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The grand-nephew of Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, the 12th Premier of Tasmania, Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh worked in the wool trade before the war. He enlisted in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment in August 1914 and departed for Egypt two months later. He served at Gallipoli from May to December 1915 and, as a Coporal, served in a machine gun crew under the command of Lieutenant Ross Smith. After being promoted to Lieutenant, Fysh, like Smith before him, transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in July 1917. Posted to 1 Squadron (AFC), he scored five victories as an observer flying Bristol Fighters. Postwar, he co-founded Australia's international airline, the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (QANTAS), with his friend from 1 Squadron, Paul McGinness. Fysh was managing director of the company from 1923 until 1955 and chairman from 1947, when Qantas was acquired by the Australian government, until he retired in 1966. He was knighted in 1953 and inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013. |
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
"Lieut. Hudson Fysh (Australian F.C.). (EGYPT)
A skilful observer, conspicuous for courage and determination, whether engaging the enemy in the air or attacking ground targets. He has taken part in numerous combats resulting in loss to the enemy, and has inflicted serious damage on hostile camps and aerodromes." |
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
23 Jan 1918 |
0800 |
1 (AFC) |
Bristol Fighter (A7237) 1 |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
SE of Bireh |
| 2 |
03 Aug 1918 |
1210 |
1 (AFC) |
Bristol Fighter (B1223) 2 |
Albatros C (DES) 3 |
NE of Ez Duba |
| 3 |
31 Aug 1918 |
1430 |
1 (AFC) |
Bristol Fighter (C4623) 2 |
LVG C (CAP) |
Rantieh |
| 4 |
31 Aug 1918 |
1440 |
1 (AFC) |
Bristol Fighter (C4623) 2 |
LVG C (DES) |
E of Kalkilieh |
| 5 |
14 Sep 1918 |
1130 |
1 (AFC) |
Bristol Fighter (C4623) 2 |
Rumpler C (FTL/DES) 4 |
E of Jenin |
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| 1 |
Pilot Capt S W Addison |
| 2 |
Pilot Paul McGinness |
| 3 |
Shared with Lt Edward Kenny & Leslie Sutherland |
| 4 |
Shared with Lt D R Dowling & Lt E A Mulford (B1223) |
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| Books |
- Flying High
- The story of Hudson Fysh, QANTAS, and the trail-blazing days of aviation; by Timothy Hall
- Henry Reed
- Van Diemen's land pioneer; by Wilmot Hudson Fysh
- Wings to the World
- The story of QANTAS, 1945-1966; by Wilmot Hudson Fysh
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