Subject

LH St. Stephen RH St. James the Great

Text

n/a

Inscription

AMDG In memory of Jack Russell Killed in action Vimy Ridge France 9th April 1917 and Robert Ritchie Russell who died in service 26th Sept. 1916.

Description & History

Stained glass artist William Montgomery (1850-1927) designed and made all the windows for the first stage of All Saints' Chapel, Geelong Grammar School, devised in conjunction with the Headmaster, the Reverend Dr. Francis E. Brown. Two proto-martyrs of the church were selected as appropriate subjects for the Russell brothers. The window was commissioned by their mother, Mrs. Russell of Carngham, near Ballarat who some years later commissioned another Montgomery window forher local Presbyterian Church, dedicated to all the men from the Snake Valley district who lost their lives. 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'. In 1934 Mrs. Russell donated £500 for a ward at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Hospital in memory of her sons Jack and Robert.

The Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll lists Captain John 'Jack' Russell, born 1885, who enlisted in the British Army with B Battery 76th Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He was killed at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917 and buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. He was recommended for bravery three times by his Commanding Officer, Colonel L.C. Bryant, and was awarded the Military Cross in the week before he was killed.

His younger brother, Robert Ritchie Russell was born in 1897. A cadet in B Reserve Brigade with the Royal Horse Artillery, he completed the Artillery Officers' Training at St. John's Wood and was preparing to enter gunnery training at Lark Hill when he became seriously ill. Diagnosed with cerebro-spinal meningitis, he died less than a week later on 26 September 1916. After a military funeral he was buried beside another Old Geelong Grammarian, Charles Botterill. A third son, Philip Russell returned to Australia

References & Acknowledgements

Argus, 19 July 1934, p.8; Affleck, Geelong Grammarians of the Great War, (1999), p.37; AWM Commemorative Roll; Montgomery Letterbook 1, p.801, National Gallery of Australia Research Collection, Canberra ACT. Letter from Rev. F.E. Brown, 14 December 1917, William Montgomery Collection MS15414, State Library of Victoria.