A "GOOD SPORT" CHAPLAIN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2579, 29 September 1915, Page 20

A "GOOD SPORT" CHAPLAIN

When the Australians were in Cairo (says an' Australian correspondent) tliey all know by repute, if not personally, Father Finn, one of the Roman Catholio chaplains attacliod to a British; unit.. He was'-what the Common-, wealth, troops call a "good sport," and it made no difference what quarter of the Empire men might como from he treated;, all .alike, as brothers, and lie joined in their amusements just' as if lie was- "one of the boys." Many an expedition' to historic places was led by the genial priestj'iwlbo; was a' human Baedeker's guide and an export dragoman combined., When-the troops said things that are not usually mentionod in polite society Father Finn was deaf, and if they were thirsty he was-thirsty too. He was one of the first to fall at Sedd-el : Bahr, but liis memory will al-ways-live. He was told not to land while the shooting was so hot, but ho insisted that his place was with the men. On the way ashore lie received a bullet in the chest, and later another in tho thteh, and a'third in the knee. When Father Finn, reached the . .beach he was wounded in a, score of places, and was bleeding profusely. Although ho was suffering intense pain lie made his way among the fallen men, giving a drink hero, a kindly word there, and a smile for all. A Shrapnel shell burst over him as he was administering tho last spiritual rights to one of the soldiers, and he died where .ne had lived, "among the men."