Commemorating the life of an extraordinary Yorke Peninsula flier, Captain Harry Butler

Captain Harry Butler was an aviation pioneer said to be almost as famous as the premier in the years after World War One – wowing the people of Adelaide with spins, dives and loop-the-loops in his famous “Red Devil” Bristol monoplane. 

One hundred years on, North Road Cemetery is planning to mark the centenary of Butler’s death on 30 July 1924 and commemorate the life of an extraordinary Yorke Peninsula boy.

North Road Cemetery historian Helen Stein says Butler has largely been forgotten today but he was once one of South Australia’s most famous sons. He was best known for making the first flight over water in the southern hemisphere, from Adelaide to Minlaton, in 1919. 

“He really was remarkable – with his engineer Harry Kauper, he established the state’s first airport at Northfield and our first passenger flight business, offering joy flights at a cost of £5 for ten minutes,” Mrs Stein says. “He also established a second airfield at Hendon, which later became Adelaide’s first Commonwealth Government aerodrome.

“It’s important to remember these aviation pioneers so that future generations can be inspired to achieve, innovate and test the boundaries just as Harry Butler did 100 years ago.”

Born in 1889, Butler grew up on a farm near Minlaton before travelling to England in early 1916 to join the Royal Flying Corps. He flew missions over France and served as a chief fighting instructor in Scotland, training over 2700 pilots and earning the Air Force Cross. After the war he returned to Adelaide with an Avro biplane and his much-loved “Red Devil” monoplane (now displayed in Minlaton’s main street, it’s believed to be the only one of its kind in the world). He sustained serious head injuries after crashing the Avro into a paddock near Minlaton in 1922. He rarely flew again and died on 30 July 1924 from complications due to injuries sustained in the crash. He was buried with full military honours at North Road Cemetery the following day. 

Historian Samantha Battams, co-author of The Red Devil: The story of South Australian aviation pioneer, Captain Harry Butler, AFC, says Butler inspired tens of thousands of South Australians as he performed aerial shows in support of Peace Loan efforts. “Butler played a pivotal role in the advancement of aviation – he took the first aerial photography over Adelaide, and won the inaugural South Australian Aerial Derby over the city in 1920. The people of South Australia adored him.”

North Road Cemetery will host a graveside commemorative event and morning tea in Captain Butler’s honour from 10.30am on Tuesday 30 July 2024. For enquiries, phone (08) 8344 1051.