Summary
Australia
1969 (AD)
Mint: Lega
Other Details: Medal issued by the Military Historical Society of Australia in 1969 to commemorate the first flight from London to Australia in 1919. An air race was organised to induce aviators to make the journey within 30 days, and on 19 December Ross and Keith Smith arrived Darwin in Vickers Vimy 28 days after leaving London. As winners of the race they were awarded a prize of £10,000. They were accompanied by flight mechanics Sgt. W.H. Shiers and Sgt. J.M. Bennett. The Smith brothers both served in World War I, Ross in the Light Horse and later in the Australian Flying Corps, and Keith in the Royal Flying Corps.
Physical Description
Four men standing on exergue line; in exergue, SERIAL NUMBER / 14; around above, MILITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, below, OF AUSTRALIA 1969 Globe depicting route of flight with bi-plane above; around above, LONDON TO AUSTRALIA; below, NOV-DEC 1919
Obverse Description
Four men standing on exergue line; in exergue, SERIAL NUMBER 14; around above, MILITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, below, OF AUSTRALIA 1969
Reverse Description
Globe depicting route of flight with bi-plane above; around above, LONDON TO AUSTRALIA; below, NOV-DEC 1919
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
An air race was organised to induce aviators to make the journey within 30 days, and on 19 December Ross and Keith Smith arrived Darwin in Vickers Vimy 28 days after leaving London. As winners of the race they were awarded a prize of £10,000. They were accompanied by flight mechanics Sgt. W.H. Shiers and Sgt. J.M. Bennett. The Smith brothers both served in World War I, Ross in the Light Horse and later in the Australian Flying Corps, and Keith in the Royal Flying Corps. -National Library of Australia web site http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2001/sep01/fthompson.html; Australian Dictionary of Biography. -D. Tout-Smith 23/1/2004.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase from Spink Noble Numismatics, 14 Jul 1993
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Date Issued
1969 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
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Commissioned By
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Inscriptions
Plain (edge) Four men standing on exergue line; in exergue, SERIAL NUMBER 14; around above, MILITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, below, OF AUSTRALIA 1969 (obverse) Globe depicting route of flight with bi-plane above; around above, LONDON TO AUSTRALIA; below, NOV-DEC 1919 (reverse)
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Series
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Material
White Metal
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
51 mm (Outside Diameter), 67.25 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
Car. 1969/6
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Keywords