By John Telfer
On 31st March 2021, the Royal Australian Air Force celebrates it’s centenary. Over the last 100 years it has seen rapid development from fixed – wing aircraft to supersonic jet planes and are now entering the space age. In 2018, the Scots PGC college at Warwick celebrated its centenary having been in existence since 1918, the year the Great War ended. The college has had a varied history, but one aspect of that history that needs to be profiled is the sacrifice that a group of ex-students made in World War 2, and its military connection to the Royal Australian Air Force.
This short story is about the formation and development of the Royal Australian Air Force with a corollary that deals with a College that has an impressive record of World War 2 personnel. In the year 2018, the Scots PGC college at Warwick, Queensland celebrated its centenary having been in existence since 1918, the year the great War ended. The college has a varied history, but in that period one important aspect of its history is the sacrifice that a group of ex- students made in World War 2 with a military connection to The Royal Australian Air Force. This can be better explained when the two histories are entwined.
The history of the RAAF began when Australia’s Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, attended the first Imperial Conference held in London in 1911. The agenda for the dominion countries that attended the Conference, included debate on the use of aviation as an offensive weapon in warfare, hence, the formation of the Royal Flying Corps which was to become a unit of the military in World War 1. When Prime Minister Fisher, and his Minister of Defence, returned to Australia they were convinced that this was an excellent concept of warfare. As a result, in July, 1913, the Central Flying School began at Point Cook, in Victoria. The first commissioned flying instructors of the Australian Military Force were Lieutenant Eric Harrison and Lieutenant Henry Petre. It was first suggested it be formed at the Military College, Duntroon, but ended up at Point Cook in July 1913.
In 1915, with the Australian Government supporting Britain in World War 1, the First Australian Imperial Force formed the Australian Flying Corps as part of its Citizen’s Military Forces, and recruited aircrew from the military for training. From 1915 to 1918, the recruitment drive produced a total of eighty- one Australian airmen who became Air Aces over the Western Front and in the Middle East. (An air ace was one who had shot down 5 or more of the enemy.) The first Australian airman to win the Victoria Cross in World War 1 was Lieutenant Frank McNamara flying with 149 squadron, Royal Flying Corps, who landed his plane in a hostile Palestine desert to rescue a downed airman, Captain Dave Rutherford. Another highly decorated Australian airman at the time was Captain Edgar McCloughry, who won the Distinguished Service Order and also, the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar. After World War 1 the flying units were disbanded, but in1920 the Australian Air Corps was formed and on 21st March 1921, King George V gave approval for the prefix Royal to be added. So, on 31st March 1921, the Royal Australian Air Force came into existence.
When World War 2 broke out, the RAAF became an integral part of the allied forces that once again supported England, with the 2nd AIF in 1939 in the Middle East, and the British Empire Training Scheme on 29th April 1940. The RAAF expanded greatly from 1941 so that by 1945, at its height, it had fifty- three squadrons in the Pacific and seventeen in Europe. In 1942, Flight Sergeant Rawdon Middleton became the first official RAAF member to win the Victoria Cross in 1942. This was followed by Flight Lieutenant William Newton who became the second RAAF Victoria Cross winner in 1943. Since that time, there has been no VC winners in the RAAF. From 1943 to 2021, major aircraft used in readiness ranged from fixed-wing Mustangs to the present- day F35 A “Lightning” jet fighters.
The corollary that this short history of the Air Force has, concerns a relatively small secondary college on the Darling Downs which has created a unique record with the RAAF. The school was Scots College, an all-boys boarding school in Warwick. However, due to the changing nature, structure, economics and operation in Independent Boarding Colleges as well as the demographics of student populations, the college is Scots PGC, a co-educational college. Of the three hundred and thirty enlistments from Scots College in World War 2, forty- two former members lost their lives in battle, and thus became a college legend known as the “Magnificent 42”. Of these forty- two heroes listed on the college’s Roll of Honour, thirty- five of these forty- two, enlisted into the RAAF, with 34 aircrew and one ground staff.There are possibly many other schools across the nation who have similar honour boards, but is rather unique that a small school totalling around one hundred students in 1942, could produce the number of RAAF aircrew who made the Supreme Sacrifice in World War 2. The Darling Downs region did produce other distinguished air force personnel, but just what was it that compelled the young men of Scots to answer the call?
One historian, the late Brian O’Grady thought that education may have been a factor, but this historian feels that the boarding house environment of close comradeship, team sports, and visits to the college by two ex-student airmen in Wilfred Arthur, and ex-teacher, George Avery was significant. They, by their presence, played an important role in the students appeal towards the RAAF. How impressive to the minds of young adolescents where these uniformed heroes sporting their wings and campaign medals, who came to the college assembly, to share their stories of high adventure over the skies of the battlefields in Europe and the Middle East.? Former teacher, George Avery, further thrilled the students when on his flight back to Townsville in October 1942, in a Beaufort aircraft, he diverted his northward journey to do a low- flying pass over the college’s temporary school at Toolburra Station, much to the delight and excitement of the one hundred students residing there. Sadly, two weeks later George crashed his plane off Magnetic Island near Townsville and there were no survivors.
Another aspect that also made these young men unique was the high number of bravery awards won by them. The awards included, two Distinguished Service Orders, seven Distinguished Flying Crosses, one British Empire Medal and one Distinguished Flying Medal. A very impressive record. It was this magnificent achievement, that saw the college honoured with a flyover by the RAAF Roulettes in October, 2007, as a tribute to these brave men.
In this centenary year the RAAF will commemorate the part it has played in other conflicts and peace keeping roles since World War 2. These include, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. In the coming months the Air Force will acknowledge the changes that have occurred throughout this period of one hundred years, in member composition, equipment and aircraft, and honour battles fought and brave men lost. But what will remain, is the ability the Royal Australian Air Force has of reaching for the stars through adversity.
