Montgomery had designed the three-light commemorative window for St. Stephen's in 1916. Only the central light, Christ Our Saviour, was completed at that time. The flanking lights were installed in memory of former Sunday school scholars, and correspondence between the church and the Melbourne stained glass artist, William Montgomery, began in May 1919; an instruction to proceed was received in June 1919. The church's Honorary Secretary, Robert Phillips Esq., was invoiced £25.0.0 on 24 December 1919. All three windows were dedicated on Sunday 9 May 1920 by Archdeacon Hindley, after an unveiling by Brigadier-General Smith. The images of two martyrs of the Church, St. Paul and St. Stephen, on either side of Our Saviour, symbolised the young soldiers' honourable sacrifice for God, King and country. Montgomery prepared a series of three-light windows to fill the other openings in the church, but these were not realised, and the old building was replaced with a modern A-frame church in the late 1950s. The three-light soldiers' memorial survives in the west wall, a reminder of the former edifice as well as a tribute to the three young men.
Private Harold Marshall Lennox enlisted on 8 Januuary 1916 and embarked at Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 14 March, bound for Alexandria in Egypt where he was to join 29 Battalion AIF and then proceed to France. He was killed in action on 2 November 1916, aged 21, and was buried at Bulls Road Cemetery Flers, between Bapaume and Albert.
Harold Lennox's brother, Robert Thomas Lennox joined up on 8 September 1914, initially in 8 Battalion. He transferred to 60 Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir in February 1916 and was promoted to Corporal shortly afterwards. The battalion travelled to France and took part in the disastrous Battle of Fromelles where he was reported missing on 19 July 1916. After an official enquiry this was amended and his record reads 'Killed in Action. Statement by 4004 Pte. Dyall H. 60th Battalion'; he is commemorated at VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: B2455, Lennox, Harold Marshall; NAA: Lennox, Robert Thomas; Church of England Messenger, 9 February 1917;, 2 May 1919; 16 April 1920;11 June 1920; Letterbooks 1/569-70, 1/574, 1/585 National Gallery of Australia Research Collection, Canberra ACT; Folio 92, Montgomery ledger, William Montgomery Collection, State Library of Victoria.
