Bush

Whittington Bremridge Bush (b. October 1889), Richard Eldon Bush (b. 16 June 1891), Gilbert Bremridge Bush (b. 5 August 1892) and Graham Shurmur Bush (b. 25 September 1895) were four brothers born to Philip Wathen Bush and Maria Louisa Bremridge in Keynsham, Somerset.

Eldest brother Whittington does not appear to have been involved with aviation at this time, having left to become a planter in Ceylon before returning in July 1920, but Richard (who went by Eldon), Gilbert and Graham had already built 3 gliders by 1910. No.1 was a Wright type glider. Overweight, it did not fly, while No.2 was No.1 rebuilt with reduced weight. This flew, but was unstable. No. 3 was of the Curtis type and was built in 1910.The lower wings had ailerons hinged on their trailing edges. Span was 30ft, length 24ft & area 260 sq. ft. The No.3 flew some short distances.

Eldon attended Malvern College, where he displayed considerable mechanical aptitude, after which he went to St. John's, Cambridge, where he built the No.4.It was of the Farman type and was fitted with a wheeled undercarriage for auto-towing. It was constructed of hickory with fabric covered wings. No's 5, 6 & 7 were modifications of No. 4 with the front elevator removed. It is unclear if these were built by Eldon at Cambridge, or by any or all of the brothers. No. 7 was known as the 'Chocolate Soldier' and had Bleriot type elevators. It was smashed while under tow by a car.

The Bush Motorplane biplanes No's 8 & 9 were built at Bath. No. 8 was built by Eldon & Gilbert in 1912. It was on the same lines as a Caudron tractor biplane and was a single seater. It was the intention to fit an in-line engine. However it was not possible to obtain such an engine within their budget, so the brothers accepted the loan of a 50hp Gnome Rotary. The nacelle was widened to suit the rotary engine, after which it was re-designated as the No.9. It was planned that Eldon would demonstrate the biplane at Hendon. However during trials at Keynsham the propeller shaft snapped and a replacement engine could not be found before Eldon as due to go on business to Canada in March 1914.

On his return in 1915 he studied architecture for six months. When war broke out he joined the Artists' Rifles, from which he obtained a commission in the R.N.A.S.., gaining his Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate No.1688 on 20 August 1915. A bad accident after 17 months flying incapacitated him for a time. Returning to duty he was given the command of Fishguard Naval Air Station RNAS. On his first flight there on the morning of 22 April 1917 he took off in a Sopwith Baby seaplane, N1033, which had been fitted with a new engine, on a test flight, carrying a full load of bombs. The seaplane failed to gain height at take-off and struck power cables, which sent it crashing into the cliff face. Two 16 pound bombs exploded. Richard was badly burnt and survived for only 36 hours before succumbing to his injuries.

Gilbert, who, like his brother Grahame attended Repton School, appears to have had no further involvement in aviation, became a doctor and died March 1997 in Honiton, Devon. The youngest brother followed in his father's footsteps, becoming an articled clerk to A. W Taylor, of Bristol. He enlisted 29 September 1914, as Corporal Dispatch Rider, Royal Engineers, was gazetted 2nd Lieut Somerset Light Infantry 7 April 1915, gained his Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate No.1932 on 20 October 1915 then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Graham Bush crashed in D.H.2 5970 in Ypres on 26 April 1916 and was seriously injured, fracturing his left hip and skull, but survived. He eventually joined in partnership with his father in Bush and Bush, solicitors. He died 19 December 1961 in Bristol, Gloucestershire.