Our Illustrations

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 25, 19 June 1912, Page 16

Our Illustrations

THE MISSING AVIATOR. J / F MONGST the illustrations in this f | issue is a portrait of Mr. Darner , J I Leslie Allen, the aviator who made an attempt in April last to fly in an aeroplane from Hendon (London) to Dublin, and has not been heard of since, leaving Holyhead on April 17th. Mr. Allen, who was born at Limerick in 1875, came to New Zealand in 1894, going on a Hawke’s Bay sheep run as a cadet, and afterwards to the mines at Waihi. While there his engineering abilities procured him a good appointment in Messrs. Fraser’s workshops in Auckland. He left Auckland as 3rd engineer, travelling to London, ar.d stayed at sea five years till he had secured his chief’s certificate, and also the Board of Trade certificate. Messrs. J. and E. Hall then employed him for two years. He made an engineering tour through the East with the object of introducing refrigerating machinery into the navies there, and in other steeplechases there. He was entertained by the Chinese Admirals also by Admiral Togo in Japan, and obtained access into dock yards by their courtesy. On returning to Europe he met relatives in Rangoon and won the polo cup and other steeple chases there. Being fond of horse racing he was afterwards nominated as gentleman rider in Ireland •by the Marquis of Waterford. In 1909 he married a daughter of Mr. James Allen, a London banker, and entered into partnership with Mr. A. J. Maginnis, as consulting engineer. In December, 1911, he obtained his pilot certificate from the Royal Aero Club. His greatest wish was to fly the Irish Channel to his native land. He left Hendon on 17 th April reaching Chester that evening, after accomplishing the 170 miles in under three hours. On the next morning he left Chester, and was last seen by Captain Vincent, of the Donald Currie liner, “Zealand," flying over the steamer from Holyhead for Ireland. His little daughter survives him in London, and in New Zealand his mother' and two unmarried sisters in Hawke’s Bay, also three married sisters—Mrs. 11. L. Shield, Mrs. Kinross White aud Mrs. E. D. Holl (Cape Runaway), and his only brother Mr. J. H. Allen, who was for some years a well-known gentleman rider in New Zealand.