I am researching the Royal Flying Corps record of Australian soldier George Thomas William Burkett.
He, with 199 other A.I.F. men was selected to train as a pilot in the R.F.C. at Exeter College Oxford in March 1917.
Tom went on to serve with the R.F.C. until the end of the War, and during this time he was awarded the Military Cross.
I have tried to obtain his R.F.C. records without success and I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction.
As well as seeking the reason for his M.C., I would like to find details of his R.F.C. service including combat area, type of aircraft he flew, etc…
I would also be interested to know if there are any books about those 200 A.I.F. men who joined the R.F.C. in 1917. It seems a worthwhile topic to explore.
By: Peter Munster - 31st March 2025 at 11:42
Australian RFC airman Tom Burkett
Dear TwinOtter23, Thank you for your information. As you will see in my reply to kev35 I do have Tom’s AIF record. The Primary School album I refer to has it, and of course the National Archives in Canberra have a more complete record, all now available for free on the Internet. What I was particularly after was the citation for his M.C., and as you will see kev 35 has come up with it. Possibly his RFC records would give me more detail, and I still don’t know how to locate them. I assume Britain has a place where the records are kept, like our National Archives in Canberra. If you have their website that would be helpful. Sorry for being so long in acknowledging your reply. I have been caught up in other jobs, plus being away during our long summer vacation. Regards, PETER M
By: Peter Munster - 31st March 2025 at 11:42
Australian R.F.C. airman Tom Burkett
Dear kev 35, Sorry for being so long in replying to thank you for the information on Tom Burkett. It is exactly what I was looking for. I do have a fine photo of Tom in his R.F.C. uniform. After the War the St Leonards (Vic) Primary School complied an album of ex-pupils who served in the A.I.F. with photos and service records of each individual, but in Tom’s case they only had his A.I.F. record, not his R.F.C. one. I am currently doing research for a book on all these men, and the one glaring omission I had was on Tom’s R.F.C. record. So thanks for your help – it is much appreciated. Regards, PETER M. P.S. My email address is [email]peter.munster@iinet.net.au[/email]
By: rgdobie - 3rd April 2022 at 04:40
HI Peter,
The records you seek seem to be online now . The National Archives’ reference is AIR 76/67/18.
I would be interested if you found a date or place of death for him. He was my great-great-uncle’s nephew, hence my interest.
Regards
Richard Dobie
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September 25, 2009 at 2:42 pm