Subject

St. George

Text

Saint George "Their name liveth to all generations"

Inscription

To the Glory of God In loving memory of Jack Holt RAAF John A Gilpin RAAF Jack Blyth Knight AIF who gave their lives and in honour of those from this parish who served in the war 1939-1945 Erected by the congregation

Description & History

The window honouring three former members of the church, was dedicated by Canon DIM Anthony during the first of a series of services to mark the church's 90th anniversary in October 1947. The window was a popular design from the stained glass firm, Mathieson & Gibson, with a base panel with two angels bearing the scroll with the words "Saint George" below the figure. Unfortunately, a gallery at the rear of the church now blocks the window which can no longer be seen in its entirety.

Jack Holt enlisted in the permanent Air Force at Laverton on 5 June 1938, aged 20. He completed his training in Australia and was promoted to Pilot Officer on 22 March 1941. Posted to No.4 Elementary Flying Training School, Sydney he was instructing instrument flying in a Tiger Moth, when two planes touched in mid-air and Holt and his pupil, LAC Thomas Hodge, were killed. The two men in the second plane escaped serious injury. Pilot Officer Holt lefta wife, Myrtle, and a baby daughter. He was commemorated at the NSW Cremation Memorial, Sydney.

John Alexander Gilpin was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. AV Gilpin of Ligar Street, Ballarat. He was a Sergeant in the eight man crew of Wellington bomber DF568 when he lost his life in an aircraft accident at Blida in Algiers, North Africa. He was commemorated at Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery, Algeria.

Jack Blyth Knight was born at Majorca (Vic.) on 10 November 1917 and was a motor truck driver at the time of his enlistment at Caulfield on 2 July 1940. By 19 September he had joined 2/21 Battalion and embarked at Darwin for overseas service on Ambon on 13 December 1941. Faced with a far superior Japanese force and enormous casualties, the remnants of the battalion surrendered on 3 February 1942 and was imprisoned in its former barracks on Tan Tui. Private Holt was reported 'missing' on 20 April 1942 and died of beri beri while still a POW, on 23 July 1945, less than a month before VJ Day. He is remembered at the Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: A705, 163/123/85; NAA: A705, 166/15/13; NAA: B883, VX28252; Argus, 7 April 1941, p.5; 1 February 1941, p.2; 12 February 1943, p.4; 27 January 1947, p.2; 6 October 1947, p.2; http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11272.asp