Why this sculpture troubles me

Don’t get me wrong. I have loved this bronzed sculpture, simply known as ‘Wipers’, ever since I first saw it near Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

Yet, here’s what troubles me. This fearsome-looking soldier does not reflect the reality of what Great War soldiers experienced at dreaded places such as Passchendaele and the Somme.

After reading countless veterans’ war diaries, I’m yet to find one that mentioned soldiers standing upright and square-on, staring defiantly at their enemy.

Rather, most described soldiers cowering in shallow trenches, surrounded by bloated corpses, praying that the relentless German bombardments wouldn’t kill them.

The embodiment of the ANZAC legend - a square-jawed and physically imposing man - does not feature in their diaries. The fighting qualities that supposedly define the mythical ANZAC — an indifference to danger, and fierceness in battle — are rarely mentioned.

Rather, their diaries revealed that most soldiers were ordinary men who, at times, were understandably overcome with fear — and sometimes refused to go up to the front line or remain there.

Yet, if we lift our gaze beyond the one-dimensional ‘Wipers’ sculpture, we can then see those everyday men who are truly deserving of our admiration.

We can see Bertram Byrnes, who forever wore a crooked smile after his face was shot away near Peronne. Although condemned to ‘slop food’ and a meagre pension, he always marched proudly on ANZAC Day.

We can see Joe Wood whose leg was amputated after being severely wounded at Ypres. Despite losing his leg, Joe always maintained his wicked sense of humour. Rather than wear his wooden leg, Joe used it as an umbrella stand, or hid it in his bed to scare the housekeeper.

Looking beyond the ‘Wipers’ sculpture doesn’t diminish the ANZACs; rather it allows us to honour those ordinary men caught in extraordinary circumstances – like Bertram and Joe.

What do you think?

‘Night in Passchendaele’ Out Now:

https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761265976/night-in-passchendaele/

Scottbennettwriter.com

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