George Henry Fraser
Encyclopedia
George Henry Fraser was a navigator and aircraft mechanic who flew with pilot Cedric Howell
as one of the teams competing in the England to Australia air race
in December 1919. Their aircraft made a forced landing in the St George's Bay, Corfu
; both men are presumed to have drowned as a result, although only Howell's body was ever recovered.
, Australia
and attended Macorna State School. On leaving school, Fraser became a bicyle and motor mechanic and, before enlisting in 1917, he worked for several years in his brother William Fraser's car import firm, Messrs Fraser and Willsford of Sydney, Australia, where he was residing at the time of his enlistment. Fraser was unmarried at the time he enlisted and at the date of his death.
on 12 March 1917 and was assigned, as an Air Mechanic, 2nd Class
, to the Fifth Training Squadron
, Australian Flying Corps. He subsequently served in England with the Fifth Training Squadron and the No 1 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping, Royal Air Force
, gaining much experience of the maintenance and operation of bomber aircraft and of aerial navigation.
invited Australian flying ace
Captain Cedric Howell
to pilot their Type A Mk.I in the forthcoming England to Australia air race
. As a qualified navigator and a mechanic familiar with the Rolls Royce engine fitted to the plane, Fraser was selected to accompany Captain Howell. Having departed from Taranto
on the next stage of the flight, Howell's and Fraser's aircraft made a forced landing St George's Bay, Corfu
. It was initially falsely reported, in telegram received by William Fraser, that his brother had been rescued and had arrived safely in Athens. Although the circumstances of the accident are not clear, it appears that both were alive and survived in the water but that they subsequently drowned. Only Howell's body was ever recovered. It was subsequently claimed that Howell drowned while attempting to tow Fraser to shore, since the mechanic was unable to swim.
, England
and he is commemorated on a family headstone in White Hills Cemetery, White Hills, Victoria
. His name is also included in the Australian War Memorial
Roll of Honour.
Cedric Howell
Cedric Ernest "Spike" Howell DSO, MC, DFC was an Australian fighter pilot and flying ace of the First World War. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1916 for service in the First World War and was posted to the 46th Battalion on the Western Front...
as one of the teams competing in the England to Australia air race
England to Australia flight
In 1919 the Australian government offered a prize of £A10,000 for the first Australians in a British aircraft to fly from Great Britain to Australia. Of the six entries that started the race, the winners were two brothers and their two crew in a Vickers Vimy....
in December 1919. Their aircraft made a forced landing in the St George's Bay, Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
; both men are presumed to have drowned as a result, although only Howell's body was ever recovered.
Personal life
Fraser's exact date of birth is not given in the sources available, but he is variously stated to have been either 39 or 40 years old at the time of his death. He was the child of Robert Fraser (died 27 March 1894, aged 46) and Mary Fraser (died 15 March 1937, aged 92). He was born in Macorna, VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and attended Macorna State School. On leaving school, Fraser became a bicyle and motor mechanic and, before enlisting in 1917, he worked for several years in his brother William Fraser's car import firm, Messrs Fraser and Willsford of Sydney, Australia, where he was residing at the time of his enlistment. Fraser was unmarried at the time he enlisted and at the date of his death.
Military service
Fraser enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial ForceFirst Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
on 12 March 1917 and was assigned, as an Air Mechanic, 2nd Class
Aircraftman
Aircraftman , or Aircraftwoman , is the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of several other Commonwealth countries....
, to the Fifth Training Squadron
No. 5 Squadron RAAF
No. 5 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force training, army co-operation and helicopter squadron. The Squadron was first formed in 1917 and was disbanded in December 1989.-Squadron history:...
, Australian Flying Corps. He subsequently served in England with the Fifth Training Squadron and the No 1 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping, Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, gaining much experience of the maintenance and operation of bomber aircraft and of aerial navigation.
Post-war
For the six months before he started with Howell on the race to Australia, Fraser had been employed by Rolls Royce Ltd, during which time he had become familiar with engines of the type fitted in the plane in which he was to compete.Final flight
In August 1919 the British aircraft manufacturer Martinsyde LtdMartinsyde
Martinsyde was a British aircraft and motorcycle manufacturer between 1908 and 1922, when they were forced into liquidation by a factory fire.-History:...
invited Australian flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
Captain Cedric Howell
Cedric Howell
Cedric Ernest "Spike" Howell DSO, MC, DFC was an Australian fighter pilot and flying ace of the First World War. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1916 for service in the First World War and was posted to the 46th Battalion on the Western Front...
to pilot their Type A Mk.I in the forthcoming England to Australia air race
England to Australia flight
In 1919 the Australian government offered a prize of £A10,000 for the first Australians in a British aircraft to fly from Great Britain to Australia. Of the six entries that started the race, the winners were two brothers and their two crew in a Vickers Vimy....
. As a qualified navigator and a mechanic familiar with the Rolls Royce engine fitted to the plane, Fraser was selected to accompany Captain Howell. Having departed from Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
on the next stage of the flight, Howell's and Fraser's aircraft made a forced landing St George's Bay, Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
. It was initially falsely reported, in telegram received by William Fraser, that his brother had been rescued and had arrived safely in Athens. Although the circumstances of the accident are not clear, it appears that both were alive and survived in the water but that they subsequently drowned. Only Howell's body was ever recovered. It was subsequently claimed that Howell drowned while attempting to tow Fraser to shore, since the mechanic was unable to swim.
Memorials
Fraser's name is included in the Hollybrook Memorial, SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and he is commemorated on a family headstone in White Hills Cemetery, White Hills, Victoria
White Hills, Victoria
White Hills is a suburb of the City of Bendigo in central Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, White Hills had a population of 2,626.White Hills Post Office opened on 21 August 1857 during the gold rush....
. His name is also included in the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
Roll of Honour.