Beer Monster
06-10-2005, 07:32 AM
The Army Chaplains Department had been in existence for some 120 years when the Great War started in the summer of 1914.
Initially comprising only Church of England men, over the years it had evolved to encompass Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, Jewish and other smaller denominations by the beginning of the 20th century.
Figures vary but it is generally accepted that between 170 and 180 of these men paid the ultimate sacrifice and died or were killed in action serving God and their country whilst in the front line with the troops which is where many preferred to be.
A quote from an unknown padre sums up the attitude of many,
"If the men can't go to church then the church must go to the men"
It must be remembered that in their pockets would only be a Bible, Prayer Book and probably sweets and cigarettes "for the boys." They only had their faith to protect them, not rifle or revolver.
The "Padres" or "Sky Pilots" as they were affectionately known by the Tommies, were however respected and appreciated for the role that they played in the grim realities of life on the Western Front and in other theatres.
The Reverend Edward Noel Mellish VC, MC:-
The following is a quote from a letter by an officer of the Northumberland Fusiliers who had witnessed these actions.
"Nothing could be finer than the way Captain Mellish did his duty and more than his duty during the time he was near us. Immediately the troops captured the trenches and while the wounded were picking their way painfully back, the enemy's guns were turned on full blast and the intervening ground was deluged with shell and machine gun fire. Into this tempest of fire the brave Parson walked, a prayer book under his arm as though on church parade in peace time.
He reached the first of the wounded and knelt down to do what he could for them. The first few he brought in himself without any aid and it made us think a bit more of parsons to see how he walked quietly under fire assisting the slow moving wounded and thinking more of saving them from discomfort than of his own safety.
It was only during a lull in the fighting when the ambulance parties could get out that he finally took a rest.
Next day he was out again unconcerned as ever. Some of the men would not have survived the ordeal had it not been for the prompt assistance rendered to them by Mr Mellish."
Another story worth relating is that of a cockney soldier who was one of those brought in by the padre. This man was well known for his anti religious views yet when settled in a base hospital after the fighting enquired,
"What religion is 'e".? When told he replied,
"Well I'm the same as 'im now and the bloke as sez a word agen our church will 'ave 'is ****** 'ead bashed in"
The Reverend William Robert Fountains Addison VC, Order of St George, Russia:-
"On April 9th 1916 at Sanna-i-Yat Mesopotamia (Iraq), the Reverend William Addison carried a wounded man to the cover of a trench and helped several others to the same cover after binding up their wounds under heavy rifle and machine gun fire.
In addition to these unaided efforts his splendid example and utter disregard of personal danger encouraged the stretcher bearers to go forward under heavy fire and collect the wounded."
The Reverend Theodore Bailey Hardy VC, DSO, MC:-
The most decorated non combatant of the Great War.
In September of 1917 he was awarded his first decoration, the Distinguished Service Order for his actions in the field, the citation reading,
"For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. He went out into the open to help bring in wounded. On discovering a man buried in mud whom it was impossible to extricate he remained under fire ministering to his spiritual and bodily comforts until the man died".
Just over a month later in October he was decorated again, this time with the Military Cross,
"For repeatedly going out under heavy fire to help the stretcher bearers during an attack."
As was said earlier 1917 was quite a year for the Reverend Hardy yet greater valiant acts were to follow.
For three very brave and selfless actions carried out on the 5th, 25th and 27th of April the Reverend Hardy would be awarded the highest honour, the Victoria Cross.
On the first occasion he followed a patrol out who were to attack an enemy post in a ruined village. He came across an officer of the patrol who was badly wounded and despite tremendous enemy fire he stayed with the man until he managed to get assistance and bring him in.
His second experience came after one of the battalions posts had been shelled, burying the occupants. The Reverend Hardy again under shell fire set about digging the men out of the rubble, managing to save one, the other was sadly dead before he could be rescued.
His final valiant deed of this incredible month came after the battalion had launched an attack on a wood, which at first was successful but they were eventually pushed back. The Padre was last man out of the wood and on reaching an advanced post got the sergeant to go back with him to bring in a wounded man. This they managed to do despite the fact that the man was too weak to stand and they were under enemy fire for the whole time.
Three tremendous deeds of gallantry yet when he heard of his VC nomination his reaction was typical of the man, "I really must protest".
So impressed with Mr Hardy was the King that on September 17th he was appointed Chaplain to His Majesty. The King hoped that he would be able to prise the Reverend Hardy away from the dangers of the frontline but even at over fifty years of age he refused all offers to leave "the boys".
Late 1918 finally found the Germans being pushed back and by early October the 8th Lincolns were approaching the river Selle. They managed to establish a crossing and in the darkness of October 10th the familiar voice of the chaplain could be heard moving through the ranks.
Suddenly a burst of machine gun fire shattered the night air and the cry went up for stretcher bearers. The chaplain was hit but at first it was considered not too serious and he was taken to hospital in Rouen. Sadly his condition worsened and the gallant padre passed away on October 18th at the age of fifty five.
Valiant selfless men were "The Chaplain VC's."
Full article can be found here (http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/coulson.htm).
Initially comprising only Church of England men, over the years it had evolved to encompass Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, Jewish and other smaller denominations by the beginning of the 20th century.
Figures vary but it is generally accepted that between 170 and 180 of these men paid the ultimate sacrifice and died or were killed in action serving God and their country whilst in the front line with the troops which is where many preferred to be.
A quote from an unknown padre sums up the attitude of many,
"If the men can't go to church then the church must go to the men"
It must be remembered that in their pockets would only be a Bible, Prayer Book and probably sweets and cigarettes "for the boys." They only had their faith to protect them, not rifle or revolver.
The "Padres" or "Sky Pilots" as they were affectionately known by the Tommies, were however respected and appreciated for the role that they played in the grim realities of life on the Western Front and in other theatres.
The Reverend Edward Noel Mellish VC, MC:-
The following is a quote from a letter by an officer of the Northumberland Fusiliers who had witnessed these actions.
"Nothing could be finer than the way Captain Mellish did his duty and more than his duty during the time he was near us. Immediately the troops captured the trenches and while the wounded were picking their way painfully back, the enemy's guns were turned on full blast and the intervening ground was deluged with shell and machine gun fire. Into this tempest of fire the brave Parson walked, a prayer book under his arm as though on church parade in peace time.
He reached the first of the wounded and knelt down to do what he could for them. The first few he brought in himself without any aid and it made us think a bit more of parsons to see how he walked quietly under fire assisting the slow moving wounded and thinking more of saving them from discomfort than of his own safety.
It was only during a lull in the fighting when the ambulance parties could get out that he finally took a rest.
Next day he was out again unconcerned as ever. Some of the men would not have survived the ordeal had it not been for the prompt assistance rendered to them by Mr Mellish."
Another story worth relating is that of a cockney soldier who was one of those brought in by the padre. This man was well known for his anti religious views yet when settled in a base hospital after the fighting enquired,
"What religion is 'e".? When told he replied,
"Well I'm the same as 'im now and the bloke as sez a word agen our church will 'ave 'is ****** 'ead bashed in"
The Reverend William Robert Fountains Addison VC, Order of St George, Russia:-
"On April 9th 1916 at Sanna-i-Yat Mesopotamia (Iraq), the Reverend William Addison carried a wounded man to the cover of a trench and helped several others to the same cover after binding up their wounds under heavy rifle and machine gun fire.
In addition to these unaided efforts his splendid example and utter disregard of personal danger encouraged the stretcher bearers to go forward under heavy fire and collect the wounded."
The Reverend Theodore Bailey Hardy VC, DSO, MC:-
The most decorated non combatant of the Great War.
In September of 1917 he was awarded his first decoration, the Distinguished Service Order for his actions in the field, the citation reading,
"For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. He went out into the open to help bring in wounded. On discovering a man buried in mud whom it was impossible to extricate he remained under fire ministering to his spiritual and bodily comforts until the man died".
Just over a month later in October he was decorated again, this time with the Military Cross,
"For repeatedly going out under heavy fire to help the stretcher bearers during an attack."
As was said earlier 1917 was quite a year for the Reverend Hardy yet greater valiant acts were to follow.
For three very brave and selfless actions carried out on the 5th, 25th and 27th of April the Reverend Hardy would be awarded the highest honour, the Victoria Cross.
On the first occasion he followed a patrol out who were to attack an enemy post in a ruined village. He came across an officer of the patrol who was badly wounded and despite tremendous enemy fire he stayed with the man until he managed to get assistance and bring him in.
His second experience came after one of the battalions posts had been shelled, burying the occupants. The Reverend Hardy again under shell fire set about digging the men out of the rubble, managing to save one, the other was sadly dead before he could be rescued.
His final valiant deed of this incredible month came after the battalion had launched an attack on a wood, which at first was successful but they were eventually pushed back. The Padre was last man out of the wood and on reaching an advanced post got the sergeant to go back with him to bring in a wounded man. This they managed to do despite the fact that the man was too weak to stand and they were under enemy fire for the whole time.
Three tremendous deeds of gallantry yet when he heard of his VC nomination his reaction was typical of the man, "I really must protest".
So impressed with Mr Hardy was the King that on September 17th he was appointed Chaplain to His Majesty. The King hoped that he would be able to prise the Reverend Hardy away from the dangers of the frontline but even at over fifty years of age he refused all offers to leave "the boys".
Late 1918 finally found the Germans being pushed back and by early October the 8th Lincolns were approaching the river Selle. They managed to establish a crossing and in the darkness of October 10th the familiar voice of the chaplain could be heard moving through the ranks.
Suddenly a burst of machine gun fire shattered the night air and the cry went up for stretcher bearers. The chaplain was hit but at first it was considered not too serious and he was taken to hospital in Rouen. Sadly his condition worsened and the gallant padre passed away on October 18th at the age of fifty five.
Valiant selfless men were "The Chaplain VC's."
Full article can be found here (http://www.hellfire-corner.demon.co.uk/coulson.htm).