Garfield Finlay

Who was Garfield Finlay?

Garfield Finlay was an Australian flying ace during World War I. He served with distinction in the Gallipoli Campaign as a noncommissioned officer in the Light Horse. After transferring to the Australian Flying Corps, he was commissioned and served as an aerial observer. In this role he was credited with eight aerial victories before training as a pilot. As part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force under Edmund Allenby, he was also instrumental in the use of air power to inflict a costly defeat on Ottoman Empire forces in September 1918.

After a civilian career in the advertising industry between the wars, he returned to his country's service during the Second World War, rising to the rank of Wing Commander in the Royal Australian Air Force.