VILLAGERS and servicemen gathered at the graveside of a Bradfield man who made history in the First World War.

A special service was held at St Lawrence Church in Bradfield on Monday to mark 100 years since Edwin Dunning died at sea.

Edwin lived at Jacques Hall in the village before joining the Royal Navy and becoming squadron commander.

On August 2, 1917 Edwin made history when he landed his Sopwith Pup fighter plane on HMS Furious off Scotland, it was the first time a plane had landed on a moving ship.

Edwin landed by flying through turbulence created by funnel smoke and completing a dangerous manoeuvre to side-slip onto the deck and cut the engine - deck crew grabbed the toggles on the wings to help bring the plane down safely.

But despite another successful landing, 25-year-old Edwin was killed trying his daring manoeuvre for a third time on August 7.

He overshot his landing, waved the crew away and opened the throttle to go around again - but the engine stalled and a gust of wind blew the plane overboard. Edwin was knocked unconscious and drowned.

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To honour his achievement and sad death, a remembrance service was held at the church and by his graveside.

Rev Christopher Woods said: “Everything went absolutely wonderfully - it couldn’t have gone better.

“We had a lot of people there from the village and we had a naval attachment from RAF Marham in Norfolk.

“Captain Richard Channon, a retied submariner, gave the address.

“He spoke about naval warfare and how Edwin Dunning was a hero.”

The service started in the church with hymns including the naval hymn, Eternal Father, and a reading of ‘A Time For Everything’ from Ecclesiastes.

Mr Woods said: “Ellie Round played the Last Post on her bugle beautifully.

“It was very poignant - the church was full.

“Then we went outside to the churchyard where I led prayers.

“Rear Admiral of the Fleet Air Arm, Keith Blount, assistant chief of naval staff, couldn’t make it but sent something to be read out.

“His main point was Edwin Dunning made an historical achievement in landing his aircraft on the HMS Furious and this success set the scene for building aircraft carriers in naval warfare in the future.”

Edwin, who is buried with his family in the churchyard, was recognised after his death in a letter from the Admiralty to his father.