The Arthurian legend of Sir Galahad, a knight both gallant and pure has led to it being a fitting memorial for those sacrificing their lives for a noble cause. He was known as the most perfect of all the knights, and therefore worthy of seeing the Holy Grail.
For this reason we have two stained glass windows of the young and virtuous Sir Galahad as memorials for two young men who died during World War 1. One was commissioned by Mrs Lucy Coles, the mother of John Hutchings Coles. It was made by Mr W Montgomery of Alfred Place Melbourne.
The Coles memorial is based on a painting by the distinguished artist George Frederic Watts (1817-1904). Watts produced several paintings of Sir Galahad and one of the most significant examples hangs in the antechapel at Eton College UK.
For more information about the artist and painting see the link below
Reproduced by permission of the Provost and Fellows of Eton College.
See also the Wesley Memorial virtual tour. The stained glass window is in the west wall of Adamson Hall.
Inscriptions'Young Galahad has gone to fight in countries o'er the sea. For King and Empire, for God and Right and Truth, and Liberty' - from a school song.
In Memory of John Hutchings Coles, Gunner 4 Batt. AIF who died on active service 28/11/1918HistoryDonated by JH Coles' mother Lucy Coles. She lived opposite the school at 576 St Kilda Road.Other Informationhttps://catalogue.etoncollege.com/object-fda-p-162-2010Collection typeObjectSubject TermsMemorialMakers DetailsMontgomery, WilliamCategoryObjects | Memorials