William Wand - World War I

World War I

Wand was appointed vicar-choral of the Diocese of Salisbury in 1914. On the outbreak World War I he enlisted as a military chaplain and reached Gallipoli in July 1915. He was a chaplain to the 2nd Australian Hospital and, after being invalided home with paratyphoid fever, served in France.

Demobilised in March 1919, Wand was made perpetual curate of St Mark's Salisbury, where St Clair Donaldson was bishop. In 1925 Wand became a fellow and the dean of Oriel College, Oxford and university lecturer in church history. Eight years later Bishop Francis Batty procured his nomination to the see of Brisbane as archbishop. Wand was consecrated in St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 1 May 1934 and enthroned in St John's Cathedral, Brisbane on 5 September.

Wand's arrival in Queensland was almost immediately clouded by the accidental death in Switzerland of his only son, Paul. Furthermore, those who had wanted a local dignitary as their new bishop united to oppose Wand. His attempts to eradicate slackness made him appear authoritarian to his clergy. Sturdy in appearance, shy and gracious, Wand was often seen as being aloof and something of an intellectual snob. The decision to move St Francis's Theological College from Nundah to the Bishopsbourne property proved unpopular, although Wand's relations with its students won him their respect and affection. His establishment of a property and finance board to handle the economic problems of the diocese did not meet with general favour.

As a member of the University of Queensland senate, Wand worked to promote biblical studies. During his episcopate he wrote a weekly article for the Courier Mail, translated the New Testament epistles and gave the Moorhouse lectures in Melbourne in 1936.