An extract from a World War One era TOPICAL BUDGET newsreel.
“'NOTTINGHAM'S GIFT TO NEW ZEALAND. The Duke of Portland and Lord Besborough (sic) were present when the Duchess of Portland christened the aeroplane which the Midland City presented to New Zealand.' Lord Desborough leads the Duke as the two inspect a detachment of troops - a large crowd looks on. The Duchess wears a fur-trimmed coat with matching muff. HA pan over the crowd which the Duke addresses from a raised dais draped with a Union flag bearing the name of the Imperial Air Fleet Committee. The Duchess strikes with a mallet at a cloth-wrapped bottle attached to the propeller of the aircraft - initially she fails to break the bottle, but grits her teeth and tries again, succeeding with the second blow. The crowd cheer. The Duchess rejoins a solicitous Duke. CU of the name 'NOTTINGHAM' on the aircraft fuselage.” Imperial War Museums Catalogue (NTB 323-1); www.iwm.org.uk; 29/01/2013
Thought to have taken place on 30th October 1917