be purchased online. My aunt Julia also wrote a book, "Holly: The Education of a Horse." They were very prominent among the "horsey" set. Thank You, Casey Ward Editor's Note: I thank Casey for this update on Henry's later activities. Out of curiosity I did a seach on his name on the Amazon website and found 9 listings for his books. One of them, Dressage, mentions in the List of Illustrations, a photograph of "The Author on 'Bascar.'" It also mentions a photo of H.R.H. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.. I have ordered a "Used Copy" for $1.89.. When it arrives, I will place those photos on this page. (11-28-05) |
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Via email from Jaap Kamp, 9-22-07 It was wonderful to read about my uncle Henry Wynmalen on your site! My mother "Lien" Kan (1906-1985) was a half-sister to Henry. They had the same mother (Verwey). Although my mother and Henry had a 15-year age difference they liked each other very much. Since Henry lived most of his life in the UK their contacts were limited to writing and occasional visits. I was born (1945) and raised in Rotterdam and have met "Oom Tannenborg" (uncle Henry) several times both in Holland and the UK. I also have met his second wife Julia and Henry's two daughters. Henry must still have a grandson (xyz Schlatter) and a granddaughter (abc Schlatter) both living in the USA but unfortunately I have lost contact with them. Since my recent retirement I take interest in collecting a few photo's or other memorabilia of Henry. We have three of his books on horse riding. I also have some Dutch writings about Henry's aviation experience. In particular I would be interested in having some documentation about his victory in the Paris-Brussels-Paris race (October 1910) providing him with 100.000 french francs...See biographical note by Julia Wynmalen in Henry Wynmalen, Dressage, Third edtion revised by Jane Kidd, eds. Black London 1984, page 293. I appreciate any suggestions you can make to me. Don't hesitate to ask for further information although it is limited what I have available. Kind regards, Jaap Kamp Oude Drift 2 1251bs Laren The Netherlands |
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Via email from Emma Webb, 11-30-07 Hello, I have found this site fascinating, thank you. I knew Henry Wynmalens 2nd wife, I kept my horse at the stables in Hare-Hatch where Mrs Wynmalen lived a long life. Unfortunately she could not die at her beloved house and was moved into a care home for the last few months of her life and the house was sold on and has been restored and looks amazing, as I imagine it would have looked in the days of Henry. Before the house was sold it had run into a sad state. Mrs Wynmalen seemed terrified of losing the house and lived in rather poor conditions in this grand old house for a while. She lived with her elderly maid, Ludivinia, and they made rather a funny pair. My husband is a plumber and went into the house on several occasions and said it really was like stepping back 80 or 90 years. I would go into the house to see if all was ok on rare occasions. Mrs. Wynmalen once took me on a tour of her house and one room in particular sticks in my mind. The dining room was amazing and at the far end was the most wonderful fireplace I have ever seen, Mrs. Wynmalen told me that Henry had it shipped over from Holland, and it was truely splendid, the blue and white tiles polished daily by Ludivina shone as if they were a day old. In the stables horses' name plaques still hung covered in dust and cobwebs, only now I realise that the horses stabled there were olympic and world champions, alas I never had such luck with my old horse!!! |
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Via email from Charles Lindenberg, 1-15-08 Julia was my aunt -- my mother's older sister. There were five girls and one boy in the Ward family who owned Cinto Valley in southern Peru and grew grapes, made into world famous Italia Ward Brandy. Prohibition here in the United States was economically devastating to their beloved Cinto. Aunt Julia's youngest sister, Isabel, married Sir Stanley Fordham, ambassador to Cuba during the Castro take-over era. My wife Nancy and I visited Aunt Julia several years ago and spent a few delightful days with her and Luzdivina. Mother and I had visited Henry and Julia when I was only three or four but Kingswood House was so beautiful that I could still remember many little details that Aunt Julia had forgotten. Thank you for keeping the memories alive. Charles Lindenberg |
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Via email from Charles Lindenberg, 1-16-08 It's always so interesting to learn little tidbits of your ancestry, things the public would never get from the media. My uncle Henry was a very formal man who treasured his privacy and order. He did not care for children but for some reason he tolerated me, even to the extent of allowing me into his office now and then. He had a big black car named "The Invicta," whatever that meant. Don't know if it was the model, make or just a name. Aunt Julia had a Woolsley which was known as "The Little Green Car." She drove like a madman and you know those very narrow and winding roads around Wargrave. I was far too young to think it was anything but exciting but the word was out on Aunt Julia's driving. Uncle Henry's passion, at least when I knew him, was his horses. He dearly loved them and Bascar and one or two others are buried at Kingswood House with plaques over their graves. I still remember the gathering of hunters on their horses, all decked out in the proper attire for the fox hunt. Very stirring. Aunt Julia started a pony club many years ago, and when Nancy and I were there vising a few years ago, she took us up to a horse gathering there. The folks around there treated her like the Queen Mum! She was very popular and loved. Now you need to get back on the air and we can chat. My favorite mode is still CW (I was a radioman in the Coast Guard in the fifties), and the love of the dits and dahs stuck. But I will do SSB if necessary! Thanks again for a very interesting website. Charlie Lindenberg |
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Using the Google search engine on "Henry Wynmalen" +aviation -books, ( 9-22-07), you will find seven links. One of the most interesting has vanished from the net, but you can see an excerpt below. |
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The Daily Mail £10,000 Prize 22 July - 7 August 1911 |
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1. André Beaumont 2. H. J. D. Astley 3. Brindejonc des Moulinais 4. R.C.Fenwick 5. Lt.J.C.Porte, R.N. 6. Ronald C. Kemp 7. C. Compton Paterson 8. O.C.Morison 9. Jules Védrines 10. James Radley 11. G. Blanchet (11) 12. Lt. R.A. Cammell, R.E. 13. E. Audemars 14. James Valentine 15. D.Graham Gilmour |
16. Eric Gordon-England 17. Collyns Pizey 18. Pierre Prier 19. C. Howard Pixton 20. S.F. Cody 21. Maurice Tabuteau 22. F.Conway Jenkins 23. Olivier de Montalent 24. Gustav Hamel 25. Lt. Reynolds, R.E. 26. Robert Loraine 27. B. C. Hucks 28. C.T.Weymann 29. Henri Wijnmalen 30. Lt. H.Bier + passenger |
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If time permits, I am sure you will want to read the whole interesting story of this historic event. You
can access the site by clicking on the title above. Editor's Note: This website has disappeared from the net, as of 9-6-07, and I was not able to recover a copy from the waybackmachine.org website. I am grateful that we have the extract above for reference. |
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Ralph, I read your request for material on this gent and I just wanted to let you know about this scrapbook that will be going on ebay today, (10-19-03), in case it might be of interst......it's written in a foreign language, possibly Dutch and the photos are below.....our ebay user ID is justpickers Lance Editor's Note: In case you find this page on my website and are interested, maybe you can locate this photo album. If you contact me, I will try to help. RSC |
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via email from Anke Hillebrand, 12-30-03 I found your site and have a question for you.. Because I'm busy with a documentary of the "brothers Spyker", I know about Trompenburg and the making of 'Spyker planes and engines!' I also know that Wijnmalen was president of Trompenburg.... Do you have perhaps pictures of him in a Spyker plane? Regards, Anke Hillebrand Editor's Note: If any of you can help Mr. Hillebrand with his quest, please contact me. I will forward your message to him. He tells me that he can use any information until March, 2004. |
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THE AUTHOR ON "BASCAR' --WHO DID SO MUCH TO HELP HIM WRITE THIS BOOK |
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DRESSAGE A Study of the Finer Points of Riding Henry Wynmalen Product Details Hardbound: 288 pages; 6x9 inches Publisher: A. S. Barnes and Company, Inc. Out of Print: |
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Description: "DRESSAGE is the Art of improving one's horse beyond the stage of plain usefullness. An understanding of its principles is of inestimable value to all riders who wish to improve the performance of their horses in order to add to their enjoyment and success. The author explains that the nature of these principles is esssentially very simple. There is, he says, no fundamental difference between the methods employed in handling a new-born foal or in riding a high-school horse. It is only in the application of these methods to work of an ever more exacting nature that the difficulties increase." |
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Personal communication from Jolanda Wijnmalen - 12-20-03 |
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If you have any more information on him or his career, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper |
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