Aircraftman Class II Guy Edward Saunders Memorial Window, Bangalow

About

The memorial is one of two stained glass windows located inside All Souls' Anglican Church in Bangalow, NSW, formerly known as All Souls' War Memorial Church, Bangalow. It is dedicated to Aircraftman Class II Guy Edward Saunders, of the Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.), who died during the Second World War.  The window depicts Saint Michael, holding a spear, standing above a dragon. Above his head is a laurel wreath surrounding the letters R.A.A.F., written in a Gothic-style script. At the bottom of the window is the inscription, which includes details of Saunders' service with the R.A.A.F. and his death in England on 9 March 1943.  The window was unveiled at the church around early November 1943. Many district ministers attended the service, as well as visitors from many parts of the North Coast (Northern Star, 4 November1943). Several years later, an altar cross at the Church of England in Federal, NSW, was dedicated to Saunders, given by "Mr G. C. Saunders of Stafford, England, in Fix this textmemory of his nephew and godson" (Northern Star, 24 May 1951). He is also commemorated on the All Souls' Anglican Church Second World War Memorial Wall and Gates, established in 1954. Guy Edward Saunders was born on 9 August 1919 at Mungindi, NSW. He was a member of the Lismore Rowing Club and the Ballina Light House Lifesavers. From Bangalow, he enlisted at Richmond on 22 January 1940. He trained at Ultimo and was then posted to Evans Head. He volunteered for overseas service and was sent to England, where he was trained as a pilot. A member of the RAF Station at Abbey Lodge, he died of illness in a hospital in Aglesbury, England, on 9 March 1943. At the time of his death, he was an Aircraftman Class II. He was buried at Market Harborough Cemetery in England (Northern Star, 15 March 1943; 25 August). Read more about Aircraftman Class II Guy Edward Saunders on the NSW War Memorials Register.

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