This was the first of a pair of windows designed on the theme of Sir Galahad that stained glass artist William Montgomery (1850-1927)installed in Wesley College's Hall. The headmaster, Mr. LA Adamson ordered the window in June or July 1919 and the window was unveiled in December the same year. The cost of the window was just under £80. Montgomery based the design on GF Watts' painting, Sir Galahad - a logical and popular choice for soldier memorials. The figure of Sir Galahad embodied the best qualities of the Australian soldier and was particularly appropriate for this secular location, where a saint may have appeared out of place. The window was unveiled in the Hall on 28 November 1919.
John Hutchings Coles was a 20 year old student when his mother, Mrs. LMS Coles gave her consent to enlisted in the forces on 11 August 1915. He embarked on HMAT A20 Hororata on 27 September 1915 as a gunner. He served with various Field Artillery units although his service was interrupted by several bouts of illness during 1917 and 1918. On 17 October 1918 he was hospitalised again and admitted to 2 General Hospital at Havre with bronchio-pneumonia and by 25 November his condition was reported as 'dangerously ill'. He died three days later and was buried in the Ste. Marie Cemetery Le Havre.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Roll of Honour; Argus, 13 November 1919, p. 6; 16 December 1919, p.4; NAA: B2455, Coles JH. Letterbook 1/902, NGA Research Collection canberra ACT.Folio Montgomery ledger William Montgomery Collection, State Library of Victoria.
