The 'St. John's Church Roll of Honour' was carved in timber and designed to frame a small trefoil window, Agnes Dei, in the west wall of the church. The Roll holds 136 names of men who served and singled out the 28 men who 'made the supreme sacrifice'. It is not known whether the stained glass was in place before the Honour Roll was erected, however its subject provided a fitting centrepiece as it recognised the Lamb of God as protector of those who fought for King and country.
Of the many named on the Honour Roll is Ernest Samuel Emmerson, a 20 year-old carpenter who enlisted on 11 August 1915 with 6 years experience with the Footscray infantry. He joined 14 Battalion, but transferred to the Australian Cyclist Corps while in Egypt in April 1916. He served in several different Cyclist units and attended a number of signal schools before becoming an instructor. On a number of occasions during the war he suffered from throat and lung infections that required hospital treatment; he was admitted again, 'dangerously ill' with influenza on 13 November 1918. He died three days later and was bured at Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy, a few miles north-west of St. Quentin in France. His brother, Albert Emmerson, survived the conflict and is also honoured on the church memorial.
Another on the Roll was George Greengrass who enlisted on 22 October 1914, aged 23. His younger brother Charles Morris, a 21 year-old labourer had already enlisted in August. Both men landed in the Dardenelles where T/Sergeant George Greengrass of 14 Battalion, was killed in action on 8 August 1915. He is remembered at the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli. Charles was wounded at Gallipoli but survived to join the battle in France and Belgium, and was killed in action on 4 October 1917. His burial was at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood. Curiously his name is not among those remembered on the St. John's Honour Roll.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: B2455, Emmerson ESA; NAA: B2455, Emmerson AE; NAA: B2455, Greengrass CM; NAA: B2455, Greengrass GW; Advertiser, 20 April 1918, p.2; Parish of St. John the Evangelist, Footscray, Victoria: centenary celebrations of the Anglican Church in Footscray District 1855-1955, St. John's Vestry, 1988.
With thanks to Marilyn Richards, Honorary Secretary and other members of the congregation at St. John's Anglican Church, Footscray.
