Local Heroes WW1

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Last Updated: Wednesday, 01 April 2015 23:00

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(Liet) Sir Keith Smith K.B.E. (1890-1955)

Sir Keith Macpherson Smith (1890-1955)  was born on 20 December 1890  at Semaphore, Adelaide. Employed by Elder Smith & Co. in Adelaide on the outbreak of war, Keith was rejected twice for service with the A.I.F. on medical grounds. He underwent medical treatment and paid his own passage to England to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps.

Accepted in July 1917 into the Officer Cadet Wing, he was posted in November to No. 58 Squadron, a newly formed bomber unit which left for France in January 1918. Keith, however, was not to see active service. On 24 February 1918 he was posted to No. 75 Squadron, a home-defence formation, as a gunnery instructor. On 1 April he was promoted lieutenant and spent the rest of the war in Britain with training establishments. He was placed on the unemployed list, R.A.F., on 5 November 1919.

On 12 November 1919, Ross and Keith Smith and two mechanics, Wally Shiers and Jim Bennett, set out to fly from England to Australia in a large Vickers Vimy bomber. It was an epic 28-day flight, completed at an average speed of 137 kilometres per hour, but not without mishap. On their arrival, the pioneering flyers were welcomed home as national heroes; their £10,000 prize money was shared equally. The two brothers were knighted.