St John's Cathedral, Brisbane and the Anzac Legend

Shells would burst above the heads of troops whether standing or lying down, sending shrapnel in all directions. Hell Spit was located at the southern end of the Cove and closest to Beachy Bill. Hell Spit Cemetery had been closed because Beachy Bill’s gunners were in the habit of firing at burial parties there, so Maxwell took considerable risk in visiting the cemetery with his flag on that final day at Anzac. The shells fired at Maxwell and the flag fortunately missed their mark, although shrapnel from an exploding shell grazed one of Maxwell’s pockets. In April 1916 Maxwell returned to Brisbane from chaplaincy duties. In 1920, after thewar, hewas invited to show the flag that he had flown on the last day at Anzac Cove to General Sir William Birdwood (later Field Marshal, Lord Birdwood of Anzac and Totnes) who was on a visit to Brisbane as part of a wider Australian and New Zealand tour. Birdwood, a British officer with the nickname ‘Birdie,’ had been commander of the ANZAC sector at Gallipoli.

Though not an outstanding military tactician—indeed, few of the senior officers with oversight of the disastrous Dardanelles misadventure were—Birdwood nevertheless earned the respect and affection of his Australian and New Zealand soldiers. He made a habit of living with his troops (unlike many British generals) and visiting them in the trenches. Indeed, he came to be dubbed ‘the soul of Anzac’ for his close personal identification with the Anzacs and his quick appreciation of their ardour and fighting qualities. He was also a courageous man, taking regular swims in the waters off Anzac Cove, in full sight of the Turkish guns, to show his men that he was prepared to share in the dangers. It was he who gave the name ‘Anzac Cove’ to the beach where the Anzacs landed and encamped. South East Queensland alone has 14 streets named after the Anzac leader. Maxwell showed Birdwood his flag at Government House in Brisbane where the General was staying. Birdwood expressed great interest in the flag and he signed his name on its top right corner.

An Anzac war cemetery on the hillside at Gallipoli in 1915.

State Library of Queensland

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