over age airman

Found in 1941-44 issue, Who's Who in Australia, reference to Ernest Joseph ROBERTS, conductor ABC Symphony Orchestra, Perth Western Australia. Born 1883 in UK, served RFC in WW1. This makes him 35 years of age, should be between 18 and 25 by 1918 According to RFC rules.
My other research into New South Wales State Aviation School shows Ernest J Roberts ex J C Williamson & Co, the theatre people, learnt to fly there late 1917. No proof he is the same man; co-incidental? So, was he lying about his age? Was this the same man? Both in'same trade'.Enigma.
I know MY Roberts went to join RFC RAF via Egypt and probably enlisted there, but that is where the certainty cuts out. N Hayes. Portland Vic Australia.

During WW1 age limits were "flexible" to say the least. For example two of the men from our village who were killed were aged 35 and 36.
Was Roberts a pilot? If not I doubt if age was a concern.

andy

Neville,

Sorry no answers for your questions but a welcome to theaerodrome.com forum. About 18 months ago you contacted my mother, who is the curator at the Hawkesbury Museum on the subject of Phillipp Charley (snr) storing aircraft in his shed until the hangar at Ham Common was built. I have also read your article on the NSW Aviation School in Insiginia magazine. As I spent a good time of my youth in Windsor/Richmond I too am interested in the Aviation School and the origins of Aviation in the Hawkesbury District.

I tend to publish anything I know to the Australian Flying Corps Website,

• http://members.nbci.com/pointcook/

I dont know if you have found it already or not. Most of the Newspaper articles from the Hawkesbury Gazette about the Aviation School are up on that site.

Anyway good to see another Aussie on the forum discussing our little know part in Aviation History

cam
(Cameron Riley)
AFC - http://members.nbci.com/pointcook/