Lot 1344

Description

Official Souvenir Australia Aerial Mail postcard, 1917, stamped Mt Gambier, South Australia 15 Feb 1917 -

Australia Aerial Mail 27 Feb 1917, reverse of card Basil G Watson, together with souvenir paper parachute and

weight, sponsored by 'Shell' for release from Basil Watson's Biplane, using 'Shell' Benzine / Tasmania 1917. Nearly

extremely fine - uncirculated and rare. (2)

Basil George Watson (1894-1917) pioneer airman. Born in Bendigo, Victoria in 1894 and educated at Haileybury

College, Brighton. With Harry Hawker he went to England to train at the Sopwith Plant and became a test pilot. On

his return to Australia he took up barnstorming and aerial mail flights. He died in a crash over Laverton (Western

Australia) 28th March 1917. These souvenir parachutes and weight were never released due to his untimely death.