Historical information
William Digges Latouche Balden was an 18 year-old cadet on the Samarkund. He and three other crew members: William Archibald Jones, 35 (ship mate), Christopher Ewbank, 19 (third officer) and George P. Worsp, 45 (chief steward) died of oxygen starvation in the ballast tank of the ship on 20 August 1945 while in Geelong.
Padre Oliver delivered a service in the St Peter chapel, on the 26th of August 1945, in the 4 men's memory.
The window commissionned by his parents, was made by William Aikman (1868-1959), a reknown scottish stained-glass artist, and sent from England. Padre Oliver had met them during a voyage to England. It was unveiled on the 10 April 1949.
This is the only imported window and according to Brownwyn Hughes the best quality one from all the opter windows.
Physical description
Arched windows depicting St Nicholas, patron Saint of Ships and Sailors, floating on the sea with a gallon shilling in the background. The small portrait of William Digges La Touche Balden, set within a laurel wreath in the window’s lower section.
Keywords
- st peter chapel,
- flinders street,
- mission to seafarers,
- seamen's mission,
- mission to seamen,
- st peter,
- sailors,
- seamen,
- stained glass windows,
- win,
- memorial chapel,
- ww2,
- samarkand,
- william digges latouche balden,
- cadets,
- officers,
- geelong,
- deaths,
- victory ship,
- merchant navy,
- st nicholas,
- galleon,
- william aikman (1868-1959),
- christopher ewbank,
- george p. worsp,
- william archibald jones
References
- Memorial to Sea Cadet Small article from the Herald (24 MRCH 1949) with a photograph of Padre Oliver holding the window
- Inquiets evidence for shopping men Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), Wednesday 29 August 1945, page 7
- Rusting of ship tank causes death of four seamen Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), Tuesday 28 August 1945, page 3
- Victoria Missions to Seamen Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 25 August 1945, page 22
- Aikman, William 1868-1959 Biography of artist
