Explore the Background of this artwork.
The story of the crucified soldier emerged in 1915, when it was claimed that a Canadian officer (later said to have been a sergeant) was crucified by German soldiers. The authenticity of the event was never established, though several soldiers claimed to have seen the body of the victim on display.
Two sworn statements were presented, and one from a Victoria Cross holder attached a name to the victim: "Sergeant Brant". The sworn testimony from the two English soldiers, who claimed to have seen "the corpse of a Canadian soldier fastened with bayonets to a barn door", was subsequently debunked when it was discovered that the part of the front involved had never been occupied by Germans. In 2002 British documentary maker Iain Overton alleged that the crucified soldier did exist, and named him as Sergeant Harry Band (not "Brant").
Iain Overton Victoria Cross