The Diggers' Gazette. Official Organ of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia (South Australian Branch). Volume V, Number 3, 21st June 1922
Adelaide, RSSILA (SA), 1922.
Quarto, 48 pages with numerous illustrations (many from photographs); cartoons by Oswald Pryor appear throughout.
Drop-title wrappers; staples slightly rusty; the entire journal is a little creased, with a few light marks and other mild signs of use and age; short tear to the leading margin of the last leaf expertly sealed; overall a decent copy of a very rare item.
This issue covers in depth the funeral of Sir Ross Macpherson Smith (1892-1922); there are 12 pages devoted to it, with 11 illustrations (10 from photographs, and a full-page illustration by Oswald Pryor). Adelaide-born Smith enlisted in August 1914 'as a private in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Force, and on 1 October was promoted sergeant. He embarked for Egypt on 22 October and landed on Gallipoli on 13 May 1915. On 11 August he attained the rank of regimental sergeant major and was commissioned second lieutenant on 5 September. Invalided to England in October, he was promoted lieutenant on 1 March 1916 and three weeks later embarked for Egypt to rejoin his old regiment. With the 1st Light Horse Brigade, 1st Machine-Gun Squadron, his principal action occurred during the battle of Romani on 4 August 1916. In July 1917 he responded to a call for volunteers to join the Australian Flying Corps, the transfer taking effect on 4 August'. The historic flight from England to Australia in November and December 1919 by Ross and his brother Keith, and their two crew members, brought them instant and lasting fame. 'The next proposal, to fly round the world in a Vickers Viking amphibian, ended in disaster. Both brothers travelled to England to prepare for the trip and on 13 April 1922, while Ross and his long-serving crew member Bennett were test-flying the aircraft at Weybridge near London, it spun into the ground from 1000 feet (305 m), killing both. Keith, who arrived late for the test flight witnessed the accident. Ross had not flown at all for many months and had never flown this type of aircraft. The investigating committee concluded that the accident had been the result of pilot error. The flight was abandoned. The bodies of Sir Ross Smith and Lieutenant Bennett were brought home to Australia and after a state funeral Smith was buried in Adelaide on 15 June' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography').
Item #110100
Price (AUD):
$220.00