Subject

Beirut-Syria

Text

Courage: If any man serve me, let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be If any man serve me, him will My Father honour

Inscription

Killed on active service NX5084 A. Cpl. J.R. Wright 2/6 Aust. Div. Cav. Regt.July 30th 1941

Description & History

One of the series of small aisle windows in All Saints' Chapel, Geelong Grammer School that followed a similar simple and elegant format. Below the named theatre of war was placed the badge of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces and a small image of a lion to symbolise 'Courage'. A leek design forms the wide border and the colour patch of the 2/6 Australian Division Cavalry Regiment placed centrally in the lower border. The window was unveiled on Sunday 13 August 1944, and dedicated by the Rev. J.D. McKie, Vicar of Christ Church, South Yarra and a former Chaplain to the forces in the Middle East and New Guinea.

Acting Corporal James Ramage Wright was born at Balaclava, Victoria on 3 December 1906, only son of Mr. and Mrs. George Wright. He was engaged in pastoral pursuits at Mudgee, N.S.W. when he enlisted as a Trooper in the 6th Division Cavalry Regiment, 2nd AIF and embarked for the Middle East in January 1940. He served with distinction in Cyrenaica and Syria before his accidental death, being run over by a vehicle during the blackout of Beyrouth. He was buried in the Beirut (British) Military cemetery with full military honours.

References & Acknowledgements

NAA: B883, NX5084; James Affleck, Geelong Grammarians at World War Two, The Old Geelong Grammarians Incorporated, Corio, 2002, p.95; The Corian, August 1941; Sydney Morning Herald, 9 August 1941, p.13; 31 July 1946, p.24.