Horace Brinsmead
Encyclopedia
Horace Clowes Brinsmead (2 February 1883 – 11 March 1934) was the Controller of Aviation
in Australia
between 1920 to 1933.
He was born in 1883 at Hampstead
, London
as the son of Edgar William Brinsmead and Annie Brinsmead. He migrated to Australia around 1903, where he settled down in North Queensland
, later in Tonga
. When the First World War started in 1914, he joined the First Australian Imperial Force
. He served and fought on Gallipoli and at Pozières
.
Recovering in England after an injury in 1916 and after completing an officers course, he served in the Australian Flying Corps and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
in 1919.
After his return to Australia in 1920, Horace Brinsmead was appointed the first Controller of Civil Aviation in the history of Australia. On 8 December 1920, he married Ivy Ernestine McDonald, daughter of Charles McDonald
.
In 1931, when he travelled to London to negotiate for the establishment of the first air mail route between England and Australia, his plane was destroyed on takeoff at Alor Setar in Malaysia. There were no casualties, Brinsmead only took minor injuries. Instead of waiting for a replacement airplane, he took a commercial flight. This airplane crashed on takeoff at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok
on 7 December. Five other were killed, Brinsmead survived with bad injuries, no longer able to work. He was brought back to Australia in February 1932, officially still holding his office. Acting Controller during the following year was his deputy Edgar Johnston
, until he took office in 1933.
Brinsmead died in March 1934 in Melbourne, leaving one son and two daughters.
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
in 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...
between 1920 to 1933.
He was born in 1883 at Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as the son of Edgar William Brinsmead and Annie Brinsmead. He migrated to Australia around 1903, where he settled down in North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
, later in Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. When the First World War started in 1914, he joined the First Australian Imperial Force
First 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...
. He served and fought on Gallipoli and at Pozières
Pozières
Pozières is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D929 road, some northeast of Amiens between Albert and Bapaume, on the Pozières ridge.-Population:-History:...
.
Recovering in England after an injury in 1916 and after completing an officers course, he served in the Australian Flying Corps and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in 1919.
After his return to Australia in 1920, Horace Brinsmead was appointed the first Controller of Civil Aviation in the history of Australia. On 8 December 1920, he married Ivy Ernestine McDonald, daughter of Charles McDonald
Charles McDonald (Australian politician)
Charles McDonald was an Australian politician who served as Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives during the second and third Andrew Fisher Labor governments between 1910 and 1913 and between 1914 and 1917....
.
In 1931, when he travelled to London to negotiate for the establishment of the first air mail route between England and Australia, his plane was destroyed on takeoff at Alor Setar in Malaysia. There were no casualties, Brinsmead only took minor injuries. Instead of waiting for a replacement airplane, he took a commercial flight. This airplane crashed on takeoff at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
on 7 December. Five other were killed, Brinsmead survived with bad injuries, no longer able to work. He was brought back to Australia in February 1932, officially still holding his office. Acting Controller during the following year was his deputy Edgar Johnston
Edgar Johnston
Edgar Charles Johnston DFC was an Australian fighter pilot in World War I, later on a leading member in civic aviation in Australia....
, until he took office in 1933.
Brinsmead died in March 1934 in Melbourne, leaving one son and two daughters.
Tributes
- The Australian Airline QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
namedNaming of Qantas aircraftThe naming of Qantas aircraft has followed various themes since 1926.* 1926 deHavilland DH-50 — Greek Mythology — Iris, Perseus, Pegasus, Atalanta, Hermes, and Hippomenes...
a Lockheed ConstellationLockheed ConstellationThe Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
s airplane after Brinsmead in 1951. - In his book about Australia Down UnderDown Under (book)Down Under is a 2000 travelogue book about Australia written by best-selling travel writer Bill Bryson. In the United States and Canada it was published entitled In a Sunburned Country, a title taken from the famous Australian poem, "My Country"...
in 2000, the writer Bill BrysonBill BrysonWilliam McGuire "Bill" Bryson, OBE, is a best-selling American author of humorous books on travel, as well as books on the English language and on science. Born an American, he was a resident of Britain for most of his adult life before moving back to the US in 1995...
retold the history of Brinsmead, but mixing up his name as Harold C. Brinsmead. He mentioned it as ironic fact that Brinsmead undertook his last journey to show the reliability of aviation.