Harold Hume Piffard

From Wikipedia - Harold H. Piffard

Harold Hume Piffard (10 August 1867 – 17 January 1938) was a British artist, illustrator, and one of the first British aviators.

Personal life

Harold Hume Piffard was born in Marylebone to Charles Piffard (1829 – 1884) and his wife Emily, née Hume (1837 – 1911), the daughter of James Hume, a barrister and Magistrate at Calcutta. They had married in Calcutta on 1 June 1858. Charles had received his BA at Clare College, Cambridge in 1848, was called to the Bar ..., and was awarded an MA from Clare College. Charles was Clerk of the Crown in the High Court of Calcutta. Piffard's four eldest brothers had all been born in India.

Piffard was the couple's sixth son. He was educated at Lancing College, Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0RW 50.84639, -0.30417, being sent there together with his older brother Lawrence in 1877. He was still there at the time of the 1881 census. A year earlier he had run away from school to find employment on the stage, sleeping on the Embankment for several nights while he visited theatres and music halls. He travelled to India in February 1884 then spent some time travelling in India and working on a tea plantation. In 1889, he returned to London and began to study art at the Royal Academy Schools, and he exhibited his first painting at the Royal Academy in 1895. His address was then [5 Fitzroy Square, Fitzrovia, London W1T 5HH 51.5234058, -0.1391353].

A month later, on 4 June 1895, he married Helena Katherine Docetti Walker (1 August 1871 – 27 November 1900)—the daughter of Peter Geddes Walker (13 December 1833 – 28 May 1896), a jute manufacturer, and a naturalised German, Margaretha (Meta) Docetti (c. 1837 – 19 October 1897)—at St John's Free Church in Dundee. At the time of his marriage his address was [29 Cambridge Avenue, North Maida Vale, London NW6 5AA 51.5351011, -0.1934558]. He was at the same address a year later in August 1896 when he was burgled. However, the 1899 Electoral register shows him living at 18 Addison Road, Bedford Park, Chiswick, London, where he remained until he died.

Piffard and Helena had four children:

• Harold Reginald Grahame Sherard Piffard (28 May 1896 – 7 June 1917): He emigrated to New Zealand for his health before the outbreak of the war. He worked for the Lone and Mercantile Agency as a clerk. He enlisted in New Zealand on 8 February 1916, and was killed in France in the following year.
• Dorothy Helena Hume Piffard (19 March 1898 – 7 May 1969): The 1939 England and Wales Register shows her as an artist-painter, living at her parents' old address at 18 Addison Road.
• Ivan Adrian Augustus Piffard (5 November 1899 – 27 February 1993): Like his father, he was the victim of burglary.
• Grahame Laurence Piffard (November 1900 – 12 February 1901): Died at three months of age and is buried with his parents in Old Chiswick Cemetery.

Helena died soon after the birth of her fourth child, Grahame, in 1900. Harold married again on 8 January 1902, again in Scotland, but at the St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland) in Edinburgh rather than the Free Church this time. His bride was Eleanor Margaret Hoile (17 April 1871 – 20 December 1953), the daughter of John Hoile (c. 1840 – 16 December 1877) another jute merchant (deceased) and Catherine Robertson Kirkland (c. 1843 – 12 September 1911)). Piffard and Eleanor had one son.

• Hume Piffard (28 July 1905 – 12 September 1976) Hume trained as an engineer and married Mabel Nancy Sothers in St Paul's Cathedral, Cathedral Road, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India 22.54417, 88.34667 (Church of England) on 24 February 1940.

Piffard died on 17 January 1938; he is buried in Old Chiswick Cemetery, as is his first wife Helena. His second wife Eleanor survived him for nearly 20 years.

Aviator

First flights in Acton

Piffard began making model aircraft in 1907, winning a prize for one of them at Olympia in 1909. He began to fly in 1909, using an 8-cylinder 40 horsepower ENV 'D' engine and building the airframe in his studio; he rented a shed on Back Common Road, Turnham Green (Chiswick Back Common, Chiswick Common Road, Chiswick, London W4 1RT 51.4941892, -0.2603089) near his home to assemble the aircraft, which was a biplane with elevator in front of the wing, and a variable-pitch propeller. From September 1909 he tested the aircraft on a rented field in Ealing to the west of Masons Lane at what was then Hanger Hill Farm, now 26 Chatsworth Road, Ealing, London W5 3DB 51.525276, -0.289709 (not the same as the later Acton Aerodrome, which was on the other side of Masons Lane). He managed to get the plane airborne and fly "a foot or two from the ground for a distance of a hundred yards or so." However, on 3 December 1909 the aircraft and its marquee hangar were destroyed in a storm.

Flying at Shoreham

Piffard in his hand-built aircraft Hummingbird on the Shoreham field where he flew it, 1910

Piffard then co-founded (with George Wingfield, a lawyer) the Aviator's Finance Company, which took out a lease on land at Shoreham-by-Sea near his old school, Lancing College, which already possessed a hangar. With Edouard Baumann and two assistants, they reworked the aircraft's design and had Hummingbird ready on 3 May 1910. It was able to take off in short hops, earning it the nickname of "The Grasshopper"; it frequently crashed because of the hidden ditches in the grass. In September 1910 he flew at a height of 30 or 40 feet for half a mile, managing to fly right across the field to a nearby hotel, The Sussex Pad "in about 40 seconds". He had not learnt how to turn the plane in the air, and the plane had to be wheeled back to the hangar, as there was no space to take off near the hotel, but he celebrated with champagne all the same.

A local cinematograph company asked to film a flight, and he confidently accepted; Colin Manton describes this as characteristic hubris. Ignoring warnings of a dangerous ditch, he tried to fly over it, destroying the aircraft in a "comprehensive smash" which was recorded on film. The cameraman noted that Piffard still "seemed in no way disappointed; in fact, I thought I saw a gleam of satisfaction in his eye".

In 1911 Piffard unsuccessfully tested a new aircraft, the Piffard Hydroplane, which had floats as well as wheels, on Shoreham beach. He developed no more aircraft and did not attempt to fly again, working as an artist and illustrator. The land at Shoreham became Shoreham Airport.

Painter

Piffard painted a wide variety of subjects in both oils and watercolour. Paintings include:

• Joan of Arc
• The French assault on Saragossa on 10 February 1809
• The Signing of the Armistice, 11 November 1918

Illustrator

Piffard started his work as an illustrator with contributions to periodicals including The Strand Magazine, The Illustrated London News and The Penny Pictorial Magazine. He began to illustrate books in 1895, eventually illustrating over a hundred novels by authors including Frances Hodgson Burnett, Guy Boothby, Harry Collingwood, Mrs. Henry Wood, Richard Marsh, Max Pemberton, and J. M. Neale, as well as a series of classics for Collins including works by Thackeray, Dickens, and George Eliot.

• Cover of George Griffith's Valdar the Oft-born, 1895, signed lower left
• Cover of William le Queux's Zoraida, 1895, signed lower left
• Interior of a Bromsgrove Nailmaker's shed, 1896
• "The Silent Groves", plate on page 279 of Sibyl Falcon. A study in romantic morals by Alfred Edgar Jepson, 1895
• "There in the blackness of the night I saw two gleaming eyes", plate on page 77 of The City of Gold by Edward Markwick, 1896

Example of a full set of illustrations

The following set of six illustrations were made by Piffard for Geoffrey Harrington's Adventures by Harry Collingwood. This was published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in 1907.

• Geoffrey Harrington holds onto the stump of the mast while attempting to cut free the broken mast and rigging
• Geoffrey Harrington foils an assassination attempt
• Geoffrey Harrington and the Queen plight their troth to each other
• The Avelians set the Tutan Dockyard on fire
• Geoffrey Harrington is succoured by his Royal Sweetheart
• The deposed Tutan King listens to music

Legacy

In 2007 the Shoreham Airport Historical Association built a replica of Piffard's Hummingbird.

From Bear Alley Books

From FreeBMD - Registration of birth of Harold Hume Piffard in 1867

October to December 1867: Registration of birth of Harold Hume Piffard; in Marylebone (Volume 1a, Page 516)

From British Newspaper Archive: Morning Advertiser Wednesday, 14 August 1867 Page 7 Births

Births: On Saturday, 10 August 1867 [inst.], at 33 [Blandford Square, Marylebone, London NW1 6JX 51.5235705, -0.1646898], the wife of Charles Piffard, Esq., barrister-at-law, of a son.

From Scotland's People: Marriages

• 1895 marriage of Harold Piffard to Helena K D Walker, in the district of St Peter

From British Newspaper Archive: Dundee Advertiser, Wednesday, 5 June 1895 Page 6 Wedding in Free St John’s, Dundee

A very pretty wedding took place in Free St John’s Church St John's Free Church, 56 Small's Wynd, Dundee, Angus DD1 4HG 56.45778, -2.98028, yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, 4 June 1895, when Mr Harold Hume Piffard, youngest son of the late Charles Piffard, barrister-at-law, Calcutta, was united to Miss Helena K. Docetti Walker, only daughter of Mr. P. G. Walker, J.P., Airlie Place, and Mrs Walker. Mr Piffard, who is a rising literary man, as well as an artist of promise, has an interesting local connection, as he the great-grand-nephew of Joseph Hume, the political economist, once M.P. for the Montrose Burghs.

The pulpit and choir rails were embroidered in greenery, spiraea, tall white lilies, and graceful palms making up fine floral effect, and the window sills were gay with flowers of different hues. The choir rendered the hymn “Oh, Father, all creating” as the wedding party appeared, and Mr David Stephen presided at the American organ, playing the "Bridal March” from Lohengrin” as the congregation assembled.

The Rev. D. M. Ross officiated, and the Rev. Henry W. Bell, Aberdeen, uncles of the bride. Mr Ross’s address preceding the ceremony was singularly beautiful and appropriate, and the whole service was simple and fine.

Miss Walker, who entered the church leaning on the arm of her brother, who gave her away, was gowned in white satin, rich and graceful dress, trimmed with exquisite point lace, an heirloom in the Piffard family, and present from one of the bridegroom’s sisters. Her long veil enveloped the figure, and she wore a coronet of orange blossoms placed above the veil, and carried beautiful bouquet of white flowers.

Her four bridesmaids were Miss Somerville and Miss Walker (cousins of the bride), Miss McLeod, and Miss Thoms. They were all dressed alike in soft white silk frocks with fichus of chiffon, and carried bouquets of roses, as beseemed a June wedding - two of pink and two of cream roses. Their white hats with pottle crowns were trimmed with frills of chiffon on the brim and clusters of roses, two having pink blossoms and two creamy blooms.

The “best man” was Captain Vanrenen, the bridegroom’s cousin. After the ceremony the choir sang the old Hebrew blessing “The Lord bless thee and keep thee,” and at the close of the service the paraphrase "O God of Bethel.”

While the newly-married pair went out to sign the registers the organist played Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. Immediately after leaving church the marriage party was photographed in Belmont grounds, the white dresses showing up very prettily against the green background of grass and trees.

From findmypast 19010331 census Harold Piffard 33 Harold 4 Dorothy 3 Ivan 1 at 18 Addison Road Chiswick London

31 March 1901 Census for residents of [18 Addison Grove, Chiswick, London W4 1ER 51.4971432, -0.2513644]

• Harold Piffard, head, widower, male aged 33 [born about 1868] in London; Artist (Painter), working on own account at home
• Harold Piffard, son, male aged 4 [born about 1897] in London
• Dorothy Piffard, daughter, female aged 3 [born about 1898] in London
• Ivan Piffard, son, male aged 1 [born about 1900] in London
• Ernest Walker, brother-in-law, single, male aged 30 [born about 1871] in Scotland; Doctor, working on own account
• Cecilia S Stone, house keeper, widow, female aged 55 [born about 1846] in Wendover, Buckinghamshire; House Keeper
• Alice M Shelton, servant, single, female aged 19 [born about 1882] in London; House Maid Domestic
• Florrie Jay, servant, single, female aged 19 [born about 1882] in Ipswich, Suffolk; Nurse Domestic

From Scotland's People Old Parish Registers - Marriages

1902: Marriage of Eleanor Margaret Hoile to Harold Hume Piffard in district of St Giles [Edinburgh]

From British Newspaper Archive: The Scotsman Thursday, 9 January 1902 Page 10 Marriages

Marriages: Piffard — Hoile. — At St Giles' Cathedral, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1RE 55.94944, -3.19083, on Wednesday, 8 January 1902, by the Very Rev. J. Cameron Lees, D.D., LL. D., Dean of the Thistle and of the Chapel Royal, Harold Hume Piffard, Esq., London, to Eleanor Margaret, daughter of the late John Hoile, Esq.

From MyHeritage: Harold Hame Piffard: 1911 England & Wales Census

2 April 1911 Census for residents of 18 Addison Road, Chiswick, London, England; House with 11 rooms

• Harold Hume Piffard, head, married for 9 years [about1902] 5 children, 4 still living, male, aged 43 [born about 1868], in London; Artist Painter; working at home
• Eleanor M Piffard, wife, married for 9 years [about1902] 1 child living, female, aged 39 [born about 1872], in Dundee, Angus
• Harold Piffard junior, son, single, male, aged 14 [born about 1897], in London
• Dorothy Piffard, daughter, single, female, aged 13 [born about 1898], in London
• Ivan Piffard, son, single, male, aged 11 [born about 1900], in London
• Hume Piffard, son, single, male, aged 5 [born about 1906], in Montrose, Angus
• Alice Osborne, servant, single, female, aged 25 [born about 1886], in London

From Canada in Khaki - a tribute to the officers and men now serving in the Canadian expeditionary force Published 1917 Page 136

"The Thin Red Line", by H. Piffard

From Canada in Khaki Number 2. A tribute to the officers and men now serving in the overseas military forces of Canada Page 148

1917: "His constant companion" - illustration by Harold Piffard.

From Harold H. Piffard Oil on Canvas - Sunday, 22 October 2017 DuMouchelles in Michigan

Harold H. Piffard (British, 1867-1938), Oil on Canvas, H 40", L 60", "the Signing of the Armistice - 11 November 1918": Signed lower right; unframed. Captain Vanselow; Count A. Oberndorf; General Winterfeldt; Capt. J.P. R. Marriott; Herr Erzberger; Rear Admiral Sir George Hope, K.C.M.G.; Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, G.C.B.; Marechal Foch and General Weygand. Label on back reads Humphrys, W. Frank Gadsby Ltd.Thrale Galleries, 326-328 Streatham, High Road S.W.16.Provenance: Purchased from Dixon of New Orleans, March 1997. Piffard exhibited at the prestigious Royal Academy, The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and The Royal Society of British Artists in Birmingham.

Sold for US$9,000 Sunday, 22 October 2017

From FreeBMD - Registration of death of Harold H. Piffard in 1939

January to March 1939: Registration of death of Harold H. Piffard; aged 72 [born about 1867]; in Lambeth, London (Volume 1d, Page 154)

From findagrave - Harold Hume Piffard (1867-1938)

• Harold Hume Piffard
• Died: 17 Jan 1938
• Aged: 71 [born about 1867]
• Buried: [Chiswick Old Cemetery, Corney Road, Chiswick, London W4 2RA 51.4837447, -0.2535731]

From Ancestry 19390220 probate Harold Hume Piffard 18 Addison Road Bedford Park London d 19390117 St. Thomas Hospital Lambeth Palace Road pr London £3287 Resworn £3328

20 February 1939 probate of Harold Hume Piffard of 18 Addison Road, Bedford Park, Middlesex, who died 17 January 1939, in St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH 51.49910, -0.11891, Lambeth Palace Road, Surrey, probate granted at London on 20 February 1939 to the National Bank Limited. Effects £3287 4s. Resworn £3328 2s.