Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

St. Barnabas' Anglican Church was on Melbourne's outskirts when it was designed by Charles Barrett in 1872. The Balwyn district was expanding rapidly and additions needed to be made to the building in 1884, 1930 and 1966. Several of the church's windows were made by Brooks, Robinson & Co., including this memorial to Edward John Bice. The subject of Fortitude was very typical of Brooks, Robinson & Co.'s freelance artist, George Dancey's style and bears a marked resemblance to St. George, another of his works that was installed in the chancel. Bice's parents, Marion and William Bice, long-term parishioners and the latter a former mayor of Camberwell, were themselves remembered in the three-light window above the altar, theLast Supper, made some years later by Mathieson & Gibson.

Edward John Bice was a marine engineer when he enlisted on 29 April 1915. Private Bice travelled to Egypt and then Gallipoli with 24 Battalion, 6 Infantry Brigade. He was promoted to corporal in the field and then temporary sergeant on 14 November but only few weeks later he contracted severe dysentry that necessitated his return to Alexandria and then to Cairo. He rejoined his unit in the Canal Zone by 6 February 1916 and left for France as Sergeant Bice of 6 Machine Gun Company on 19 March 1916. Acting as Sergeant Major for the Company in August 1916, he was soon promoted to 2 Lieutenant and then Lieutenant in early January 1917. In May, during the battle of Bullecourt he received a gun shot wound in the neck but kept his gun in action under heavy bombardment causing many casualties during the enemy counter attacks. For his 'conspicuous gallantry' he was awarded the Military Cross. In September he left France for England where he attended No. 1 School of Aeronautics at Reading, to train as a pilot. After graduating as Flying Officer (Pilot) on 2 April 1918 he was transferred to No.3 Squadron, RFC. The aeroplane he was piloting on contact patrol, with Lieutenant Chapman as his observer, was seen to crash in the vicinity of Morcourt. Initially he and Lieutenant Chapman were reported missing but this was subsequently confirmed as killed in action. The two men were buried together at Heath Military Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.