An autograph letter signed from Lieutenant-Colonel Edgar Hercules Reynolds to Lieutenant Eric Harrison, breaking the news that he has been overlooked as a new commanding officer in the fledgling AFC
Small octavo, 4 pages (a bifolium on embossed Commonwealth Government letterhead), 'H.Q. 1st Anzac Corps | B.E.F. | 18.12.16'.
One horizontal crease (where folded for posting) and a few light diagonal creases; outer surfaces a little tanned, marked and lightly soiled; overall, in very good condition.
Edgar Hercules Reynolds (1878-1965) and Eric Harrison (1886-1945) are two significant figures in the history of Australian military aviation. 'In 1912 the Australian government advertised in the British press for two "mechanists and aviators". H.A. Petre [Henry Aloysius Petre, 1884-1962], who was at that time employed by the British Deperdussin School, and Harrison were appointed. On 16 December he was made an honorary lieutenant on the Aviation Instructional Staff, Australian Military Forces, and after overseeing the construction of the training aircraft purchased by the government, joined Petre at the newly formed flying instructional centre at Point Cook, Victoria, in January 1914; the two were to establish the Central Flying School there and on 1 March Harrison made the first flight from Point Cook in a Bristol Box-kite' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). In early 1916, Reynolds became the first commanding officer of No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps at Point Cook, before going to the Middle East with the squadron in March 1916. The letter commences with the usual pleasantries and apologies: he didn't get the letter 'in which you told me about the Bristol Scout. I am delighted that you like this machine. I had great trouble in getting her. I must congratulate you on flying her so capably. Now about the appointment of a new commanding officer. Hubbard could not come and so Captain O'Hara Wood [Arthur O'Hara Wood, 1890-1918] will probably arrive in the first week of February. He is a good fellow, a Victorian, a sportsman, with a very good knowledge of his work ... and he is strongly recommended by General Trenchard - who, as you know, commands the whole of the R.F.C. in the field and is a great judge of men. You must not feel bad about him taking over command.... My own personal desire is that he should command the instructional side and you the "shop". So long as I have any influence at all in flying matters, you need not worry that you will be cast off. You are too valuable an officer and have done too much for the success of flying in Australia for anything of that sort to happen. I would like to see an aircraft depot established and you put in command after doing six months in England. I am writing to the B.G.G.S. on this point. You would be responsible for all constructional work, salvage, repairs, and also experimental work. I am sorry you have not had the assistance from H.Q. that you used to get. I miss my life very much and often look back to those good days at Laverton'. Harrison had good cause to be disappointed, but his early promise was fulfilled. 'After the outbreak of war he was commissioned lieutenant on the permanent staff, A.M.F., and by 17 August was training Australia's first military pilots who comprised the half-flight sent to Mesopotamia under Petre's command in 1915. In September 1914 Harrison was placed in charge of the flying unit sent to German New Guinea with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force but enemy resistance was slight and the aircraft were not uncrated. On returning to Australia he remained at Point Cook and was responsible for training the first three Australian squadrons to be sent overseas. In 1916 he pioneered the building of aircraft engines in Australia and was promoted temporary major in June 1917 and officer-in-charge, Central Flying School; he was appointed major in the Australian Imperial Force on 9 September 1918. When Point Cook was closed at the end of the war he was sent to the United Kingdom on attachment to the Aeronautical Inspection Directorate. He was transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force on its formation in 1921 and, with the rank of squadron leader, was its liaison officer with the Air Ministry in London until 1925. In 1927 Harrison returned to Australia as assistant director, technical services, R.A.A.F., and in May became a foundation member of the Air Accident Investigation Committee. He was also appointed director of aeronautical inspection and on 1 July 1928 was promoted wing commander' (ADB). Arthur O'Hara Wood, the man who was promoted over Harrison, was later the commanding officer of 46 Squadron RFC 'when during a patrol over Saint Quentin on 4 October 1918, another aircraft flew into his. He died on 6 October 1918 ... from multiple injuries' (Wikipedia).
Item #138190
Price (AUD):
$1,250.00