Subject

Army in our Region

Text

n/a

Inscription

[Plaque below] In memory of John Stanton Bell killed in action at Tarakan 9.5.45

Description & History

The two windows dedicated to the Armed Forces were the gift of Tom and Agnes Bell. The Army window was in memory of the Bell's only son, John, who was killed at Tarakan, Borneo. The window depicts Australians in their jungle greens supporting each other and being assisted by native men. As with all the windows in this series, central images of war are reflected in the pale images of the outer vertical borders of Biblical scenes of the struggle against evil.

Lance-Corporal John Stanton Bell was born in Melbourne on 25 November 1922 and enlisted at Caulfield. In the early stage of the war the 2/4 Independent Company was deployed in Timor but was evacuated to Darwin in January 1943. The unit then served in the Northern Territory before taking part in an operation as part of the 2/9 Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, to reoccupy areas of the Nederlands East Indies with 9 and 7 Divisions. On 3 May 1945, the 2/9 landed on the small island of Tarakan supporting 26 Brigade. Bell was killed only one week later, in a campaign that was virtually over by July, and on 15 August the Japanese surrendered.

References & Acknowledgements

AWM Roll of Honour; NAA:B833, VX68826; www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_13315second_world_war.asp