Subject

Sir Galahad

Text

"My strength is as the strength of ten Because my heart is pure" [Tennyson]

Inscription

A.M.D.G. In memory of John Webster Killed in action Palestine 21st Sept. 1918

Description & History

Headmaster, the Rev. Dr. FE Brown relaxed his restriction on subject matter (only saints were depicted in first suite of windows, in keeping with the name of the school chapel, All Saints) and permitted the inclusion of Sir Galahad as one of two windows in the vestries. During his address at the unveiling of the window, the Headmaster noted that the choir vestry was a suitable location for a memorial to a former member of the choir. The source of image for Sir Galahad was a painting of the same name by GF Watts with its text taken from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem of the same name. Montgomery made other versions of Sir Galahad for soldier memorials including a pair at Adamson Hall at Wesley College, Prahran.

John Webster, born in 1895, was one of four Geelong Grammar students who enlisted at the outbreak of war in 1914. He sailed to England where he joined the West Yorkshire Regiment and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant. He was on Gallipoli only two days when he was wounded in the chest and shoulder and returned to England; it was the first of three woundings he was to suffer. He was recommended for the Military Cross in 1916, and later at Contalmaison, it was awarded 'for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action' during two counter-attacks, which he led despite being wounded. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, certainly a no less dangerous role in 1917, and was posted to France and then to Palestine with No.14 Squadron. He and his navigator were were shot down by ground fire on 21 September 1918. Both men were buried with full military honours at Shibleh and he was commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; James Affleck, Geelong Grammarians at the Great War, (1999), pp.43-44; Letterbooks 1/832, 4/833 NGA Research Collection, Canberra ACT. Letters: Rev. Dr. F.E. Brown to Montgomery, 10 December 1921, 16 June 1923; Folio 186, Montgomery ledger; William Montgomery Collection MS15414, State Library of Victoria.