Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1, South West Asia, Gaza / Palestine, Deir El Belah, 1 Squadron Australian, Flying Corps, STEWART, 1917

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1917

Overview

Onlookers examining an Airco DH.2 damaged on landing.

Historical information

Walter Stewart was born in Onslow, Western Australia 1896 and was working as a farm hand at Pallinup (via Broome) when he enlisted in the Australia Imperial Force on 4 March 1916. Enrolled as 2427A in the 16th Reinforcements of 10 Light Horse, he embarked from Fremantle on HMAT A52 Surada on 16 May 1916. Although subsequently receiving machinegun training, he was transferred to 67 Australian Flying Squadron, Royal Flying Corps as a Motor Transport Driver. By the end of the War he was an Air Mechanic 1st Class with No 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps. He embarked from Kantara Egypt for return to Australia on 5 March 1919.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-56-820

Item type

Photographs

Material

Prints (Photographic)

Inscriptions and markings

The Airco DH.2 was a pioneering British fighter aircraft of World War I, designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and first flown in July 1915. It was a single-seat pusher biplane fighter with its engine located behind the pilot, allowing for a forward-firing machine gun without the need for synchronization gear. Powered by a 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine it could reach a top speed of approximately 156 km/h. It was armed with a .303 Lewis gun, initially mounted on a flexible mount but later fixed to fire forward. The aircraft had a wingspan of 8.5 meters and a length of 7.3 meters.
The DH.2 entered service with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in February 1916 but was gradually outclassed by newer German fighters by late 1916. It was eventually withdrawn from frontline service in June 1917, although some continued to serve in training roles and in other theatres, such as Palestine and Macedonia.

Contextual information

Walter Stewart purchased a small “Windmill” album manufactured in London inscribed Best Wishes from Walter for his sister and next of kin Nellie, living in Pallinup and a “Souvenir” album from Devel Printing in Cairo. The albums contain a variety of tourist and operational flying scenes, in all 116 images.

Year

1917

Geotag

31.417247959411, 34.3507163726
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Links to additional resources

Service Records

Service Summary

History of Type

Last modified

Friday, 19 June, 2026

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