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{{Short description|Australian pioneer aviator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Sir Norman Brearley
| name = Sir Norman Brearley
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| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = Norman Brearley in the 1920s
| caption = Norman Brearley in the 1920s
| birth_date = 1890
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1890|12|22}}
| birth_place = [[Geelong, Victoria]], [[Australia]]
| birth_place = [[Geelong, Victoria]], [[Australia]]
| death_date = 9 June 1989
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1989|6|9|1890|12|22}}
| death_place =
| death_place =
| education =
| education =
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| website =
| website =
}}
}}
[[File:Norman Brearley bust.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bust (sculpture)|Bust]] of Brearley at [[Perth Airport]] by sculptor Gerard Darwin]]
[[File:Norman Brearley bust.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Bust (sculpture)|Bust]] of Brearley at [[Perth Airport]] by sculptor Gerard Darwin]]
'''Sir Norman Brearley''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE|DSO|MC|AFC|FRAeS}} (1890 – 9 June 1989) was a commercial and military pilot and one of the pioneers of the airline industry within [[Australia]].
'''Sir Norman Brearley''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CBE|DSO|MC|AFC|FRAeS}} (22 December 1890 – 9 June 1989) was a commercial and military pilot and one of the pioneers of the airline industry within [[Australia]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Born in [[Geelong, Victoria]] in 1890, Brearley moved to Western Australia in 1906.<ref name="slwa">{{cite web |url=http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/treasures/brearley/index.htm |title=Brearley Pilot's Licences, Treasures of the Battye Library |accessdate=2007-07-15 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |work= |publisher=[[State Library of Western Australia]] |pages= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref>
Born in [[Geelong, Victoria]] on 22 December 1890, Brearley moved to [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]] in 1906.<ref name="slwa">{{cite web |url=http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/treasures/brearley/index.htm |title=Brearley Pilot's Licences, Treasures of the Battye Library |accessdate=2007-07-15 |last= |first= |author-link= |date= |year= |publisher=[[State Library of Western Australia]] |pages= |quote= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812154706/http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/treasures/brearley/index.htm |archive-date=12 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="TuckerObit">Tucker 1990.</ref>


==Aviation career==
==Aviation career==
===First World War===
In April, 1915, after undertaking a 5-year apprenticeship as a mechanic, he worked his way to the [[United Kingdom]] and subsequently enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps.<ref name="soa">{{cite web |url=http://www.spiritsofansett.com/legends/brealey.htm |title=Australia's First Airline Service |accessdate=2007-07-15 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |work= |publisher=[http://www.spiritsofansett.com/ Spirits of Ansett] |pages= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> Whilst flying in [[France]] during [[World War I]] he was badly wounded in October, 1916, and returned to Western Australia to recover.<ref name="soa"/>
In April 1915, after undertaking a 5-year apprenticeship as a mechanic, Brearley worked his way to the [[United Kingdom]] and subsequently enlisted in the [[Royal Flying Corps]] and trained as a pilot.<ref name="soa">{{cite web|url=http://www.spiritsofansett.com/legends/brealey.htm|title=Australia's First Airline Service|accessdate=2007-07-15|publisher=Spirits of Ansett|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121113940/http://www.spiritsofansett.com/legends/brealey.htm|archivedate=21 January 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]], he was posted initially to [[No. 6 Squadron RFC|No. 6 Squadron]], but transferred to [[No. 29 Squadron RAF|No. 29 Squadron]], where he flew [[Airco DH.2]] scouts (including patrols flown alongside Sergeant [[James McCudden]]).<ref name="TuckerObit"/> However, in November 1916 he was shot down and badly wounded, with bullets perforating both lungs: he landed in [[no man's land]], but managed to crawl back to [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] lines.<ref name="TuckerObit"/><ref name="AuDB">Bunbury 2007.</ref> He returned to Western Australia to recover.<ref name="soa"/> He subsequently returned to Britain where he became a flying instructor, initially at [[RAF Gosport|Gosport]] and then as commander of the school of special flying at [[RAF Lilbourne|Lilbourne]].<ref name="TuckerObit"/><ref name="AuDB"/>


===Post-war===
In 1921, Brearley founded [[West Australian Airways]] Ltd.<ref name="slwa"/> In the same year, Brearley was issued with the first civil pilot's licence under the 1921 Air Navigation Regulations.<ref name="slwa"/> Despite his holding licence No. 2, licence No. 1 was not issued until the 1930s in honour of [[Amy Johnson|Amy Johnson's]] record flight from [[London]] to Australia.<ref name="slwa"/>
Following the end of hostilities, Brearley bought two [[Avro 504]] aircraft (plus a spare engine), which he had shipped to Australia.<ref name="TuckerObit"/> In 1921, he founded [[West Australian Airways|Western Australian Airways]] Ltd., based at [[Geraldton]].<ref name="slwa"/> In the same year, he was issued with Australia's first civil pilot's licence, under the 1921 Air Navigation Regulations.<ref name="slwa"/> His licence was numbered as licence No. 2, but there was no licence No. 1 at the time: a licence of that number was not issued until 1930, when it was presented to [[Amy Johnson]] in honour of her record flight from [[London]] to Australia.<ref name="slwa"/>


In 1927, Brearley opened the Perth Flying School at [[Maylands, Western Australia#Airport|Maylands]]. He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with [[Australian National Airways]].<ref name="soa"/>
In 1927, Brearley opened the Perth Flying School at [[Maylands, Western Australia#Airport|Maylands]]. He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with [[Australian National Airways]].<ref name="soa"/>


==Later life==
==Later life==
He later served with the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] during [[World War II]].<ref name="slwa"/>
Brearley later served with the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] during [[World War II]], commanding [[No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF|No. 4 Service Flying Training School]] at Geraldton from October 1942 to March 1944.<ref name="slwa"/><ref name="AuDB"/>


Brearley was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in 1971.<ref name="slwa"/>
Brearley was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in 1971. He died on 9 June 1989.<ref name="slwa"/><ref name="AuDB"/>


==Personal life==
Brearley died on 9 June 1989.<ref name="slwa"/>
Brearley married Violet Claremont Stubbs at Christ Church, [[Claremont, Western Australia|Claremont]] on 5 July 1917, when he was recovering from his injuries. She died in 1982, aged 85. The couple had a son and a daughter.<ref name="TuckerObit"/><ref name="AuDB"/>


==References==
==References==
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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Brearley, Norman, Sir, and Mayman, Ted (1971) ''Australian aviator'' Adelaide, Rigby. ISBN 0-85179-227-8
*{{cite book |last1=Brearley |first1=Sir Norman |last2=Mayman |first2=Ted |year=1971 |title=Australian Aviator |location=Adelaide |publisher=Rigby |isbn=0-85179-227-8}}
*{{Cite AuDB |first=Bill |last=Bunbury |title=Brearley, Sir Norman (1890–1989) |year=2007 |id2=brearley-sir-norman-12250 }}
* Mayman, Ted (1979). "Sir Norman Brearley, the aviator", in Hunt, Lyall (ed): Westralian Portraits. Nedlands: University of Western Australia Press, 193–198. ISBN 0-85564-157-6.
*{{cite book |last=Mayman |first=Ted |year=1979 |chapter=Sir Norman Brearley, the aviator |editor-last=Hunt |editor-first=Lyall |title=Westralian Portraits |location=Nedlands |publisher=University of Western Australia Press |pages=193–198 |isbn=0-85564-157-6}}
* [http://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/Libraries/Documents_-_general_website/Statesmen_and_Scholars_Historical_Walk_Trail.sflb.ashx Statesmen & Scholars And other fascinating Western Australians: A Tour Guide for the Karrakatta Cemetery Historical Walk Trail 1], page 8, at Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (WA).
*{{cite journal |first=Stuart |last=Tucker |title=Sir Norman Brearley CBE, DSO, MC, AFC, FRAeS [obituary] |journal=[[Cross and Cockade International]] |volume=21 |issue=1 |date=March 1990 |pages=53–54 }}

==External links==
*{{cite web |title=28. Group Capt. Sir Norman Brearley (1891–1989), aviator |publisher=Metropolitan Cemeteries Board: Government of Western Australia |work=Karrakatta Cemetery Historical Walk Trail 1 |url=https://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/our-cemeteries/karrakatta-cemetery/historical-walk-trails/karrakatta-historical-walk-trail-one |accessdate=1 February 2021 }}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Brearley, Norman
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Pioneer aviator
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1890
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Geelong, Victoria]], [[Australia]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 9 June 1989
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brearley, Norman}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brearley, Norman}}
[[Category:1890 births]]
[[Category:1890 births]]
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[[Category:Australian Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Australian Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society]]

Latest revision as of 09:16, 19 March 2023

Sir Norman Brearley
Norman Brearley in the 1920s
Born(1890-12-22)22 December 1890
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Died9 June 1989(1989-06-09) (aged 98)
NationalityAustralian
OccupationPilot
TitelSir
Bust of Brearley at Perth Airport by sculptor Gerard Darwin

Sir Norman Brearley CBE, DSO, MC, AFC, FRAeS (22 December 1890 – 9 June 1989) was a commercial and military pilot and one of the pioneers of the airline industry within Australia.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Geelong, Victoria on 22 December 1890, Brearley moved to Perth, Western Australia in 1906.[1][2]

Aviation career

[edit]

First World War

[edit]

In April 1915, after undertaking a 5-year apprenticeship as a mechanic, Brearley worked his way to the United Kingdom and subsequently enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps and trained as a pilot.[3] On the Western Front, he was posted initially to No. 6 Squadron, but transferred to No. 29 Squadron, where he flew Airco DH.2 scouts (including patrols flown alongside Sergeant James McCudden).[2] However, in November 1916 he was shot down and badly wounded, with bullets perforating both lungs: he landed in no man's land, but managed to crawl back to Allied lines.[2][4] He returned to Western Australia to recover.[3] He subsequently returned to Britain where he became a flying instructor, initially at Gosport and then as commander of the school of special flying at Lilbourne.[2][4]

Post-war

[edit]

Following the end of hostilities, Brearley bought two Avro 504 aircraft (plus a spare engine), which he had shipped to Australia.[2] In 1921, he founded Western Australian Airways Ltd., based at Geraldton.[1] In the same year, he was issued with Australia's first civil pilot's licence, under the 1921 Air Navigation Regulations.[1] His licence was numbered as licence No. 2, but there was no licence No. 1 at the time: a licence of that number was not issued until 1930, when it was presented to Amy Johnson in honour of her record flight from London to Australia.[1]

In 1927, Brearley opened the Perth Flying School at Maylands. He retired from commercial aviation in 1936 when he merged his airline with Australian National Airways.[3]

Later life

[edit]

Brearley later served with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, commanding No. 4 Service Flying Training School at Geraldton from October 1942 to March 1944.[1][4]

Brearley was knighted in 1971. He died on 9 June 1989.[1][4]

Personal life

[edit]

Brearley married Violet Claremont Stubbs at Christ Church, Claremont on 5 July 1917, when he was recovering from his injuries. She died in 1982, aged 85. The couple had a son and a daughter.[2][4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Brearley Pilot's Licences, Treasures of the Battye Library". State Library of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Tucker 1990.
  3. ^ a b c "Australia's First Airline Service". Spirits of Ansett. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d e Bunbury 2007.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
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