2014 Centenary of Military, Aviation and Submarines $1 Duo PNC

2014 marks two significant Australian military centenaries. On 1 March 1914 the first flight of a military airplane took place when Lieutenant Eric Harrison flew Bristol Military Biplane CFS-3 at the Army flying field, Point Cook, Victoria. Australia subsequently became the only British dominion to establish a flying corps, the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) for service during World War I.

Australia’s first submarines, British-built E-class vessels known as AE1 and AE2, were commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in February 1914 and arrived in Sydney on 24 May. During World War I both submarines took part in the occupation of Rabaul in German New Guinea.

On 14 September 1914 AE1 disappeared off the coast of Cape Gazelle, New Britain, tragically with all hands on board. AE2 subsequently supported British-led operations off the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey and on 25 April 1915 was the first British submarine to penetrate the Dardanelles.

On 30 April AE2 was damaged by a Turkish gunboat in the Sea of Marmara, and scuttled by her crew, all of whom were captured. AE2 was the only RAN vessel lost to enemy action during World War I.