On the remaining abutment of the old Victoria Bridge, Brisbane, is a memorial to a young boy, Hector Vasyli. In this post I will describe the life and the event that inspired a memorial. The memorial and the retention of the bridge portion are clearly intertwined. The Heritage Register makes the following observation:
The Victoria Bridge Abutment has a high social value for the Greek community of Brisbane, containing as it does, the memorial to Hector Vasyli, a young Greek Australian boy who died while demonstrating his loyalty to his adopted homeland. This association is further demonstrated by the role of the Greek community in ensuring that this portion of the bridge was retained to provide a fitting location for the memorial plaque erected in the memory of the Vasyli boy and the continued practice of conducting a memorial service for the boy each Anzac Day. [1]
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| Hector Vasyli Memorial Photograph by Simon Hamlet, April 2017 |
This article from The Telegraph is perhaps the best coverage of the event.
BOY KILLED BY MOTOR CAR ACCIDENT, CLOSE TO VICTORIA BRIDGE.
The hundreds of people who awaited the procession of motor cars conveying the returned soldiers at the gates of the Military Hospital at Kangaroo Point last evening speculated a good deal about the reason for the considerable interval which passed between the arrival of about half the cars and the remainder, and it was not until later in the evening, that it transpired that the delay was due to a tragic accident close to Victoria Bridge, by which a schoolboy, Hector Vasyli, whose parents keep an oyster saloon in Melbourne-street, South Brisbane, lost his life.
The cars with the soldiers reached the top of Queen-street shortly before 6 o'clock, the procession being made up of more than 60 vehicles, and with the object of watching it pass, and of welcoming the men home, four or five lads, of whom deceased was one, stationed themselves on the side of the bridge; One of the cars in the lead had to slow down, and behind it was approaching a car driven by Mr. W. J. Jackson, (produce merchant) who had with him several of the returned men. To avoid the threatened collision with the car ahead, Mr. Jackson swerved his car to the left and the vehicle struck the boy Vasyli (who was 11 years of age), and knocked him down.
That Mr Jackson had perfect control of the car at the time is evident from the fact that he pulled it up within its own length as soon as he realised that an accident had occurred. The boy was picked up and driven by Mr Jackson with all speed to the St Helen's Hospital. As medical assistance was not immediately obtainable there, Mr Jackson took the wisest course he could under the circumstances, and motored the lad to the Mater Misericordiae Public Hospital where it was found that he had already succumbed to the injuries sustained. An examination of the body disclosed that the skull was fractured and that there was a compound fracture of the right arm in addition to minor injures. The tragic occurrence was quite unavoidable, and Mr. Jackson, from first to last, did everything possible to avert the fatal consequences of the mishap. The Ambulance Brigade quickly answered a summons for aid. [2]
Later sources provide other details regarding the incident. Given their chronological distance from the event they should perhaps be disregarded, but I include them here for the reader’s interest. Certainly they provide some reason why the boy would be so close to edge of the road.
A 1941 piece in The Truth says:
A bunch of flowers; was thrown towards him from one of the cars and fell in the roadway. Little Hec. rushed to pick it up; at the same moment, an old lady moved across the road from the other side. One of the cars swerved to avoid the woman, hit the boy, threw him against the iron bridge railings. [3]A 1941 article in The Telegraph says:
He would spend all his money on cigarettes and sweets for the troops, and toss them into the cars as they passed. Once, however, when a packet of cigarettes fell outside a car, Hector ran to pick it up, and a following car was unable to stop in time, resulting in the accident which caused his death [4].Hector’s funeral was held on 11th June and consisted of two graveside services, one in English, conducted by Rev. F. M. Nightingale, and a second service in Greek, conducted by Mr Christy Freeleagus. The cortege proceeded from Melbourne Street, South Brisbane to the Toowong Cemetery, with students of his school acting as pall-bearers. The Brisbane Courier’s report of the event lists the names on 59 wreaths [5].
A visit to the Toowong Cemetery reveals a once unmarked grave, that now has a brass plaque to mark the site. One is left to reflect how apt it is that a boy who saved pennies to bless soldiers, now lies in an ‘unmarked’ grave with a view of war veteran graves immediately to the west of him... posthumously deferring his ‘needs’ for the honour of the returning servicemen.
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| Hector Vasyli's grave at the Toowong Cemetery. Photograph by Simon Hamlet April 2017 |
After attending the funeral a returned serviceman, T. C. Owens, writes to the paper in praise of the young boy. Owens had a son, Wilbur, who was a playmate to Hector [6].
HECTOR VASYLIMr T. C. Owens, a returned soldier, writes as follows from Thompson Estate:
Sir. - I would like to make some reference to the dear little boy Hector Vasyli who was killed on Sunday while welcoming home our brave boys. This lad made it a rule to save his money to buy presents for the returned soldiers, and when they arrived it was his custom to wait for them and to throw the presents to them as they passed. This little silent worker it is sad to say met his end on such a good hearted mission. I have known the boy for some considerable time, and his good heart and honourable principles compel me to write this, because the returned soldiers have lost a good little friend. His ways are a lesson to many older than himself. The respect, shown to this dear boy and his parents to-day at the funeral was something never to be forgotten. I am sure the public of Brisbane and returned soldiers will with me enter in tendering our deepest sympathy to his parents in the sad loss of their dear boy Hector. [7]
Tributes from a writer to The Daily, who goes by the pen name 'Veritas', provide even more cause for admiring the deceased boy.
HECTOR VASYLITo the Editor.
Sir — Allow me to give a few comments about the life and sudden death of little Hector Vasyli. An interview with his people, which touched my heart, convinced me that this little boy was an example of Christianity and self-denial, of love and obedience to his parents, of patriotism to his country, and its brave soldiers, and he, therefore, has taught a lesson to old and young. He was an example of Christianity and self-denial, because, although young, he devoted his Sunday to the heavenly things instead of spending his time in idleness and earthly amusements, and he did every Sunday his worshipping in the Anzac Church, where he was on altar boy. As you know, he went to welcome the returning heroes. He showed Christianity and patriotism by his deeds. He had friends amongst yellow, black, and brown people, and a little black boy was his most devoted and affectionate friend. At his coffin tears were shed by white and coloured people. Many an old invalid got some food from him at the back of the premises, and many poor souls blessed the little hand of this good-hearted dear boy.
His patriotism to his country and its brave soldiers was a great example in deed. He did his bit for every patriotic fund, collected money, sold badges, and the Anzac Church was the base of his operations. There were his little hands working in the interests of our soldiers, to make their return to home sweet for them. He saved every penny, not to buy sweets for himself, but packets of cigarettes for our returning heroes, and on that fatal Sunday he had four packets of cigarettes and a bundle of wattle, and stood there, waiting for the soldiers to show them his respect and affection. He would have loved to buy a football, but instead of saving his pennies for that purpose he spent them in the soldiers interests.
Hector Vasyli has taught us all a lesson. Let everybody ask himself now: "What have I done for my country?" Little Hector did what he could. He did his bit for the Empire, and we should not forgot this little lad. We should honor his memory. I would like to see a bronze plate on the Victoria Bridge, on the very spot where he fell in doing his noble work, a bronze plate, mentioning his name and the tragic circumstances of his sudden death. Should the board offer objection the Anzac Church would undoubtedly have nothing against placing the plate in that building, or it could be placed in the school which Hector attended. I would like also the school teachers to plant a weeping fig trees in the school yard. And I am sure that Mr. T. C. H. Owens, returned soldier, Cornwall and Barrow streets, Thompson Estate, South Brisbane, whose little son was a playmate of Hector Vasyli, will be only too glad to receive gifts for that purpose.
Yours, etc.
VERITAS [8]
The same Veritas organises for a public planting of a weeping fig tree in Hector’s honour at his school on 10 July [9]. At least 23 years later the tree was still alive and flourishing [10].
Veritas’ letter also set in motion the process of gaining a plaque by which to remember the much loved boy.
In consequence of the letter by "Veritas," published in "The Daily Mail," regarding the death of Hector Vasyli, a meeting will be held in the Anzac Club, Charlotte-street, tomorrow, at 8 p.m., to form a committee for the purpose of erecting a suitable memorial. A number of prominent citizens and public ladies have been invited. In the afternoon a memorial tree will be planted by his teachers in the yard of the Merivale-street State School, South Brisbane. [11]At the first meeting a decision was made that should sufficient funds be available, a plaque would also be placed in St Luke’s Church (now the Pancake Manor) and the Greek Church [12]. The Daily Mail of 13 August 1918, details subscriptions to the value of £53 13s [13]. A visit to the Pancake Manor did not reveal any plaque at that location, and from what I can tell the Greek Church in Charlotte Street, to which The Telegraph refers, has been demolished.
The memorial was initially scheduled for an unveiling on 17 October, but faced delays due to indecision on the part of the Victoria Bridge Board [14]. Permission was granted at a meeting of the board on 19 November 1918, with the unveiling taking place on 8 December 1918 [15]. The unveiling ceremony was preceded by a march from the Post Office consisting of returned servicemen, The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Association and members of the Baden Powell Boy Scouts, the Hellenic Association, as well as the Anglican Mission [16]. About 1,000 people attended the service [17].
In 1966 the plaque was removed during the demolition of the old Victoria Bridge, but it was returned to the site in 1970 [18].
The original medallion for the plaque was made by Daphne Mayo [19], whom QAGOMA describes as “one of Queensland's most significant twentieth century artists.” People familiar with Brisbane will have seen her work, perhaps most obviously as the frieze on the Town Hall. She also produced the Women’s memorial in ANZAC Square [20].
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| Daphne Mayo's frieze above the entrance to Brisbane Town Hall. Composite photograph by Simon Hamlet, August 2016. |
This medallion was lost or stolen and a replacement created based on a photograph retrieved from Hector's sister who was tracked down as a patient in a Sydney hospital; it was the only photo she had of her brother [21]. I assume it is the image below.
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| Portrait of Hector Vasyli by unidentified photographer. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. |
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| Original medallion as recorded in a publication held in the John Oxley donated by Mr Freeleagus. |
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| Replacement, and current, medallion on the Hector Vasyli Memorial. Photograph by Simon Hamlet, April 2017 |
References
[1] Queensland Government (2016). Former Victoria Bridge Abutment. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=600303
[2] BOY KILLED BY MOTOR CAR. (1918, June 10). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20230566
[3] HE'S NOT FORGOTTEN (1941, August 24). Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), p. 26. Retrieved April 4, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203200717
[4] Wreath Placed on Memorial to Brave Greek Boy (1941, April 25). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 5 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS). Retrieved April 4, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186601800
[5] PERSONAL. (1918, June 12). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 11. Retrieved April 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20230872
[6] SUNDAY'S FATAL ACCIDENT. (1918, June 14). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 3. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175205249
[7] Hector Vasyli. (1918, June 13). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20231149
[8] HECTOR VASYL[?]. (1918, June 21). The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926), p. 7. Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215432953
[9] Advertising (1918, July 8). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 7 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved April 1, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177058701
[10] HE'S NOT FORGOTTEN (1941, August 24). Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), p. 26. Retrieved April 4, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203200717
[11] FOR WOMEN. (1918, July 9). The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926), p. 2. Retrieved April 5, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215433384
[12] HECTOR VASYLI MEMORIAL. (1918, July 11). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 2 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article177062554
[13] SOLDIERS AND POLITICS (1918, August 13). The Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903 - 1926), p. 6. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215428189
[14] HECTOR VASYLI MEMORIAL. (1918, November 16). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 5. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article179046927
[15] Victoria Bridge Board. (1918, November 20). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 4. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20258593
[16] Hector Vasyli Memorial. (1918, December 3). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 6. Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20252353
[17] VASYLI MEMORIAL. (1918, December 9). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 5 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved April 6, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article179048639
[18] Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign (2017) 1918. Retrieved April 10, 2017 from https://www.anzacsofgreece.org/en/milestones-1899-2016/1741-1918
[19] A Queensland Artist (1918, November 21). Worker (Brisbane, Qld. : 1890 - 1955), p. 9. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72189334
[20] McKay, J. ( 2011) A sculpture’s legacy. Time and Place Vol 26 pp 4-5. Retrieved April 2, 2017 from http://www.qldheritage.org.au/assets/files/time-and-place/time-and-place-26.pdf
[21] COMPACT (1973, November 21). The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), p. 41. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47228843
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