St John's Cathedral, Brisbane and the Anzac Legend

Guests included the Governor- General of Australia, Sir William Deane, and the US Ambassador to Australia, Edward Gnehm Jnr. Among the large congregation were 20 Second World War veterans from the United States. One of the windows represents the United States. It depicts the American flag, the ‘Stars and Stripes’, and the American bald eagle, the US national emblem which appears on the official United States seal. The second window represents Australia, and shows the Australian flag, the ‘Blue Ensign’, together with Australia’s wedge-tailed eagle, this country’s largest bird of prey. Both windows were designed by Queensland artist Glenn Mack. The windows are filled with energy, colour and light, symbolising the groundswell of joy and energy that burst forth when the Second World War ended. Not every conflict since 1945 in which Australia has taken part under American leadership has received universal support in Australia. US and Australian involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975), which killed 500 Australian servicemen, including 200 conscripts, became a source of bitter controversy in Australia and the United States. Opposition to the war was fuelled by a vigorous anti-war and anti- conscription movement, particularly among university and high school students. This was reflected in popular protest songs such as those of John Lennon, Barry MacGuire, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Bob Dylan. One million Australians took part in demonstrations against the Australian Government‘s decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, fought on the grounds that Iraq was harbouring weapons of mass destruction, an assessment which was subsequently found to be incorrect. But whatever one may think of Australia’s participation in these two conflicts, it is important not to discount the loyalty to country, duty and personal sacrifice shown by Australian service personnel who fought in these wars alongside their American allies.

Many who engaged in the Vietnam theatre were physically and emotionally scarred for life. For many the emotional scars were deepened by the negative reception meted out to the Vietnam veterans returning home. Unlike the earlier Australians returning from the First and Second World Wars—who were treated as heroes—many Vietnam veterans initially faced indifference, even hostility, from the Australian public and various national institutions because of the unpopularity of the war in which they had been engaged. Yet it is important to understand how they sacrificed their lives and health for what they understood to be the service of their country. The contribution of Vietnam veterans is remembered in St John’s Cathedral through the colours of the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, based in Brisbane, which fought in the famous battle of Long Tan during the Vietnam War. The colours hang in the Cathedral alongside those of the 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (see section 12). The Cathedral has for many years also conducted a regular commemorative service recalling those who fought at Long Tan and elsewhere in Vietnam.

The navy blue field of the 6th Battalion’s colours counterpoints the gold scrolls of the unit’s battle honours, including Long Tan and prior service in Korea in the 1950s conflict there.

Matthew Tesch

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