Subject

New Britain

Text

Felicity: For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters.

Inscription

Killed on active service Gasmata 5th Sept. 1943 Flying Officer Robert Barclay Anderson 100 Sqn. R.A.A.F.

Description & History

Following a similar format to all other windows in the aisle series, the badge of the Royal Australian Air Force was placed in the upper section of the light, below the theatre of war, 'New Britain'. An emblem representing 'Felicity' (a swimming fish) was placed under the name of Flying Officer Anderson. The RAAF 'Wings' were placed centrally in the lower border amidst the floral border (crocuses?).

Flying Officer Robert Barclay Anderson was born on 19 August 1914. He joined the RAAF in July 1941 and was married to Ruth Anderson while training as a pilot. After graduating as Pilot Officer he was posted to New Guinea where he displayed his flying skills on many occasions, and was Mentioned in Dispatches for a successful attack on Zeros in the South West Pacific which ended with a remarkable and successful forced landing. While captaining a Beaufort bomber on 5 September 1943, he was killed during an operation over Gasmata, New Britain. He was buried at Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: A9300, Anderson RB; James Affleck, Geelong Grammarians at World War Two, The Old Geelong Collegians Incorporated, Corio, 2002, p.4; The Corian, August 1945.