Australian Fighter Pilots of the First World War
By Lesley Williams-Allen
A local news magazine called The Fountain often contains information on the history of Nailsworth, and the spring 2002 edition has a couple of articles that I am able to reproduce in full here. The title of the article is as above.
The airfields of Leighterton and Minchinhampton were the birthplace of today’s Royal Australian Air Force. Knowing for certain that the aeroplane would be the weapon of the future, it was decided in London in 1911 that the Domintons Canada, Australia and New Zealand should have their own Air Force. As it turned out, Australia was the only country to take this up. Trainee fighter pilots, many of whom were chosen because of their adeptness at horsemanship, were sent to this corner of the Cotswolds to train for action in France.
The saddest part of this story is that some 30 of them never returned to their homeland. Their graves can be found in several churchyards in the area, but particularly in Leighterton. It was a known fact that life expectancy in the flying corps over France was no more than 9 days. In
training, over this idyllic part of England, the statistics were hardly any better. From the outset there were accidents. April 1918 saw the first victim - he was merely 19 years of age. By mid-summer 1918 the death toll had risen to 12, with an average age of 24.
On Armistice Day the Australian trainee pilots were recorded as going ‘wild’ during celebrations in the local towns. However, it was some six months before a boat was identified to take them home. Tragically, as their training exercises carried on, accidents continued to happen, the
last some four months after armistice.
Our Australian comrades, however, continue to be remembered. Every year on Armistice Day a ceremony is held in the Anzac cemetery in Leighterton to pay tribute to the brave young men, whose stay among us, whilst so brief made such an indelible impression on the local community.
The Sopwith Camel, pictured above was noted for it's tendency to kill inexperienced flyers. During WW1 413 pilots died in combat, and 385 from non-combat causes whilst flying this aircraft.
For further information and details of a book and video by Alan Vaughan and David Goodland, contact Eyewitness Productions: 01453 835422 or ww.serialbooks.com (Anzacs Page).
There has recently been a revival of interest in the links
between Nailsworth and Australia there is also a ‘Nailsworth’ in Australia. Visitors to the Nailsworth.com website will have seen several requests from Australian citizens for local information on their ancestors. Each year tourists visit the area specifically to trace their roots. What is not common knowledge, however, is the very special role of the Anzacs who were posted to this area for a short period between Autumn 1917 and May 1919.
Initially their presence here was kept very much under wraps, but in February 1918 the Stroud Journal made its first mention of their activities, During their short time here, they made an indelible impression on the local communities in particular the children - by their exuberance, enthusiasm and prowess. The aerobatics performed over the villages caused quite a stir - loop the loops, ‘falling leaf twirls and low flying up the valleys. Remember that in this area at the time even the sighting of a motorcar was a rare occurrence. Unlike conventional forces, they enjoyed a freedom which included painting their aircraft in individual colours, They were at one stage taken to task by the local Master of Foxhounds for taking part in the hunt from the air: complaints were made that they were assisting in the escape of foxes by scattering the hounds and their followers! When on the ground they were equally conspicuous taking part in local carnivals, fetes, fund-raising events, football and cricket matches.
Lesley Williams-Allen