Subject

The Ascension

Text

n/a

Inscription

In memory of Noble Men from the church who died for King and Country in the World's Great War 1914-1918. Capt. A. Liddelow Priv. L. Smith Priv. E.L. Ninnis Priv. A. Finlayson Priv. H.L. Bell

Description & History

The new Methodist Church in Gardiner was dedicated at 11 am on Sunday 24 November 1924 and later the same afternoon the soldiers' memorial window was unveiled by the Reverend BW Heath, President of the Methodist Conference. The window was removed from the Methodist Church and placed in St. Andrew's Uniting Church, Gardiner in 1985, where it was artificially lit. The main scene of The Ascension filled the central light, with the names of the fallen in a shield below. Emblems filled the outer lights: Crown and Palm on the left and the Dove of Peace on the right. All scenes were set against backgrounds of diamond quarries with traditional architectural canopies and bases and the symbols for the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, filled the tracery.

Aubrey Liddelow was a 39 year-old school teacher, who lived with his wife Fannie in East Malvern when he enlisted and later embarked with the 1st reinforcements, 8 Battalion on 22 December 1914. He was wounded at Gallipoli before joining the 59 Battalion (Infantry). Captain Liddelow was killed in action at Fleurbaix (Fromelles) on 19 July 1916. He is buried at VC Corner Australian Cemetery Fromelles, France.

'L. Smith' is most likely Private Lancelot Cropley Smith, son of Thomas and Minnie Ellen Smith of 'Merton', Ranfurlie Crescent, East Malvern. He was 19 years old when he enlisted and joined the 10th Field Ambulance AAMC and was wounded on several occasions before he died of wounds on 15 October 1917. He is buried at 11 Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. He was posthumously awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

Private Francis Louis Ninnis, son of Albert George and Elizabeth Ninnis, Malvern Road, East Malvern enlisted on 28 January 1916. He was in 46 Battalion (Infantry) when he died of wounds on 15 November 1916, aged 27 years. He was buried in 401 Longueval Road Cemetery, France.

Arthur Reginald Finlayson, son of Mr. J Finlayson 'Valdamer', Davies Street, East Malvern, is probably the soldier listed on thecommemorative window. Finlayson was just 19 when he enlisted, with his father's permission, on 9 July 1915.He served with 11 Battalion before transferring as Driver with 4 Field Artillery Brigade. In May 1918 he received a gunshot wound to the back which required hospitalisation in England. He was ultimately invalided home to Australia and was discharged on 26 June 1919.

To date no trace has be found of HL Bell.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: B2455, Finlayson AR; NAA: B2455, Liddlelow Aubray; NAA: B2455, Ninnis Francis Louis; NAA: B2455, Smith LC; Argus, 22 November 1924, p.18.