World War I and aviation scrapbook of Wal Shiers, c.1916-1960

Containers:

Folio-Box 153

Component identifier:

File 3

Content Summary:

This scrapbook appears to have been compiled by Wal Shiers, who was friends with Crome. Wal Shiers was a mechanic, with J M Bennett, on the Ross Smith flight of 1919, in which aviators Ross Smith and Keith Smith flew from Great Britain to Australia.

The scrapbook contains photographs taken overseas during World War I, including in Egypt. Photographs are glued into the scrapbook and it is unclear whether they are captioned on verso. There are scant captions on the the scrapbook such as '67th Australian squadron Royal Flying Corps abroad' and 'Our boys on active service abroad'. Several loose photographs include a portrait of Wal Shiers and his wife Helena Shiers.

Papers contained in the scrapbook include a movement order for Shiers permitting him to travel, and pass for Suez Canal Zone, both 1917; Program for 1st squadron Australian Flying Corps concert, August 1918; record noting Sergeant Shiers was released from RAF Risalpur 16 August 1919; letter from Ross Smith to Shiers, 1920; and job offer to Shiers from Auto Electrical Co, Adelaide, 1920.

Also contains newspaper cuttings, mostly relating to the death of Ross Smith, 1922; and TAA plane tickets for Crome and Wal Shiers, 1960.

Another album of Wal Shiers relating to the 1919 Ross Smith flight is held in the Manuscripts collection at MS 8627.

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