Dam Busters connections.

A few months ago, I received some very interesting information from David Woods, who is researching  the Maltby connections to The Dam Busters raids.

His message is here: -

I was at Hydneye between 1958 and 1961, and the only recollection I have from those days, was a friend mentioning that Mr Maltby was 'very upset' when the film of the raid was made, as of course, his son David had been involved. I don't remember the visit of Barnes Wallis, as such lectures were few and far between, and I  think the old memory would have surfaced had he spoken to us all!

I responded as follows: -

Several OBs would have had a message from me regarding the visit, as it may have been before my time!

One note he sent to David was from another OB, and this is his account: -

There is still some speculation about the glass-fronted cupboard in the entrance hall, containing these objects, and it may be just 'received recall' that I think I saw the piece, but that's because we've often discussed it! I didn't know Mr Maltby anyway, but several friends and colleagues, whom I meet for a pint and a chat, were at Hydneye when he was Headmaster!

David Woods continues: -

David Woods

3 Apr 2026, 09:09

 

to me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi again Mike
It is probably best if I am a bit more forthright. I am actually working with the help and backing of Sir Barnes Wallis' daughter and granddaughters on a story about the almost certain faking of some historic marbles which were supposed to have played a key role in the Allied victory in World War 2.
As you probably know, the original ones were used by Sir Barnes Wallis in the back garden of his home in Surrey in 1942 to test the theory of his bouncing bomb - using a catapult to see if them would skim across a tub of water (this famous ‘Garden Experiment’ in the opening scene in the hit 1955 Dam Busters movie).
Here is the IMDb page for the film with Michael Redgrave featured firing a marble from the catapult
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046889/

Last month I was at an auction in Sussex in which over 300 items owned by the family of Sir Barnes Wallis were for sale.
The star attraction was meant to be the marbles owned by SBW’s daughter Elisabeth Gaunt - who is 93, but was at the sale - which he used in the ‘Garden Experiment’ to see if a bouncing bomb would work (an actress playing Elisabeth is in the scene and Elisabeth herself has a small, uncredited role in the film).
They were expected to sell for up to £30,000 but did not meet the reserve price, with not a single bid at £15,000 at Denham’s in Horsham.
One of the major reasons for such lack of interest almost certainly was two supposed marbles used by SBW were sold by an auction house in Bristol for £15,200  in September 2024.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crkd4e64z5zo
Mrs Gaunt told me they were 100 per cent fake because her precious marbles had never left her care since she was seven or eight years old.
Her daughter Fliss Guille told me she had even rang the Bristol auction house on the day of the sale to tell them they were fake, but despite leaving a message no one rang her back.
Both daughters told me their mother was hugely protective of the marbles and they were only shown them a couple of years ago.
Since the auction I have done extensive research on the supposed provenance (which I am sending in a separate email) of these Bristol marbles with the help of Richard Morris, the author of the definitive biography, Dam Buster: Barnes Wallis, the Lost Visionary of British Aviation and Robert Owen, the official historian of the 617 Squadron.
There is so much evidence pointing towards not just these marbles being fake but others which have been sold over the last decade or so. “There have been six or seven auctions over the last ten years and they have been dribbling out in twos, threes and fours,” Morris told me.
“I totted up the values of all the marbles that have been sold and it came to over £200,000.”
Next month another two marbles are coming up for sale (lots 5002 and 5001)
https://bid.harperfield.co.uk/lots?term=marbles
This, don’t forget, despite Elisabeth Wallis insisting the original marbles have NEVER left her care. “I am appalled at the thought of someone profiting from the good name and heroic deeds of my father,” she told me.
Interestingly, the plaques on these two lots say Operation Chastise, whereas the Bristol marbles state Operation Highball.
I have much, much more detail casting huge doubts on the provenance of marbles that have been sold so regularly leading to the suspicion - the Barnes Wallis' family firmly believe - about the real ones,  which consequently failed to attract a single bid last month.
In the provenance story I am also sending you it references SBW giving a talk at Hydneye House School and then leaving the marbles there after showing pupils how he experimented with them back in his garden in Surrey.
The seller (who could be a former pupil named David Worrow) then claims to have been given the marbles by Mr Brodribb in 1968 and then “reluctantly” decided to sell them to a friend Jonathan Humbert - an auctioneer - in 2015.
Both Richard Morris and I have trawled you site http://hydneyehouse.blogspot.com/
and not been able to find a single reference to SWB alleged visit or any marbles in a museum (which was supposed to have other valuable Dam Busters memorabilia in it, including the bomb sight which you mentioned)
I’d love to know if any OBs can remember Barnes Wallis’ supposed visit or ever seeing the marbles in the museum. The family - who are lovely - are, as you can imagine, very upset at what has been happening and any help you can give, and are already giving, is hugely appreciated. Very happy to chat on 07831 314638.

Regards
David

There was an article in The Daily Mail about the issue, but it is now behond one of their dreaded 'paywalls' so unless you have a subscription, you won't be able to read it, but, the message above says the same thing - and is from someone who is probably better placed to know the facts, rather than just have a news item in a daily rag!

AI, (that new way to explain a search with 'bells and whistles') says this: -

The "Maltby marbles" refer to a controversial group of marbles purported to be the ones used by Sir Barnes Wallis to develop the Dambusters "bouncing bomb". They were auctioned by JP Humbert Auctioneers, having originated from the estate of Dambusters pilot Flt Lt David Maltby's father. [1, 2]

Key Details and Controversies:

• The Recent "Fake or Fortune" Row: The 93-year-old daughter of Barnes Wallis, Elisabeth Gaunt, condemned other marbles being sold elsewhere as fakes, stating that she is the sole owner of the only marbles her father used. This high-profile claim severely disrupted the market for competing lots. [1]
• The Maltby Provenance: Flt Lt David Maltby's father was the headmaster of Hydneye House School. The marbles, along with other navigational equipment and a bomb release button, were housed in the school's museum and then sold after it closed. [1]
• Auction Results: The Maltby-linked marbles went under the hammer at a Northamptonshire auction in 2017, where they sold for £18,500. [1]

You can read the full Daily Mail Article detailing the authentication dispute over the Dambuster toys.

So; that's the story so far! I find it intriguing that there's so much more to know about the past, especially where our OBs are concerned - my piece about David Maltby is mentioned above, and has been covered already!

Of course, if there are any recollections from OBs about the visit, I'd be delighted to pass these on to David Woods, as such research is always the better with first-hand knowledge!