Nigel Love
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
Nigel Borland Love (16 January 1892 – 2 October 1979) was an Australian aviator and flour miller.
Love was born at South Kurrajong to businessman John Love and Rebecca, née Charley. He attended Sydney Boys' High School before working in his father's importing business, Plummer Love & Co. He visited Britain 1912–13. In 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
and was sent to the government flying school at Richmond
. He was commissioned on 11 January 1917 and sent for further training in Britain. In January 1918, having been promoted lieutenant
, he served in France
with the Australian Flying Corps until June, when he was returned to England as an instructor.
Love returned to Sydney
in 1919 and, in partnership with W. J. Warneford and H. E. Broadsmith, registered the Australian Aircraft and Engineering Co. Ltd., establishing premises at Mascot
. Love, the inaugural managing director, pursued a vigorous publicity campaign and in later supplied Qantas
with its first commercial aircraft. The market was limited, however, and a lack of government assistance saw the company voluntarily liquidate in 1923. The Commonwealth resumed ownership of their airfield, now Kingsford Smith Airport, when the lease expired.
On 4 June 1924 Love married Phyllis Eloise Davey at Strathfield
Methodist Church, joining her father's flour mill firm, Edwin Davey & Sons. He registered N. B. Love Pty Ltd and built his own flour mill at Enfield
in January 1935. He was also a founding member of the New South Wales Flour Millers' Trade Council in 1942.
In August 1941, Love was appointed wing commander
in the Royal Australian Air Force
and commanded a wing of the Air Training Corps for boys between 16 and 18. He contested the 1943 federal election
unsuccessfully, running as a Liberal Democrat
in Parkes
. From 1945 to 1946 he was president of the state branch of the Air Force Association.
Love took over Edwin Davey & Sons in 1940, acquiring a Boggabri
flour mill in 1944. He established Millmaster Feeds Pty Ltd in 1952 and in 1958 floated N. B. Love Industries Ltd., which was sold to George Weston Limited
in 1962, when Love retired to the Canberra
region. He died at Killara
in 1979 and was cremated.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Nigel Borland Love (16 January 1892 – 2 October 1979) was an Australian aviator and flour miller.
Love was born at South Kurrajong to businessman John Love and Rebecca, née Charley. He attended Sydney Boys' High School before working in his father's importing business, Plummer Love & Co. He visited Britain 1912–13. In 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
and was sent to the government flying school at Richmond
Richmond, New South Wales
Richmond is a town in New South Wales, north-west of Sydney, in the Local Government Area of the City of Hawkesbury. It is located at a latitude of 33° 35' 54" South and a longitude of 150°45' 04" east, 19 metres above sea level on the alluvial Hawkesbury River flats, at the foot of the Blue...
. He was commissioned on 11 January 1917 and sent for further training in Britain. In January 1918, having been promoted lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, he served in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with the Australian Flying Corps until June, when he was returned to England as an instructor.
Love returned to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1919 and, in partnership with W. J. Warneford and H. E. Broadsmith, registered the Australian Aircraft and Engineering Co. Ltd., establishing premises at Mascot
Mascot, New South Wales
Mascot is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mascot is located 7 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the City of Botany Bay...
. Love, the inaugural managing director, pursued a vigorous publicity campaign and in later supplied Qantas
Qantas
Qantas 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...
with its first commercial aircraft. The market was limited, however, and a lack of government assistance saw the company voluntarily liquidate in 1923. The Commonwealth resumed ownership of their airfield, now Kingsford Smith Airport, when the lease expired.
On 4 June 1924 Love married Phyllis Eloise Davey at Strathfield
Strathfield, New South Wales
Strathfield is an Inner West suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Strathfield is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield...
Methodist Church, joining her father's flour mill firm, Edwin Davey & Sons. He registered N. B. Love Pty Ltd and built his own flour mill at Enfield
Enfield, New South Wales
Enfield is a suburb, in the Inner-West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Enfield is located 13 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Burwood Council.-History:...
in January 1935. He was also a founding member of the New South Wales Flour Millers' Trade Council in 1942.
In August 1941, Love was appointed wing commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
and commanded a wing of the Air Training Corps for boys between 16 and 18. He contested the 1943 federal election
Australian federal election, 1943
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 August 1943. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister of Australia John Curtin easily defeated the opposition Country Party led...
unsuccessfully, running as a Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrat Party (Australia)
The Liberal Democratic Party was an Australian political party that contested the 1943 federal election and the 1944 New South Wales state election.-Divisions in UAP:...
in Parkes
Division of Parkes (1901-69)
The Division of Parkes was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the south-west of Sydney, and originally included the suburbs of Canterbury, Burwood and Ashfield...
. From 1945 to 1946 he was president of the state branch of the Air Force Association.
Love took over Edwin Davey & Sons in 1940, acquiring a Boggabri
Boggabri, New South Wales
Boggabri is a small town on the Kamilaroi Highway in north-western New South Wales, Australia in Narrabri Shire, between Gunnedah and Narrabri. In 2006, the town had a population of 901 people....
flour mill in 1944. He established Millmaster Feeds Pty Ltd in 1952 and in 1958 floated N. B. Love Industries Ltd., which was sold to George Weston Limited
George Weston Limited
George Weston Limited , often referred to as Weston or Weston's, is Canada's largest food processing and distribution company. Founded by George Weston in 1882, the company today consists of Weston Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary, and Loblaw Companies Limited, the country's largest supermarket...
in 1962, when Love retired to the Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
region. He died at Killara
Killara, New South Wales
Killara is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Killara is located north of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. East Killara is a separate suburb and West Killara is a locality within Killara.-...
in 1979 and was cremated.