Brownell, Raymond James (Air Commodore, b.1894 - d.1974), CBE, MC, MM Accession Number: PR83/231

Description

Collection relating to the First World War, Second World War and inter-war service of 11 Air Commodore Raymond James Brownell. Brownell originally enlisted on 12 September 1914, with the Australian Field Artillery, serving in Gallipoli and France. On 16 March 1917 he was discharged to the Royal Flying Corp to begin his pilots training. Brownell enlisted in the Royal Australian Airforce in 1921. His posting at Discharge on 25 March 1947 was with Headquarters 11 Group. Brownell’s Second World War service includes operations over Timor and in the South West Pacific Area.

Wallet 1 of 3 – Consists of six flying logbooks. The first logbook relates to Brownell’s service during the First World War, covering the period 23 March 1917 to 20 April 1918. The second, third, fourth and fifth logbooks cover Brownell’s inter-war service, dated respectively: 11 January 1922 to 14 August 1923; 15 August 1923 to 26 September 1924; 27 September 1924 to 23 December 1925; 4 April 1926 to June 1928. The sixth logbook relates to service during the Second World War service, dated June 1934 to December 1943.

Wallet 2 of 3 – Consists of a Second World War Flying Logbook, covering the period 13 December 1943 to 21 December 1945. The wallet also includes an original handwritten diary covering the year 1939. The entry on 9 September includes the text ‘War Declared’.

Wallet 3 of 3 – Consists of eight original handwritten diaries covering the period 1914 to 1919. The first diary is dated 19 October 1914 to 7 July 1915, and includes descriptions of Brownell’s journey from Australia to Egypt, followed by service in Gallipoli. Note there is a small diary labelled ‘1A’ which gives a detailed account of Brownell’s daily routine in Gallipoli, covering 6 July to 30 September 1915. The second diary also includes descriptions of Gallipoli, covering 1 October to 31 December 1915. The third diary gives descriptions of the Western Front, covering 1 January to 23 November 1916. Brownell wrote the fourth diary while in Denham, Buckinghamshire, from 23 November to 31 December 1916. The fifth diary covers 1917, including Brownell’s transfer to the Royal Flying Corp. Brownell is based in England between 1 January to 25 August. From 26 August to 12 December, he is on flying operations over France. From 12 to 31 December, he is on operations over Italy. The sixth diary includes descriptions of the Italian front, between I January to 28 April 1918. Brownell then returns to England for a month. The final diary describes Brownell’s return to Australia, with his arrival in Melbourne on 24 January 1919.

Details

Conflicts

• Period 1930-1939
• Second World War, 1939-1945
• Period 1920-1929
• First World War, 1914-1918

Places

• Gallipoli
• Pozieres
• France
• Egypt
• Mena
• Italy
• Pearce
• Timor
• North Russia
• Fleurbaix

Events

• Battle of Fromelles
• Western Front

Units

• RAAF Pearce
• 45th Squadron Royal Flying Corps
• 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade