Subject

Resurrection and Ascension

Text

n/a

Inscription

These windows were donated by Spencer Elliott Jenkins in memory of his brother Reverend Elvas Elliott Jenkins and all members of this College who died in the First World War 1914-1918

Description & History

Alan Sumner (1910-1994) designed the two lights of this window around two pivotal events of Christian belief: the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. While these form the major subjects of the two lights, references to war are evident in the lower portions: a shadowy figure of a soldier in full battle dress on the left and a nurse and wounded soldier in a hospital bed on the right. Both the donor of the window, Spencer Elliott Jenkins and his brother served in the First World War.

Spencer Elliott Jenkins enlisted on 21 January 1916 and served with 3 Division Signal Coy, returning to Australia in December 1918. In June 1967 he applied for his brother's Anzac Medal.

Elvas Elliott Jenkins, born in Ararat, eldest son of Captain James Elliott Jenkins and Bertha Ellen Jenkins, was an apprentice printer at McCarron, Bird & Co and 'rough carpenter' before he enlisted on 17 September 1914, aged 26. He embarked in Melbourne on HMAT Orvieto, bound for the Middle East with the 2 Field Company Engineers as a sapper. On Gallipoli, his two years in the cadets appeared to have been fruitful as he was promoted to Lance-Corporal on 18 July 1915. After the troop withdrawal in December he transferred to 1 Pioneer Battalion and by early April he was in France with 1 Australian Brigade, now 2nd Lieutenant and then Lieutenant in June when the battalion was engaged in strengthening trenches and communications in the Fleurbaix area. He died of gun shot wounds to the neck and chest on 19 July 1916, only a few weeks after the Battle of the Somme began, however the was not the first casualty of the Australians in France, as has been supposed. Lieutenant Elias was buried at Fricourt, 3 miles east of Albert and later re-interred at Dantzig Alley British Cemetery Mametz, France.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; AWM First World War Embarkation Roll; NAA: B2455, Jenkins Elvas Elliott; http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awm4/14/13/awm4-14-13-5.pdf.

With thanks to Jenny Bars, Archivist, Queens' College and the Rev. John Harris.