A collection of personal effects belonging to or used by our former illustrious resident Sir Barnes Neville Wallis, CBE FRSRDI FRAeS (1887-1979) is to be sold at auction by Denham Auctioneers at Warnham, West Sussex on 25th March 2026. The auction has the consent of the surviving members of Sir Barnes’ family.
The lots include the marbles belonging to his daughter Elisabeth, which were the first used by Sir Barnes in the garden at his home in Beech Avenue in Effingham to develop his idea of bouncing bombs. The bouncing bombs were used in the raids on the Ruhr dams on 16/17 May 1943 and were later immortalized in the film, the Dam Busters. Below is a photo taken in April 1942 of Sir Barnes and his children measuring the ricochet of his daughter Elisabeth’s marbles which are to be sold at auction.
You can read the press release about the auction and visit Denhams auction site.