Amy Gentry: Beyond the Boathouse

Amy at War: Rowing, Innovation and the Bouncing Bomb

By the 1930s, women’s rowing had transitioned from a recreational pastime to an organised, competitive sport. The onset of the Second World War paused this growing momentum. However, Amy found another way to continue participating in the sport that she loved.   

By this time Amy was working for the Vickers-Armstrong Company in Weybridge. Since 1918, Vickers-Armstrong had been producing both military and civilian aircraft. By 1935 they were the third largest manufacturing employer in Britain. The aircraft factories became vital to the war effort.  

Amy Gentry in a single scull facing right (24.1998/1).

Between 1941 and 1943 she worked as the private secretary to Sir Barnes Wallis. Amy assisted him with his plans to develop a bomb that could skip across water. He had developed the idea by experimenting with bouncing marbles across a water tub in his back garden. Wallis thought that this new weapon could be used to attack moored battleships.  

However, Amy’s role went far beyond office work. She frequently accompanied Wallis during his experiments at Silvermere Lake. Here he tested wooden models by catapulting them across the water. Once the experiments were over, Amy would row out to retrieve the models. This was where Amy took command as she would skilfully manoeuvre the boat to ensure that the pair did not capsize.   

These experiments led to the creation of the bouncing bomb. This was a cylindrical, spinning bomb designed to skip across water, avoid anti-torpedo nets, and sink against the dam wall to explode at depth. It was used in the RAF’s Operation Chastise of May 1943 to bounce into German dams that were vital to their industry.

Learn more about Operation Chastise here.

The Birth of the Desborough Players

In 1946, Amy and several of her fellow rowers helped establish the Desborough Players. This was an amateur dramatic society based in Weybridge. 

Amy Gentry in stage costume as a Dutch girl (290.1976/38).

Amy’s dutch girl stage costume. She wore this while singing “Little Baggy Breeches”, a song about a Dutch boy. Her accompanist was Peggy Millson (290.1976/39).

Created by members of WLARC, the society originally staged productions during the winter months. This kept members active when off the river. Their lively performances featured old time variety musicals.

Amy delighted audiences with songs such as ‘Don’t Dilly Dally’, ‘Mr Baggy Britches’, and ‘Down by the Riverside’.

Amy’s clogs to pair with her dutch girl stage costume. She wore this while singing “Little Baggy Breeches”, a song about a Dutch boy (290.1976/39i).