An irreparable loss was suffered by the death of Colonel Hamilton Merritt, in November, 1918, whose energy, generosity and unfailing enthusiasm had from the first been the chief factor in a most successful history of progress.
To the Aero Club falls the credit for the inauguration of the first Canadian aerial mail. A request was made that the Royal Air Force undertake transportation, all other arrangements being carried out by the Aero Club. The first mail, via the air route, left Toronto for Montreal on June 30th, 1918. This machine, the C-203, piloted by Capt. B. A. Peck with Corporal E. W. Mathers as passenger, arrived at Deseronto, the first stage, in 120 minutes. The following day Montreal was reached in 150 minutes. Leaving on the 24th on the return journey, the pilot made Camp Leaside in six hours’ actual flying.
The second mail was carried from Toronto to Ottawa. It left Leaside in C-280, piloted by Lieut. T. Longman on August 15th, returning on August 17th. The easterly flight took 280 minutes and the return trip 220 minutes.
On August 26th, Lieut. A. Dunstan in machine C-282 again carried the mail to the Capital, taking 220 minutes in each direction. Lieut. H. Burton in the same machine repeated this flight in similar time on September 4th, the latter officer making the round trip in a single day.
The Aero Club, for the purpose, arranged with the Dominion Government for the use of a special stamp, of the design illustrated. Thus was inaugurated a service which should in the near future develop enormously in this country of great distances.
The above acknowledgments are perforce fragmentary, as it is impossible to extend to each and all in any other form the thanks which the brigade desires to offer. It is hoped, therefore, that those to whom individual reference is not here made will accept this assurance of the great value the unit has placed upon services so generously offered and so gratefully received.
OFFICERS’ QUARTERS, LEASIDE.
TYPICAL HANGAR.
CORNER IN OFFICERS’ MESS, LEASIDE.