The Melbourne Argus reported the visit of the Moderator of the Prebyterian Church to Snake Valley on 20 September 1923, which coincided with the decision by the congregation to place a stained glass window in the church in memory of soldiers who died serving their country in the Great War. Copies of a few letters have survived in stained glass artist, William Montgomery's letterbooks that show that it was the Russell family, generous benefactors to the church, who commissioned the window. In November 1923. Mrs. Russell was quoted 168 guineas for the window, which included altering the stonework from a two-light (as is the James Russell window) to a widesingle light and the supply of a wire protective guard on the exterior.A brass plaque was quoted at £14.10.0, and both were installed later the next year, as confirmed by an invoice to Mrs. Russell in June for £190.18.0, which was duly paid in August.
It is of note that the remains of a field cross, one of few that came 'home' to Australia, remains extant in the Snake Valley church: the inscription reads: 'In memory of Capt. J. Russell R.F.A. B. 76 Army Brigade, R.F.A. Killed in action 9-4-17'. Of the ten men who were commemorated on the memorial plaque it is worth noting that a proportion joined the British Army, including Richard Aisbett and George Fenton. Captain John Russell joined the British Army, in emulation of his uncle, Lieutenant Philip Russell, who was killed on 17 September 1901 at Tarkastad, South Africa during the Boer War. A plaque to Philip Russell's memory is installed under the west window of the church.
Captain John Russell enlisted in B Battery 76 Army Brigade Royal Field Artillery and was killed in action at Vimy on the 9 April 1917. One of the men who joined an Australian unit was Gunner David Anderson, a local farmer, who enlisted at Ballarat on 23 June 1915. By September he was en route to the Middle East on HMAT Star of Victoria to be taken on strength by 5 battalion at Tel-al-Kabir. He served in a number of different artillery units including the14 Field Artillery Brigade. On 30 September 1918, he died from wounds received near Cabaret Wood on the Hindenburg Line and was commemorated at Villers-Brettoneux Memorial, France .
References & Acknowledgements
Argus, 24 September 1923, p.22; AWM Roll of Honour; AWM photograph DA10150; AWM Commemorative Roll Richard William Aisbett, John Russell; NAA: B2455, Anderson D.
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