| Accession Number | DAD0011 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Glass original half plate negative |
| Maker |
Darge Photographic Company |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Point Cook |
| Date made | c 20 May 1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Darge Photographic Company collection of negatives
Description
Portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) William Sheldon, Royal Australian Field Artillery, in the cockpit of a Bristol Biplane at the Central Flying School at Werribee, Victoria where he gained his Aviators' Certificate (No 1418) on 12 May 1915. Lt Sheldon was a 26 year old Army Officer from St Kilda, Victoria when he enlisted in the AIF on 6 January 1916 and embarked for overseas as a Captain (Capt) with A Flight, No 1 Squadron, Australia Flying Corps (AFC) from Melbourne on 16 March 1916 aboard HMAT Orsova. Capt Sheldon served in the Middle East with 67 Australian Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC) before transferring to 71 Squadron AFC and to the United Kingdom in December 1916. He served in France in command of 2 Squadron AFC, was Mentioned in Despatches, then promoted to Major on 20 April 1917 and returned to Australia on 5 August 1918.