Air hero: Peter Munster with a picture of Bellarine Peninsula war hero Tom Burkett.
TOM BENNETT
A FORGOTTEN hero of the Great War has been rediscovered thanks to a St Leonards historian’s new book.
Retired history lecturer Peter Munster unearthed the amazing story of Lieutenant Tom Burkett while researching Remembering Our Anzacs.
The book traces the exploits of the 36 young men from St Leonards and Indented Head in World War I.
Mr Munster discovered that Tom Burkett was one of the first in the district to enlist in 1915.
He was sent to Egypt for training then saw action in the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign.
Lt Burkett then went to France where he would have fought in the infamous Battle of the Somme if not for a crucial decision.
The English Army needed trainee pilots for its fledgling Royal Flying Corps and the young St Leonards man decided to volunteer.
“Tom went on to become the Bellarine Peninsula’s first fighter pilot and its first military aviation hero”, Mr Munster said.
In 1917 Lt Burkett was cited for “conspicuous gallantry” during a dogfight against German airforce units.
Mr Munster said military records revealed the Australian pilot engaged “a superior force of enemy aircraft”.
Lt Burkett was wounded early in the battle but continued fighting.
“Eventually he shot down two aircraft and drove-off two others before landing safely,” Mr Munster said.
Lt Burkett received the Military Cross, his citation praising his “splendid dash and coolness” under fire.
Mr Munster spent two years of intensive research to uncover the details of Lt Burkett’s wartime service.
“Sadly, the Tom Burkett story did not end happily”, Mr Munster said, “he was never to return to his beloved St Leonards”.
“Because he had resigned from the Australian Army to join the Royal Flying Corps, Australian officials refused to pay for his return trip home after the War.
“Unable to pay the fare, Lt Burkett was forced to stay on in England where he worked with a motor engineering company”.
Mr Munster said he would officially release Remembering Our Anzacs, his fifth book, during October’s St Leonards Festival.
