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Location:
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Biddlecombe Avenue, Corio, GREATER GEELONG CITY, 3214
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Local Government Area:
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GREATER GEELONG CITY
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Heritage Type:
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Memorial Artwork, Window
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Description:
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Subject
New Guinea
Text
Love: God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him -.... should have everlasting life.
Inscription
Killed on active service Air Operations West Aust. 6th Jan.1944 Wing Commander Charles Cuthbertson Learmonth, D.F.C., and Bar. 22nd Squadron, R.A.A.F.
Description & History
Made in the same simple style as all the other aisle windows, the small emblem in this window was a descending dove (Holy Spirit), with the single word 'Love' below and a star and moon at either side of the dove. The floral border appears to be a climbing rose and with the badge of the RAAF was set into the base panel. On Sunday 1 April 1951, another pair of windows in honour of Lieutenant Noel Learmonth and his brother, Wing Commander Charles Learmonth, was unveiled by the Headmaster, JR Darling, at St. James' Anglican Church, Tyrendarra, near Portland. (See separate entry)
Wing Commander Learmonth was killed while air training over Rottnest Island, WA on 6 January 1944. Well aware that his Beaufort aircraft was about to crash he continued to radio information on the aeroplane's performance that resulted in crucial changes being made to the aircraft and consequently other lives were saved. He joined the RAAF as a Cadet in 1938 and graduated from Point Cook in 1939. After an initial posting in Western Australia he went to New Guinea with the Boston Bombers and was awarded the DFC for his efficiency and skill in leading a formation that bombed and sank a destroyer during the Bismarck Sea battle. The squadron was heavily involved in low-level bombing in New Guinea, for which he received a Bar to his DFC. After a distinguished stint in New Guinea, in October 1943 he was posted to command of 14 Squadron, Western Australia.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM: A705, 166/24/253; NAA: A9845, 253; Australian War Memorial photograph of Learmonth PO3614.002; James Affleck, Geelong Grammarians at World War Two, The Old Geelong Grammarians Incorporated, Corio, 2002, pp.45-46 and pp. 65-66. Argus, 17 August 1942, p.4; 14 January 1943, p.3; 20 October 1945, p.14; Charles Page, Wings of Destiny: Wing Commander Charles Learmonth DFC and Bar, and the air war in New Guinea, (2008), p.350; Sydney Morning Herald, 30 April 1941, p.5; Commonwealth War Graves website www.cwgc.org.
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Conflicts Commemorated:
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Second World War 1939-45
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Designers/Architects:
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Waller, Christian
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Waller, Mervyn Napier (attributed)
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