Subject

St. Martin

Text

Saint Martin

Inscription

In memory John Charlton of the 5th Contingent died South Africa 16th August 1901

Description & History

In 1928 the vestry adopted plans drawn up by the Melbourne Diocesan architect, Louis R Williams for a bell tower and new chancel to extend St. Paul's Anglican, Euroa. The foundatiion stone for the addition was laid by the Bishop of Wangaratta, Bishop John Stephen Hart, on 5 November 1929. The east window that dated from 1903, a memorial to Private John Chalton who died of enteric fever (typhoid) in the Boer War, did not find a place in the new building. Williams favoured a chancel where light was restricted to small openings high in the east wall so that the focus was firmly placed on the liturgical service in the sanctuary. The old window was placed under the chancel and a new single lightmemorial to John Charlton wasinstalled in the west wall. The design, particularly the colour selection, indicates that it was designed and made by the Melbbourne firm, Mathieson & Gibson. It was unveiled by a former Rector of St. Paul's, Canon Hancock, Archdeacon of Melbourne, on 17 August 1930.

John Charlton was born at Castle Creek in 1878, one of Mary and Walter Charlton's eight children. Hejoined the 5th Mounted Rifles Contingent of the Colonial Military Forces that departed from Melbourne for South Africa on 15 February 1901. The Regiment took part in major fighting, notably at Wilmansrust. Charlton was reported in the Argus as 'dangerously ill' with enteric fever in Pretoria only a few days before he died on 16th August 1901. His name is among those commemorated on the Boer War Memorial, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne.

References & Acknowledgements

Argus, 13 August 1901, p.5; 25 September 1901, p.6; Camperdown Chronicle, 20 February 1904, p.5 (supplement); Euroa Advertiser, 27 September 1901, p.2; 3 January 1903, p.2; 16 January 1903, p.3; C.W. Halsall, St. Paul's Anglican Church, Euroa centennial publication 1985, St. Paul's Centenary Book Committee, Euroa, 1985; Lynne Dore, 'John Charlton Window', (unpublished manuscript August 2014); http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/2003256/5th-victorian-mounted-rifles-outline/.