LH In memory of Ldg. Aircraftsman Leigh Brereton Sadleir Falkiner RAF born 1921 killed on service Feb. 1942 RH AMDG In memory of Flt. Lieut. John Alexander Falkiner RAAF (Eng.) born 1918 killed on service Sept. 1942
Description & History
Many of the Second World War commemorative windows in All Saints'
Chapel were the work of Mervyn Napier Waller (1893-1972), although in
some instances, such as this more ethereal and fanciful design of
theArchangelsUriel and Michael, may have been a
collaboration between Waller and his wife, Christian Waller.
Uriel is not often depicted in art in any medium (with
notable exceptions, such as Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks) and
appears here as the angel that watches over thunder and terror (or
hell) as well as the angel of repentance. (A small window of
Uriel by Christian Waller at St. James' Anglican Church,
Ivanhoe.) St. Michael was shown in victory over Satan. The
cartoon of St.Michael is held in the Victorian Heritage
Collection. The window in memory of the two Falkiner cousins was the
gift of their fathers; it was unveiled by Air Vice-Marshal A.T. Cole
CBE DSO MC DFC and dedicated by School Chaplain, the Reverend J.H.
Allen. Their fathers, and three other brothers, were principal donors
of the Chapel of All Saints', which they dedicated to the memory of
their mother.
After completing his secondary schooling Leigh Falkiner studied law
at Trinity College, the University of Melbourne. He joined the RAAF
reserve and passed his training before qualifying as a Night Fighter
Pilot with the RAF. His Oxford aircraft struck high tension wires when
flying low in poor weather on 12 February 1942; he was to get his
'wings' only three days later. He was buried in Kidlington Burial
Ground, Oxfordshire.
Flight Lieutenant John Alexander Falkiner, RAAF, only son of Otway
Rothwell (1874-1961) andUna CarolineFalkiner, was a pupil at Geelong
G.S. before studying History at Trinity College. He joined 460
Squadron as a pilot andflew Wellingtons inmany raids overEurope. Hewas
on aconversion training course in a Halifax bomber when it crashed in
Yorkshire on 22 September 1942. All four crew were killed and Flight
Lieutenant Falkiner was buried inWootton St Lawrence churchyard,
Hampshire, England
Both men were remembered on the 1939-1945 Roll of Honour in Trinity Chapel.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: A705, 163/31/47; NAA: A705, 163/110/43; James Affleck, Geelong Grammarians at World War Two, The Old Geelong Grammarians Incorporated, Corio, 2002, pp. 21-24; The Corian, May 1942; December 1942; December 1944.
