eHive Object Details

Name/TitleCrew of Vickers Vimy aircraft, winner of 1919 England-Australa air race

About this objectThe crew of the Vickers Vimy aircraft which won the England-Australa air race in 1919. They are: Captain Ross Smith, Lieutenant Keith Smith, Sergeant W.H. Spiers and Sergeant J.M. Bennett.

In 1919 the Australian Prime Minister, Billy Hughes was in England. He flew frequently between London and Paris for the peace talks and saw a great future for air transport. Also in 1919 there were many Australian airmen in England awaiting repatriation. Hughes decided to encourage aviation and to provide the chance for some of these airmen to fly home by offering a prize of £10,000 for the first Australians to fly to Australia.

The five official entries included a Vickers Vimy crewed by Ross and Keith Smith, Shiers and Bennett.

The only official entrant to reach Australia and win the prize was the Vimy piloted by Ross Smith. It carried the British registration markings G-EAOU, leading to the nickname ‘God ‘Elp All Of Us’, which also may have reflected the feelings of the crew at times during the race.

The pilot was Captain Ross Smith from Adelaide who had a distinguished combat record with the Australian Flying Corps. As navigator, he had his elder brother Keith who had served as a flying instructor. Sergeant Bennett from St Kilda had served in the Middle East as had Sergeant Shiers from Semaphore in South Australia.

The Vimy left Hounslow on 12th November 1919. They flew across France and Italy, struggling against bad weather and soggy airfields. They continued via Crete to Cairo, then on across Syria and Iraq to India, reaching Delhi on 25th November. They reached Akyab in Burma on 29th November. Their flight continued via Rangoon, Bangkok and Singora in Malaya. At Singora the tailskid was damaged in landing on the rough airfield and Bennett had to make a replacement.

The next stop was Singapore and then across the Dutch East Indies to Sourabaya where the Vimy became bogged on landing. For take–off a runway of bamboo mats donated by local residents had to be laid. The final stop before the Timor Sea crossing was Atamboea in Timor, reached on 9th December. On 10th December the Vimy completed the final leg to Darwin, landing on the airfield at Fanny Bay at 3.40 pm to win the Race and the prize.

One of the many slides purchased from retailers or specifically made for illustrated lectures given by Isaac Selby between c. 1930 and c. 1955 to raise money for the Old Pioneers Memorial Fund.

This image is provided for research purposes and must not be reproduced without prior permission.For a high resolution copy of this image, contact Royal Historical Society of Victoria

MakerGunn's Slides (Firm)

Maker RoleCreator Studio

Date Made1919

Period1910-1920

Object TypeGlass slide

Subject and Association KeywordsCivil aviation

Subject and Association KeywordsFamous aviators

Subject and Association KeywordsNotable flights

Subject and Association KeywordsAir races

Subject and Association KeywordsBomber aircraft

Subject and Association KeywordsLondon-to-Australia Air Race, 1919.

Subject and Association KeywordsVickers Vimy

Medium and MaterialsGelatin silver print on glass

Named CollectionImages collection

Object numberGS-IT-75

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved