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
