Subject

Light of the World

Text

I am the Light of the World

Inscription

In loving memory of our son & brother Arthur Stanley Batson 8th Light Horse A.I.F. who died at Abbassia Egypt October 14th 1918 aged 23 yrs 10 mths

Description & History

Stained glass artist, William Montgomery (1850-1827), designed and made several windows for St. Thomas's Anglican Church, Winchelsea including a commemorative window to the men of the parish who died in the Great War,including this window to Trooper Arthur Stanley Batson, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Batson, late of 'The Mansion', Barwon Park. The Church of England Messenger reported the granting of two faculties for stained glass windows in 1920. Montgomery based the design on Holman Hunt's painting The Light of the World. He quoted £62.2.0 for the window, a price that included fixing the window on site and providing a protective wire guard.

Arthur Stanley Batson was a farmer before he enlisted as a private on 7 February 1916. He left Australia for the Middle East on 6 May 1916 and served in the 15 Light Horse Regiment on transfer from 8 LHR. He spent time with several different units but returned to 3 Light Horse Training Regiment and then to the Imperial Camel Corps the next month, but was admitted to 14 Stationary Hospital Egypt with pleurisy on 2 January 1917 before being transferred to Abbassia. Although he returned to duty in February 1917 and was posted to No. 3 Imperial Camel Brigade the pattern of illnessfollowed bya return to duty continued throughout his service until he was again hospitalised on 2 October 1918. He died of pneumonia in 31 General Hospital Abbassia on 14 October 1918.

References & Acknowledgements

Argus, 22 October 1918, p.1; 4/981 and 4/963; Church of England Messenger, 3 September 1920, p.416; Montgomery letterbooks 4/981 and 4/963, NGA Research Collection, canberra ACT.Folio 149 Montgomery ledger William Montgomery Collection, State Library of Victoria.

With thanks to John Vernon FRAIA for photographs of the windows.