After the death of the stained glass artist William Montgomery in July 1927, Hadmaster the Reverend Frances E. Brown turned to other firms to complete the windows in the nave ofGeelong GrammarSchool'schapel. On 25 May 1929, Dr. Brown ordered a two-light window from Brooks, Robinson & Co., each light to measure 111 x 24 inches, with small tracery pieces to be inset into the stonework above. The subjects were standard examples from the firm that were given a highly ornamental treatment in the same mode as the earlier Montgomery windows. The window was the gift of the Botterills' younger brothers, Cecil and David, and was unveiled by the Headmaster soon after Armistice Day, on Old Boys' Day, 22 November 1929. In his address Dr. Brown compared the sacrifice of the Botterill brothers as akin to the 'spirit of the crusaders of old' and encouraged his students 'to strive for that which is noblest and best'.
Jack Botterill enlisted as part of reinforcements to the 5 Artillery Brigade on 18 January 1916. He embarked for Egypt on 4 May 1916, training at Tel-el-Kebir before moving first to England and then France in late March 1917. Attached to 105 Howitzer Battery throughout the Battles of Lagnicourt, Menin Road and Broodseinde in 1917, he was wounded and gassed at Ypres. He returned to the front line taking part in the Mont St. Quentin and Hindenburg battles before contracting bronchio-pneumonia, from which he died on the 14 November 1918.
Jack's younger brother Charles, known as Russell, went to England with his friend, Kenneth Charles Webb-Ware and other Geelong Grammarians to enlist in the British Army. While still in Officer Training Camp near London he contracted pneumonia and died within three days, on 12 May 1916.
References & Acknowledgements
James Affleck, Geelong Grammarians at the Great War, Cliffe Books and the Geelong Grammarians Foundation, Melbourne, 1999, pp.11-12; The Corian, 1916-19; Register, 3 December 1918, p.5; Warrnambool Standard, 21 December 1916, p.8; Brooks, Robinson & Co. job books (1923-c1966).
