HMAT Boonah in Quarantine on Torrens Island, 1919

Quarantined on Torrens Island, near Adelaide, Sergeant Norman Gillies in the centre.

Following on from Marilyn Kenny's story last month about the Troopship-Boonah-and-the-1919-influenza-epidemic  we now have a cache of photos collected by Sergeant Norman Gillies of the Australian Flying Corps, who was on that voyage of the Boonah.  These photos, courtesy of Maurice Austin, show scenes of the troops on board the vessel in 1918, and later quarantined on Torrens Island in 1919.  Some individual portraits, not all identified, are included. Click here to see the entire set of photos. 

Scotch College Commemorative website

Above two images are from the Scotch College commemorative website. 

Scotch College moved it's WW1 Roll of Honour while I wasn't looking, but I have lately relocated it, now with articles about those who died, and those who won honours and awards.  The above images come from a page about Australian Flying Corps Cadet George Robinson Johnston.  Johnston initially embarked with the 6th Infantry Battalion, but later transferred to the Australian Flying Corps.

He met  his death while still in training as an observer in a two seater aeroplane.  Johnston's pal from the Flemington Presbyterian Church, Driver Reginald Robert McLean, wrote home that the pilot was thought to have fainted at the controls, and George had no way of controlling the aircraft from his seat behind.

The pictured cross made from an aeroplane propeller, perhaps even the one from the crashed aeroplane, was made by the mechanics in his unit, and placed over his grave at Winchester (West Hill) Old Cemetery. 

Heroic Airman Dies at Sea, 1917

Airman's funeral, Sleepyhillock, Montrose.  Courtesy of Ian Edwards, 2015.

Arthur Ernest Percival Mott of Salisbury St Essendon was training as a pilot when his aeroplane was lost at sea near Montrose, Scotland.  It was some time before his body was found on the beach.  A military funeral was arranged, which may even have been the one pictured above.  Arthur, though still very young,  had made an impression on the military authorities already, and you can read why here.

HEROIC AIRMAN. Lost in Sea Fog. A Loss to the Empire.

Lieutenant AEP Mott's memorial in Montrose, Scotland. Courtesy of Ian Edwards.

HEROIC AIRMAN. 

Lost in Sea Fog. 

A Loss to the Empire. 

By the death of Lieutenant Arthur E. Mott, of the Australian Flying Corps, who was lost in a sea fog off the coast of Scotland, and drowned on 24th December, at the age of 22 years, the Empire (says the Melbourne "Herald") has been deprived of a brave soldier, who appeared destined for unusual distinction as an airman.

HEROIC AIRMAN. (1918, January 10). Bendigonian (Bendigo, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 27. Retrieved January 8, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89087658

You can read why Lieutenant Mott was regarded as a "Loss to the Empire" here.