Summary

Gilt medal with purple ribbon, issued in 1934 for the Centenary International Air Race. The medal may have been awarded to members of the ground staff or distributed as a promotional medal.

The race, from London to Melbourne, was sponsored by businessman and philanthropist Sir MacPherson Robertson, who had founded the largest confectionary business in the Commonwealth, MacRobertson Confectionary Manufacturers Ltd. The race route covered 18,240 km (11,330 miles) from England to Australia. All competitors were required to land at Baghdad, Allabad, Singapore, Darwin and Charleville. Prizes for the race included £10,000 and a gold cup for the overall winner. English team C.W.A. Scott and T. Campbell Black were the eventual winners, flying through pylons at Flemington Racecourse in front of 40,000 spectators and landing at Laverton. Eight planes failed to finish the race. Gilman and Baines were tragically killed when their Fairy Fox crashed near Foggia, Italy.

Physical Description

Gilt medal, with 2 bars and purple ribbon. The top bar has the MacRobertson signature.

Obverse Description

Bust of Sir MacPherson Robertson facing right wearing suit and tie; around, INTERNATIONAL AIR RACE 1934 in small letters on truncation, STOKES

Reverse Description

Map showing route of Air Race from London to Melbourne, over Asia, LONDON / TO / MELBOURNE; on Indian Ocean, 1934 / 1935

Edge Description

Plain

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