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Memorial Walk
Additional three sites to complement
Adelaide CBD Walk produced in 2004
Teacher Resource
Memorial
Address
Sir Ross Smith Statue
Corner of King William Road and War Memorial Drive,
Adelaide
Background Information
The Sir Ross Smith Statue was unveiled on the 10 December
1927 The sculptor was F. Brook Hitch, A.R.B.S. and paid for by
public subscription. The monument commemorates one of the
states most famous sons.
Sir Ross was born in Semaphore in 1892. After service in pre-war
cadets and militia he joined the South Australian 3rd Light Horse
in August 1914. He fought at Gallipoli and the battle of Romani
before joining the Royal Flying Corp (RFC). He subsequently
transferred to the Australian Flying Corp (AFC) in 1917. During
this time, he received numerous decorations and was regarded as one of Australia’s
best pilots.
With his brother Keith, he flew from England to Australia in 28 days in 1919 and won
the £10,000 prize as the first to fly the distance in less than 30 days. He tragically died
in 1922 in a plane crash in England while testing an aircraft for a planned around the
world flight. Following his death the public was quick to donate to a “shilling fund”,
opened by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, to provide a fitting memorial.
Student Activities
On Site
(1)
What clues are there in the features and design of the Sir Ross Smith
Statue (other than the inscription) that suggest how he achieved fame and
fortune?
Answers could include
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(2)
Sir Ross Smith’s flying suit and helmet
His stance with one foot in Europe and the other in Australia
The two bronze female figures one holding an aeroplane and the other wearing a
winged helmet and
the bronze reliefs on four sides of the plinth depicting the events of the historic
flight
By examining the monument identify the three
other people who participated in the great
endeavour for which Sir Ross Smith became
famous.
His brother Keith Smith and two mechanics, Sergeant W.H.
Shiers A.F.M. and Sergeant J.M. Bennett A.F.M., M.S.M.
(3)
There are two towers on the plinth. One of the towers
is the Adelaide Town Hall. The other tower
represents a building, which still stands, diagonally
across the road from the Adelaide Town Hall and is
significant in terms of the cargo carried by Ross
Smith in his historic flight. What is the name of the
building? Hint: A further clue is the item delivered
by Ross Smith which appears to the right.
Ross and Keith Smith carried the very first “Air Mail” From England to Australia on
their historic flight. The second tower on the plinth is that of the Adelaide Post Office
(GPO).
(4)
By counting the medals located on the eastern base of the statue, which
form part of the bronze wing shaped plaque, how many honours and
awards did Sir Ross Smith receive during his relatively short life?
Students only need to count the medals that appear on the eastern base of the
monument.
Answer is nine.
Classroom
(5)
What was Sir Ross Smith’s association with South Australia?
Ross and Keith Smith were both born and educated in South Australia. Ross was born
in Semaphore in 1890 and his brother in 1892. Ross was educated at Queens College
in North Adelaide before moving with his family to the outback and subsequently
enlisting in the South Australian raised 3rd Light Horse (mounted infantry) following
the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. Following his historic flight from
England to Darwin Sir Ross Smith flew his Vickers Vimy aircraft on promotional
visits around Australia, including Adelaide, where he landed in the Northfield area on
his post race visit renewing his association with this state.
(6)
During World War I Ross Smith served with the Australian Light Horse at
Gallipoli and then as a pilot with the RFC (Royal Flying Corps) and later
the AFC (Australian Flying Corps) where he won the Distinguished Flying
Cross (DFC), Military Cross (MC) and a number of other military awards.
Using the internet find out more information about the DFC and MC and
why these military honours were awarded to Ross Smith.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
This silver cross is awarded to officers and warrant officers for an act or acts of
valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations
against the enemy. A straight silver bar with an eagle in the centre is awarded for a
further act or acts. The year of the award is engraved on the reverse. The award was
established on the birthday of King George V, June 3 1918. Until 1919, the stripes
were horizontal. It was established for officers and warrant officers of the RAF in
respect of acts of valour while flying in active operations against the enemy.
Military Cross (MC)
The Military Cross (MC) is awarded to commissioned officers of the rank of Captain
or below or Warrant Officers for distinguished and meritorious services in battle. The
Military Cross was established in December 1915.
Source: http://www.vvaa.org.au/med-dfc.htm
Sir Ross Macpherson Smith’s DFC and MC citations
Distinguished Flying Cross
SMITH, Captain Ross Macpherson MC; Australian Flying Corps; No 1 Sqn AFC;
London Gazette 8 February 1919, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 23 May 1919:
(Joint citation with Lieutenant WA Kirk) During the months of June and July,
these officers (Captain Smith and Lieutenant Kirk) accounted for two enemy
machines and they have been conspicuous for their gallantry and initiative in
attacking ground targets, frequently at very low altitudes. The keenness and fine
example set by these officers cannot be over estimated.
SMITH, Captain Ross Macpherson MC DFC; Australian Flying Corps; No 1 Sqn
AFC; London Gazette 8 February 1919, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 23 May
1919:
During the operations prior to October 1918, he took part in numerous
engagements involving flights of 150 and 200 miles, and succeeded in doing
extensive damage to the enemy's hangers, railways, etc. Captain Smith displayed
most consistent gallantry with marked ability in all his work, whether bombing by
night or day or in personal encounters in the air. Whilst operating with the
Sheriffian forces he destroyed one enemy machine and brought down two others
out of control in the desert.
SMITH, Captain Ross Macpherson MC DFC; Australian Flying Corps; No 1 Sqn
AFC; London Gazette 8 February 1919, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 23 May
1919:
On 19 October, this officer with Lieutenant A.V. McCann as observer engaged and
drove down an enemy two seater. As it appeared to land intact, he descended to a
low altitude and, with machine gun fire, forced the occupants to abandon the
machine. He then landed alongside it, and while his observer covered the enemy
officers, he set light to their machine and completely destroyed it. To have effected
a landing in unknown country, many, many miles in the rear of the enemy's
advanced troops demanded courage and skill of a very high order.
Military Cross
SMITH, Lieutenant Ross Macpherson; Australian Flying Corps; No 1 Sqn AFC; 11
May 1917:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when his pilot descended to the
rescue of an officer who had been forced to land. On landing he held the enemy at
bay with his revolver, thus enabling his pilot to rescue the officer and to safely fly
away his machine.
SMITH, Lieutenant Ross Macpherson MC; Australian Flying Corps; No 1 Sqn AFC;
London Gazette 26 March 1918, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 7 August 1918,
London Gazette Citation 24 August 1918, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
Citation 12 December 1918:
He was one of two pilots who carried out a remarkable series of photographs in one
flight, completely covering an important area of 45 square miles. On a later occasion
he successfully bombed an important bridge head from a low altitude, and his work
throughout as well as his photography has been invaluable and characterised by the
most consistent gallantry.
Source: http://www.australianflyingcorps.org/heraldry/medalsrmsmith.html
(7)
For what important event in Australian history is Sir Ross Smith best
known?
In 1919 the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes announced the now famous ‘AIR
RACE’. A prize of £10,000 was to be awarded for the first machine to fly from
London to Australia in 30 days or less. Ross and his brother Keith and two mechanics,
Sergeant W.H. Shiers and Sergeant J.M. Bennett, took off from Hounslow, England,
on the 12 November 1919 in a twin-engined Vickers Vimy aircraft to participate in
the England to Australia air race. They won the race, landing in Darwin on 10
December 1919. Ross and Keith were both knighted and received a share of the
£10,000 prize money. Four other aircraft taking part in the race crashed and a sixth
machine took off after the race had been won and took seven months to reach
Australia.
Source: http://www.smithfund.org.au/smith.html and
http://www.awm.gov.au/forging/future/england_to_australia.htm
(8)
The money required to erect this statue was raised by a “shilling fund” and
within a few weeks £1500 was raised. Design a poster, that reflects Ross
Smith’s achievements, which could have been used by those seeking to raise
money to build this monument.
Student posters should demonstrate some understanding of the achievements of the
Smith Brothers and the sense of community loss that came with the death of Sir Ross
Smith in an air crash in Surrey, England on 13 April 1922.
(9)
What is the other large memorial located at Adelaide Airport and named
after both Smith Brothers? What are the two main features of the
memorial?
The Sir Ross and Keith Smith Memorial is located at
Adelaide Airport. It includes the original Vickers
Vimy aircraft (G-EAOU) flown by Ross and Keith
Smith on their historic England to Australia flight,
and sculpted figures of the two Smith brothers and
their mechanics.
Source: http://www.aal.com.au/corp/corp_hist.htm
(10) There are many monuments around Australia commemorating Sir Ross
and Keith Smith’s historic flight. Why was the commemorative memorial
(pictured) to Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith erected in Adelaide’s Northern
Suburbs in the 1960s? Where is it located?
It is located on Foster's Road at Northfield. The memorial takes
the form of a commemorative plaque mounted on a large rock. It
is here that Ross Smith’s aircraft a Vickers Vimy first touched
down in South Australia on a post-race visit. When the plaque
was erected in the 1960s the land behind was still vacant,
however it is now located in a suburban area. The former
Northfield High School, which was built in the late 1960’s and
located nearby, was renamed Ross Smith Secondary School in
his honour.
Source: http://users.chariot.net.au/~theburfs/1919mem.html.
Memorial King George V Statue
Address Sir Edwin Smith Drive, Adelaide
Background Information
The King George V statue is located in the Angas
Gardens and was unveiled on the 25 April 1950. It is a
bronze statue with a pedestal of Waikerie freestone and
granite. The sculptor was M. Lambert. Public
subscription and the South Australian Government
funded this monument. King George V died in 1936 and
his reign spanned the First World War. During this time
he regularly visited the British and colonial troops in
England and those serving on the Western Front. He had
earlier represented his father King Edward VII at the
opening of the Australian Parliament in May 1901 and
had visited Adelaide as part of his visit to Australia. Not
surprisingly the grief at his death was considerable. He is
the last British monarch in Adelaide to be memorialised in bronze and it is unlikely
there will be another.
Student Activities
On Site
(1)
Statues of the two monarchs Queen Victoria and King
Edward VII are in very prominent locations in Victoria
Square and North Terrace respectively. Not so King
George V. Why do you think his statue is located where
it is in the Adelaide Parklands? Hint: During what
important period in world history did King George
reign and what other major memorials are located
nearby which date back to this period?
Students need to make the link between the period of George V’s reign and the First
World War. This can be deduced from examining the dates of his reign and observing
his statue’s close proximity to and alignment with the Cross of Sacrifice.
(2)
Look from the statue of King George V towards St Peters Cathedral. Do
you notice anything interesting about its alignment that might provide a
clue to why it was placed in this location in Angas Gardens?
The King George V monument is aligned with the Cross of Sacrifice
which is itself aligned with the three spires of St Peters Cathedral. St
Peters Cathedral holds and displays guidons, colours, and banners of a
number of South Australian infantry battalions and light horse units that
served during World War I. These have been laid up in the cathedral in
perpetuity.
Classroom
(3)
Why was King George V so popular with his Australian subjects and in
particular those Australian soldiers who served on the Western Front
(France and Belgium) during World War I?
King George V was much loved by Australian and other British Empire troops for his
visits with his wife Mary, affectionately known as “May”, to the Western Front during
World War I. During one such visit, George's horse rolled on top of him, breaking his
pelvis - George remained in pain for the rest of his life from the injury.
Source: http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon60.html
(4)
King George V came to Australia in
1901 when he was the Duke of
Cornwall and York and was painted
centre stage by artist Tom Roberts
in the painting, at right, which is
known as “The Big Picture”. What
is the location, date and occasion of
in this important ceremony
featuring the future King of
England?
The opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia by HRH the
Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V), May 9 1901 in the Exhibition
Building in Melbourne.
(5)
What other dignitaries attended this important event in Australian history
pictured in Tom Robert’s famous painting? Refer to
www.peo.gov.au/resources/federation.htm
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
HRH the Duke of Cornwall and York
HRH the Duchess of Cornwall and York
Marquis of Linlithgow (Governer-General)
Marchioness of Linlithgow
State Governors
Rt. Hon Sir Edmund Barton (Prime Minister)
Rt Hon Sir John Forrest (Minister for Defence)
Rt Hon. C.C. Kingston (Minister for Trade and Customs)
Hon. Alfred Deakin (Attorney General)
Members of the House of Representatives and Senators
Memorial South Australia Naval Memorial Garden
Address Sir Edwin Smith Drive, Adelaide
Background Information
Commander C. J. Bates, ADC, RAN officially opened
the South Australian Naval Memorial Garden on the 8
April 1995. The garden contains memorials to various
naval vessels that have served with the Royal
Australian Navy (RAN) since Federation in 1901.
The centrepiece of the gardens is a large anchor.
A significant feature of the gardens is a headstone that
had previously marked the site of the grave of Phineas
Philip Davies in Cheltenham Cemetery for 100 years.
The headstone was claimed by the RAN in December
1986 and was installed as the centrepiece of the South
Australian Naval Memorial Garden at HMAS Encounter
until the gardens were relocated to its present location.
Phineas Davies was an Able Seaman on the HMCS
Protector. He tragically died on the 28 December 1885 at
the Glenelg commemoration ceremony as the result of a
premature explosion of a cartridge during a firing salute.
Student Activities
On Site
(1)
These gardens contain a headstone to a sailor Phineas
Davies.
What was his middle name? What is the name given to the public holiday,
held on the 28 December in South Australia, on which he died? What was
the cause of his death?
Phineas Phillip Davies died as a result of a premature explosion of a cartridge whilst
firing a salute on what is now known as Proclamation Day.
(2)
What shape does the plaques in the Naval Memorial Garden form?
An anchor
(3)
Make a sketch and record the inscription from one of the plaques in the
Naval Memorial Gardens for further research.
Students may select any plaque for the purposes of later classroom research. Refer
Question (5).
Classroom
(4)
Phineas Smith served on the HMCS Protector. Why was
the HMCS Protector important in South Australia’s
colonial history?
HMCS Protector was completed in 1884 for the South Australian
government. It was the Colony's only warship and was employed
to patrol South Australia's coastal waters. The Protector served for
three months in Chinese waters during the Boxer Rebellion on
loan to the Royal Navy without seeing action.
Source: www.awm.gov.au/virtualtour/colonial.htm. and
Additional information for teachers from “A Warship for South Australia” by Robin
J.R. Pennock Pages 2-4.
The HMCS Protector was South Australia’s first and only colonial warship. Built in
response to any future (Russian) threat to Port Adelaide its construction was first
recommended in a Parliamentary paper in 1858 following the international situation
occasioned by the Crimean War. The HMCS
Protector arrived at Semaphore from Newcastle
(England) on 30 September 1884. Its purchase was
closely associated with a series of measures to protect
Australian ports that also saw the construction of the
coastal artillery forts such as Fort Glanville between
1878 and 1880 and nearby Fort Largs that was
constructed in 1884.
(5)
From the information on the plaque in the Naval Memorial Gardens you
copied in Question (3) summarise the history of the ship, type of ship or
arm of service which is being commemorated.
Information about all vessels, which have served with the RAN, are located at
www.navy.gov.au > The Fleet > Ships > Alphabetical Ship List.
This site will also assist students to answer questions (5), (6) and (7).
(6)
There were three different ships all named the HMAS Sydney that saw
service during World War I, World War II and the Korean/Vietnam War.
What is the one incident or activity for which you think each of these
vessels will be best remembered? Hint: Your answers should include in
order of conflicts the words SMS Emden, Kormoran and Vung Tau.
www.navy.gov.au
HMAS Sydney I - The Sinking off the Cocos Islands on 9 November 1915 of the
German raider the SMS Emden which threatened the passage of the convoy that
carried the first Anzacs across the Indian Ocean en route to Egypt and, unknown to
them at the time, ultimately to Gallipoli.
HMAS Sydney II – The sinking of the HMAS Sydney II with the tragic loss of all
hands by the German ship the Kormoran, approximately 150 miles south-west of
Carnarvon, off the West Australian Coast, on the afternoon of 19 November 1941.
HMAS Sydney - The aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney served in the Korean War and
was subsequently converted to a fast troop carrier and in this role transported about
16,000 Australian troops to Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It became known as the
`Vung Tau Ferry' after the Vietnamese port at which Australian troops disembarked.
(7)
The Light Cruiser Perth II was sunk by the Japanese during the Battle of
Sunda Straits in February/March 1942. In 2002, to mark the 60 th
anniversary of the sinking of the HMAS Perth the Australian Mint struck a
commemorative coin in the ship’s honour. What can you find out about this
battle and the fate of the crew of the HMAS Perth?
HMAS Perth was built at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard and commissioned into the
Royal Navy as HMS Amphion on the 15 June 1936. Purchased by the Australian
Government, she was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on the 29 June
1939. The ship was torpedoed by the Japanese after running into the enemy invasion
fleet assigned to Western Java in Sunda Straits. It sank on the 1 March 1942. Of the
Perth's company of 686, only 218 were repatriated to Australia after the war. Many
became prisoners of war and were incarcerated in camp near Batavia, Java and others
worked on the infamous Thai-Burma railway. Some former Perth crew members were
rescued and others drowned when an American submarine sunk a Japanese transport
carrying Australian prisoners of war to Japan.
Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/perth/
HMAS PERTH CREW MEMBERS – 1941
COIN
SPECIALLY MINTED