Standing on the north side of the Ipswich-Woodbridge Road (A12) almost on the boundary of the aerodrome, a pleasant stopping place for refreshment was built during 1936 for Miss F. E. Jermyn. The site had fine old beech trees to the east and across the main road to the south and these Miss Jermyn purchased to preserve the outlook flanking the site to the west was a plantation of dark pines.
Although now almost surrounded by a new housing estate and a filling station, the building still stands crowned by the shining black tiles from which it derives its name. Travellers stop for tea and refreshment and doubtless very few know, probably most are unaware of the many famous airmen who had taken tea and rest in these rooms.
The peaceful atmosphere of the place is further enhanced by the white doves which flutter down from the roof to pick up crumbs from the green lawns which encompass the wide-windowed tea-rooms.
After the outbreak of hostilities, the tourist trade naturally declined, but this was replaced by visitors from the adjoining airfield seeking something a little different from that which the Mess and the N.A.A.F.I. could provide. "Customers" of this period were pleasantly surprised, to find that, in spite of rationing, Miss Jermyn and her staff could provide such tempting and varied meals. Even at very short notice, such as a convoy of lorries arriving filled with hungry and thirsty troops, Black Tiles not only coped but did so unusually well.
About this time a Visitors' Book was started in a large ruled exercise book. Over the years this grew to considerable proportions, and eventually contained hundreds of signatures of airmen, soldiers, sailors, the women's and auxiliary services.
When a new squadron arrived at the aerodrome, they would very soon make their way over to Black Tiles, and see "The Book", which is now considered to be one of the best collections of pilots' signatures in this country. The cosmopolitan nature of this collection is reflected in the names of serving personnel from all the four corners of the earth and it is the author's great pleasure to be able to reproduce some of these names on the following pages. The sheets were not limited to signatures alone, as Squadron Crests, cartoons, rhymes and general "chit-chat" also appeared.
At the airfield at one stage, the enthusiastic Security Officer of one of the squadrons decided that this book could be of use to the enemy and confiscated several pages of what he considered to be "offending material". These were later returned and the book is in the proud possession of Miss Jermyn who continued to live in the district, enjoying a well-deserved retirement surrounded by a beautiful garden and house full of flowers. "The Book" is now in official records at RAF Museum Hendon.
Black Tiles has retained much of the outward look of those hectic days, including the shiny black pan-tiles roof but much of the aerodrome has gone, save a hangar and a few old service buildings. However, it is still possible to sit out on the green lawns in the garden, look across the road, and in the memory hear the roar of Merlins running up, or the cough of a large radial engine bursting into life, or even the crackle of a throttled engine in a Spitfire coming into land.
The following extracts are a few selected to give an idea of the varied matter in "The Book" Pride of place is taken by this one: "When His Majesty King George VI visited RAF Martlesham Heath 0n 3rd August 1937, Black Tiles supplied the cakes for tea in the Officers Mess."
No. 132 Squadron, Cave Leopardum
"Two care-free Corporals here did dine. They craved not women, song nor wine, Each day a coffee they would order, And talk of days across the Border. All over Scotland they had dined, Many a book like this had signed. Their thirst had quenched in Orkney's Isles, But never as well as in Black Tiles. Although their stay here may be brief, Happy are they at Martlesham Heath. They hope that you've enjoyed it too As have the lads of one three two. Now that's our tale, we've told it well, From Corporals Stephenson and V. H. Bell."
An American Officer wrote
"When I think of England I shall think of tea, and all that it means, and when I think of tea, I'll think of Black Tiles. Someday I'll come back to England for tea at Black Tiles."
Its fame even reached the daily papers who commented
"A tea-house near one of the Eastern Counties aerodromes has become a cheerful place of call for airmen and airwomen. There is a big demand for coffee and some of the customers who are not natives of this country describe it as the best they have had since they came here. There are numbers of these modern young men, it appears, who honestly prefer soft drinks in the surroundings that the tea-rooms offer to the local beers and amenities that go with it. They write their names and home towns in the Visitors' Book and one bunch of them compiled a glossary of up-to-date airmen's slang which runs into pages."
"To Black Tiles, Thank you for everything. Eating is my favourite sport!" Jimmie Colvin, RCAF, Port Arthur, Canada
"From the crews of three armoured cars that stopped here 10.4.42 and had the best cup of coffee since in England. One thing wrong, however, the convoy only partly got through with the sugar. Bon chance." Members of the Belgian Armoured Car Squadron, England
The crew of a visiting Lockheed Hudson aircraft
Charles L. Mood - Pilot Richard P. Spelling - Observer Steve Randell - Air Gunner, Sydney, Australia Frank Bradley - Air Gunner, Sydney, Australia
No. 611 Squadron
"Ten 611 boys drogue shooting fine, "Mac" hit the "Lizzie", then there were nine. Nine 611 boys all had a date, One with an Ipswich girl, then there were eight Eight 611 boys, gazing up to Heaven, Black Tiles, white dove, then there were seven. Seven 611 boys all full of tricks, One went sailing, then there were six. Six 611 boys, CO, said I'll drive"
Went in the Station Wagon, then there were five. Five 611 boys, all very poor, "Princey" cashed a cheque, then there were four. Four 611 boys out on a spree, River's deep at Woodbridge, then there were three. Three 611 boys, flying in the blue. Forgot the balloons at Harwich, then there were two. Two 611 boys each a 12-bore gun, One forgot the safety catch, then there was one. One 611 boy left to write this line, Had coffee at Black Tiles, And joined the other nine!"
Among those who signed the book was "John G. DuFour", an airline pilot last heard of in California. He joined the Seaforth Highlanders, later appeared as a Pilot Officer with No. 71 (F) Eagle Squadron with whom he shot down a Nazi plane and claimed a probable. Later he transferred to the Old 8th U.S.A.A.F., and became Major DuFour A.M- Three Oak Leaf Clusters, D.F.C, veteran of 115 missions over enemy territory.
High among the Royal Air Force pilots who signed were "Air Commodore Donald Kingaby, DSO, DFM", and two bars of No. 122 OF Bombay Squadron who once shot down four Messerschmitt 109s in one day and earned himself the title of "The 109 Specialist". Another junior officer to sign was "Pilot Officer Ian Smith", then serving with No. 65 (East India) Squadron, who became Prime Minister of Rhodesia.
Included are several pleasant odes to one Gwen, a waitress who resided in Woodbridge, and apparently often missed her bus home in order to provide refreshment for the pilots returning from late afternoon sweeps over France and the Low Countries.
This extract is taken from the book Martlesham Heath by Gordon Kinsey and if you wish to read more, the book is published by Terence Dalton of Lavenham, Suffolk [ISBN 0861380231].