| Accession Number | P10814.009.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Point Cook |
| Date made | 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Informal portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) John Robertson Duigan, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying ...
Description
Informal portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) John Robertson Duigan, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC). An electrical engineer from Ivanhoe, Victoria prior to enlistment, Lt Duigan and his brother Reginald had previously built and flown their own aircraft. He embarked with C Flight from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 25 October 1916. Later transferring to No. 69 Squadron, he was promoted to Captain and awarded the Military Cross "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. ..he was attacked by four enemy scouts. Although wounded he manoeuvred his machine with great skill...he landed behind the front line and helped remove the observer...and salvaged the photographic plates in spite of being wounded three times himself." He returned to Australia on 19 April 1919. He and his brother were commemorated as Australian aviation pioneers on a 6 cent stamp issued by Australia Post in 1970. (This photograph is from the album of Captain James Brake, No. 2 Squadron, AFC. See P10814)