Summary

Commemorative photograph album produced by Sears' Studios, Melbourne, documenting the work of Basil Watson in constructing a biplane at his family's home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick, Victoria, during 1916, and the aftermath of his fatal crash off Point Cook on 28th March 1917. Basil George Watson was born on 12th October 1893, at Bendigo, Victoria, and spent his childhood growing up in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton. Watson was first introduced to aviation by Harry Hawker in early 1914 during an Australian tour by the famous aviator, who was five years Watson's senior. In May 1914, Watson travelled to England with Hawker, where he trained as a pilot and worked as an engineer and test pilot with the Sopwith Aviation Company, and later the Imperial Army. He was severely injured in a crash after an engine failure during a test flight in June 1915, and returned to Australia 12 months later after being declared medically unfit for further military service. He then constructed his own biplane based on the design of the Sopwith Pup, completing the project in little more than 3 months during the later half of 1916. Watson piloted the plane on pioneering flights to Bendigo and western Victoria. He performed many public acrobatic flying demonstrations and flew the first official airmail between Mt Gambier and Melbourne in February 1917. He was killed when a component of his aircraft failed during an aerobatic demonstration over Point Cook, Victoria, on 28th March 1917, causing the wings to collapse, plunging the aircraft into Port Phillip Bay. His death was the earliest recorded aviation fatality in Australia. His death deeply affected the Watson family, who continued to publish tribute notices in Melbourne's daily newspapers on each anniversary for over a decade. It is believed that a small number of albums similar to this example were produced for distribution to family members and close relatives.

Description of Content

Contents of the album is as follows: 1. Portrait of Basil Watson, Aviation; 2. Partially Constructed Wing Leaning Against Wall in Hallway of the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 3. Basil Watson Seated in Seated in Cockpit of Partially Constructed Biplane Fuselage in Billiard Room of the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 4. Fuselage Frame of Basil Watson's Partially Constructed Biplane in the Balliard Room of the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 5. Basil Watson's Fitting the Engine Mounting Frame to his Partially Constructed Biplane in the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 6. Basil Watson Seated in the Cockpit of his Completed Biplane on the Back Lawn of the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 7. Front View of Basil Watson's Completed Sopwith-Type Biplane on the Back Lawn of the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 8. Oblique Left Front View of Basil Watson's Completed Sopwith-Type Biplane on the Back Lawn of the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 9. Oblique Left Rear View of Basil Watson's Completed Sopwith-Type Biplane on the Back Lawn of the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 10. Rear View of Basil Watson's Completed Sopwith-Type Biplane on the Back Lawn of the Family Home 'Foilacleugh' in Elsternwick; 11. Scene of Basil Watson's Fatal Aircraft Crash into Port Phillip Bay off Point Cook, Victoria; 12. Group of Witness Inspecting Wreckage of Basil Watson's Biplane Recovered After His Fatal Accident off Point Cook, Victoria.

Physical Description

Landscape format photograph album with plain light brown covers and 12 internal pages of thick light brown card. Bound with a knotted brown cord at left. Printed diagonally with ornate embossed lettering across the bottom right-hand corner of the front cover is the word 'Photographs'.

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