John Dowie’s sculpture of the Vimy crew 1958

The Advertiser Library caption: Pre-opening work on John Dowie’s sculpture of pioneer aviators Captain Sir Ross Smith, Lieutenant Sir Keith Smith, Lieutenant J M Bennett and Lieutenant W H Shiers at the Vickers Vimy memorial at Adelaide Airport. Filed 18 Apr 1958. (Pic by unidentified staff photographer). Please note: these images are not to be republished without the permission of News Corporation. To view a PDF of The Advertiser’s review of the Dowie sculpture, supplied courtesy of News Corporation, please click here.

The unveiling of John Dowie’s sculpture of pioneer aviators Captain Sir Ross Smith, Lieutenant Sir Keith Smith, Lieutenant J M Bennett and Lieutenant W H Shiers at the Vickers Vimy memorial at Adelaide Airport. In the foreground on the dais are Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams, who unveiled the memorial and Lady Smith (Anita), widow of Sir Keith Smith. Behind them (from left) Lord Mayor of Adelaide (Mr. Lancelot (Lance) Morton Spiller Hargrave), the Minister for Defence (Sir Philip McBride), the Premier (Sir Thomas Playford) and the only surviving member of the crew, Mr W. H. (Wally) Shiers, 27 Apr 1958.