The small stone church at Tyrendarra was opened for services by the Venerable Archdeacon Stretch on 23 March 1974. At a service conducted by the Reverend RA Donne of St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Portland on 1 April 1951, the two windows to the Learmonth brothers, sons of Mrs and Mrs. Noel Learmonth of 'Carramar', Tyrendarra, were unveiled by Dr. James Darling, Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School. Other memorial windows to the two men can be seen in the aisles of All Saints' Chapel at Geelong Grammar, their old school.
Wing Commander Learmonth was killed while air training over Rottnest Island on 6 January 1944. Well aware that his Beaufort aircraft was about to crash he continued to radio information on the Beaufort's performance that resulted in crucial changes being made to the aircraftthat resulted in modifications andlives saved. He joined the RAAF as a Cadet in 1938 and graduated from Point Cook in 1939. After an initial posting in Western Australia he went to New Guinea with the Boston Bombers and was awarded the DFC for his efficiency and skill in leading a formation that bombed and sank a destroyer during the Bismarck Sea battle. The squadron was heavily involved in low-level bombing in New Guinea, for which he received a Bar to his DFC. After a distinguished stint in New Guinea, in October 1943 he was posted to command of 14 Squadron, Western Australia.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: A705, 166/24/253; NAA: A9845,453; Argus, 17 August 1942, p.4; 14 January 1943, p.3; 20 October 1945, p.14; AWM Roll of Honour; Affleck, Geelong Grammarians at World War Two, (2002), pp.65-66; Charles Page, Wings of Destiny: Wing Commander Charles Learmonth DFC and Bar, and the air war in New Guinea, (2008), p.350; Portland Guardian, 3 December 1925, p.3; 9 November 1939, p.2; 23 August 1943, p.2; 10 January 1944, p.2; 13 January 1944, p.2; 29 March 1951, p.2; Sydney Morning Herald, 30 April 1941, p.5; Commonwealth War Graves website www.cwgc.org.
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