New Guinea MartyrsPrint Page

The stained glass window commemorates the New Guinea Martyrs.

The stained glass window in the South Transept of the Cathedral depicts a nurse standing next to a Papuan in native dress. The window commemorates the four women missionaries who were killed in Papua in 1942 when the Australian territories of Papua and New Guinea were invaded by the Japanese. The inclusion of their names in the Cathedral window is a reminder of the sacrifice and devotion to duty that these Australian missionary workers displayed when the Japanese invaded.

333 Christians lost their lives in New Guinea during the invasion and occupation of the island by the Japanese forces during Word War Two. The four women depicted in the stained glass window are representative of those who remained at their posts, refusing to desert the people they cared for.

In January 1942 the Anglican bishop, Philip Strong, had broadcast an appeal to them to stay at their work, come what may. Many of the missionaries themselves wished to stay and had already resisted calls to turn to safety. On 21 July 1942 the Japanese invaded the island near the mission station at Gona where Mavis Parkinson, a teacher, and May Hayman, a nurse, were based.

Eventually they were caught and murdered by the Japanese at Popondetta in August 1942. Their bodies were later recovered and buried at Sangara Mission Station. Mavis Parkinson came from Ipswich and May Hayman from Fortitude Valley. Lilla Lashmar, a teacher, and Margery Brenchley, a nurse, who had been working at Sangara Mission Station were beheaded on the beach at Buna. Their bodies were never recovered, as it was believed that they were thrown into the sea.

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