FROM LONDON TO AUSTRALIA BY AEROPLANE 



231 



Drawn by A. H. Bumstead 



We narrowly escaped going up with it. 

 We lost everything but our lives. 



After this mishap we were compelled 

 to return to India to refit. The Indian 

 Government generously lent us another 

 vessel, the R. I. M. S. Minto. This time 

 we carried no petrol. 



The expedition was rewarded with 

 splendid success during the period of 

 three months we were engaged upon it. 

 We visited Burma, the Federated Malay 

 States, the Netherlands Indies, Borneo, 

 and Siam. 



Upon our return to India we were cha- 

 grined to find that our machine had been 

 taken up to the northwest frontier to 

 participate in a bombing offensive against 

 the Afghans, and had been crashed in a 

 storm. 



However, our heart-pangs were miti- 

 gated when we learned that the Austra- 

 lian Commonwealth Government had 



offered a prize of £10,000 for the first 

 machine (manned by Australians) to fly 

 from London to Australia in 30 days. 



Hearing this, I knew there would be 

 many competitors, and the spirit of 

 rivalry grew tense. It stimulated in me 

 a keenness — more than ever — to attempt 

 the flight. My difficulty was how to 

 reach England in time. 



SECURING A MACHINE FOR AUSTRALIA 



Shortly afterward General Borton was 

 instructed to return to London to report 

 on the route. This opened the avenue of 

 transport for myself and my two me- 

 chanics. General Borton himself was 

 very keen to join in the flight to Aus- 

 tralia, but, unfortunately, not being an 

 Australian, he was debarred from enter- 

 ing the competition. He very kindly ap- 

 proached Messrs. Vickers Ltd. and asked 

 them if they would supply a machine for 



