Subject

S.W. Pacific

Text

Obedience: The servant is not greater than his lord, neither he that is sent than he that sent him.

Inscription

Killed on active service Bowan[sic] North Queensland 8th Feb.1943 Pilot Officer Edward Charles Sherwood Seller, No.9 Squadron R.A.A.F.

Description & History

One of the series of small aisle windows in All Saints' Chapel, Geelong Grammer School that followed a similar simple and elegant format. At the top of the window was the Royal Australian Air Force badge, placed under the theatre of war 'S.W. Pacific'. 'Obedience' was symbolised by a small image of a quiescent donkey. The decorative border was made of stylised palm fronds, possibly representing the area of conflict, with the 'wings' of the RAAF placed centrally in the lower border.

Shortly after leaving Geelong Grammar School Edward CS Seller joined 6 Battalion, Royal Military Regiment and was called up for guard duty on declaration of war. He volunteered for the Empire Air Training Scheme, gaining his Wings at Amberley NSW, later becoming Staff Pilot and Instructor to No.9 Squadron, RAAF, and then postedelsewhere within Australia. While engaged on dive bombing practice in Seagull (Walrus) A-29 with 9 Squadron on 8 February 1943 his plane crashed into the sea, killing all three occupants, including the pilot Lieutenant JH McWhae, another Geelong Old Boy, also honoured in the Chapel. The bodies of the men were recovered and buried at Bowen on 12 February 1943. Pilot Officer Seller is commemorated at the Townsville War Cemetery, Queensland.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: A705, 166/37/26; James Affleck, Geelong Grammarians at World War Two, The Old Geelong Grammarians Incorporated, 2002, pp.75-76; The Corian, May 1943.