Subject

Faith

Text

Faith "Great love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" John 15th C. 13th v.

Inscription

In loving memory of Mary Ann Clay died 19th July 1917, and her beloved son Sergeant Richard Harold, 53rd Battery, 5th Division, A.I.F., who died in the service of his country, 4th August, 1917.

Description & History

The three-light window in Holy Trinity Anglican Church was installed in the east end of the original stone building. The window was unveiled and dedicated at a morning service in August 1918 by the Rev. Brookland of Camberwell, assisted by a returned Anzac, Albert Gedye. With extensive changes to the building that enlarged and changed the orientation of the space, the window was retained and re-installed above the altar in the new east end, maintaining the sentiment expressed in a contemporary press report that the window was 'to stand as a lasting memorial for generations'.The window was adapted from a stock cartoon from the firm of Brooks, Robinson & Co. and variations on this soldier in armour appeared in many of their commemorative windows.

Richard Harold Clay, the son of Richard and Mary Ann Clay, enlisted on 6 July 1915, aged 21 years. The Clay father and son were orchardists in Doncaster, which at that time was on the rural outskirts of Melbourne. Heading overseas with reinforcements, he served with several battalions in the Middle East, as gunner with 57th Battalion in March 1916, bombadier 25th Field Artillery Battery in France, July 1916, promoted to Corporal in 14th FAB in January 1917 and promoted to Sergeant two months later. On 31 July he received abdominal wounds while in action and died on 4 August in 32nd Casualty Clearing Station, without knowing that his mother had died only a few weeks earlier. He was buried at Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: B2455, Clay HR; Reporter, 9 August 1918, p.3; Brooks, Robinson & Co. job books (1923-c1966)