Summary

Part of a 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. The biplane was based on the design of the Sopwith Pup, which Watson was familiar with from his time working as an engineer and test pilot with the Sopwith Aviation Co. and Imperial Army in Britain, during 1914-1916. 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.

Note: A mistake was obviously made by the person who compiled the album and wrote the caption, as Basil Watson was born on 12th October 1893, and was thus only 23 years and 5 months of age at the time of this death.

Description of Content

Head and shoulders portrait of Basil Watson, showing the aviator immacuately groomed wearing a suit, collar and tie. The photograph was probably taken in early 1917, shortly before his final flight and fatal accident.

Physical Description

Vertical elliptically cropped gelatin silver emulsion photographic print, glued to a rectangular landscape format brown cardridge paper page, with a caption written in white ink to the right of the image.

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