Subject

LH St. Michael RH St. Gabriel

Text

n/a

Inscription

AMDG In memory of George Pollard Kay Killed in France June 29th 1917

Description & History

Stained glass artist William Montgomery (1850-1927) designed and made all the windows for the first stage of All Saints' Chapel at Geelong Grammar School, devised in conjunction with the Headmaster, the Reverend Dr. Francis E. Brown. Of all these windows, the Kay memorial is the most flamboyant and ornamental. Preliminary discussion began on the Kay window in April 1918, however Montgomery was still working on cartoons in November the same year. Towards the end of the war it became increasingly difficult to obtain suitable 'Antique' glass from England, causing a backlog of commissions in Montgomery's studio. The window was unveiled on 22 June 1919, by Canon Sutton, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Kew (Vic). Montgomery charged £157.10.0 and payment was received in full one month later in April 1919. Montgomery completed a second window in honour of Kay, the rose window of St. Michael at the Kay family's parish church, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Kew.

George Pollard Kay, known as 'Bob', travelled to England to fulfil his ambition to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps. He joined 46 Squadron, which was formed in April 1916 and moved to France in November of that year under the command of MajorPhilip Babington. A photo taken of the Squadron at Droglandt shows Kay standing tall in the back row, next to another pilot, MacDonald who also lost his life. Kay was killed when after climbing to about 1000 feet, his aeroplane inexplicably 'spun right into the ground', as noted by his commanding officer. Flight Commander Kay had been promoted Captain shortly before his death and was considered by Major Babington as 'one of the finest pilots he had ever known, and a magnificent officer'. He was buried at La Gorgue Communal Cemetery, France. His father, Mr. G.A. Kay of 'd'Estaville', Kew, published his account of life in the Royal Flying Corps as the book, Letters from Bob and arranged for this memorial at his old school where he had excelled as both scholar and athlete.

References & Acknowledgements

Church of England Messenger, Vol. 46, No. 752, 13 July 1917, p.368; Montgomery letterbook 1, pp.768, 805, 815, 844, National Gallery of Australia research collection, Canberra ACT. Folio 128 Montgomery ledger; Montgomery diary 1918, William Montgomery Collection MS15414, State Library of Victoria; Letters from Bob, Melville & Mullin Pty. Ltd., Melbourne [1917]; http://www.s377311931.websitehome.co.uk/index_files/Page3887.htm.

With grateful thanks to Jonathan Breadmore and Michael Collins Persse