The window was originally unveiled by Archbishop Lowther Clarke of Melbourne on Sunday 26 March 1916 in front of an overflowing congregation wishing to attend the dedication and memorial service. The crowd was so overwhelming that, after the dedication of the window, the Archbishop then chose to conduct the rest of the service in the churchyard. Chaplain G Green, recently invalided home from Gallipoli, spoke on the difficulties of burial on the Peninsula and the use of condensed milk crates for makeshift crosses, marked with indelible pencil to identify the men. He welcomed lasting memorials, such as this one to Lieutenant Atkinson, ordered by his father and subscribed to by parishioners and residents.
Bertram Atkinson was the only son of Mrs. Atkinson and the Reverend James C Atkinson, incumbent at All Saints', Clayton, which at that time included St. Matthew's at Mulgrave (Wellington). When first installed, the window was lancet-shaped, but its removal to the new St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Wheeler's Hill necessitated the removal of arch and base to fit it into a modern window opening. It was moved into the foyer area when the church was re-ordered and the functions of the hall and church were exchanged.
When he enlisted on 23 March 1915, Bertram Atkinson was an estate agent and married to Urseline Agatha Atkinson. He was born on 12 October 1888 and attended Malvern Grammar School and then University College. Already a Lieutenant with more than two years' experience in the Citizens Military Forces he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in 23 Battalion immediately. His battalion embarked at Melbourne on HMAT Euripides on 8 May 1915 to take part in the August assault on Gallipoli, where he was promoted to Lieutenant on 29 August. He was killed in action at Anzac on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 21 September 1915 and was buried in Brown's Dip by Chaplain AP Mason. His body was later re-interred at Lone Pine Cemetery in April 1923.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Roll of Honour; AWM image H05617; NAA: B2455, Atkinson B; Argus, 24 March 1916, p.6; Camperdown Chronicle, 28 March 1916, p.3; Dandenong Advertiser and Cranbourne, Berwick and Oakleigh Advocate, 30 March 1916, p.2; Morna Sturrock, Sacred Corner: a history of St. Matthew's Church of England, Mulgrave, publisher unknown, [1965].
Personal communication MarJo Angelica, Brian Askew and Alfred Kruijshoop of the Waverley Historical Society and thanks to Catherine Adams
