THE FIGHTING PADRES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2693, 12 February 1916, Page 13

THE FIGHTING PADRES

♦ —. — FATHER FAHEY'S CHARGE IN THE BATTLE LINE AT GALLIPOLI ) 1 4 ) The senior padre used to camp in a 1 dugout above tiic casualty receiving sta- | tiou at Anzac, and ho used to mess with 1 tho beach ,party officers under a tarpaulin just and it was a favourite 1 spot for all the other padres to call and i' yarn. New padres arriving with the ! Light Horso when they came would 1 find this little platform cut out of tho hill, and when they cauio out of the j trenches to batlio they would, come up . to swap' stories and watch the shells . bursting in front on the beach. There i was a line on which they hung their towels alongside tho senior padre's dugout. All this was a soro trial to the cook, who used to say when 110 saw them s coming : "More bloomin' stiffs." At the c samo time he got even with them in tho ' matter of certain puddings he made. • Whether this was the causo of some of • them developing stomach troubles which ' sent them to tho hospital at Mudros is not clearly known. At il'.e saun time it . should be recorded that cook was highly . indignant if any padre passed without - coming in for a cup of tea. He mixed hospitality with his abuse equally. On one occasion there was a great muster of padres, and Captain Littler, the beach adjutant, who presided over ' the meeting, "was ragging them no end," as the cook put it. "What I want to know," said I'udre Green, ''is ' it a fact that you were leading the i charges, Father Fahey, 011 the 2oth?" "Yes, now, tell the truth," said Father Power a New Zealand padre. Thus driven into a. eonifv. Father Fahey blushed 011 as much of' his face as was not covered by a ferocious black biKird, and blurted out, "And what would I bo leading charges for? Tell, me that now?" You must know that Father Fahey, who is a priest from Western Australia, is attached to the men who formed the covering party 011 April 25. Other padres interpreted their instructions to disembark with the C. Echelon literally, and stayed on board the transports, but at 4.50 a.m. on that morning Father'Fahey, with his "pack up," was ivith the men, and lauded in the open boat. "Now tell us what really happened," persisted Padre Green, and tlius pressed Father Fahey said:— "WiaJi I Had a Bayonet!" t "Well, it was getting light, and the Turks opened out on us. Many a man was hit before he got out. The rest scrambled into the water, and waded ashore. I was with them, and when, I got ashore I wondered whether I wasn't a fool for coming. But that didn't stop mo digging a hole for my head with may hands in the sand, and 1 lay there while tho rest of tho men came ashore, and formed a rough sort of line. There I was with my pack on my back like the shell of a tortoise; I had forgotten to slip it off. AVhilst we waited the man on my right and the man on my left were killed stone dead. There was a man iii front of me lying in a hole like me. Now the men were ready, and I heard Major Roberts cry out, "Fix bayonets,' and I wished to God I had a bayonet. Next I heard him call out 'Charge!' " Then Father Fahey stopped his narrative, but Padre Green fixed him with eagle eye and demanded: "What did you dot 1 Did you chargo?" "Yes, I charged," said Father Fahey, desperately. "I charged into a big hole in the side of the hill." Everybody laughed. But Padre Green said, "That won't doj Fahey. .You're keeping the real story back. What were the boys doing?" "The boys," cried Father Fahey, enthusiastically. "By this time they could see the Turks, and they cried 'Inishi Yaller,' and they went for them with the cold steel, and pretty soon they stopped their machine-gun." "All this time, of course," said Father Power, "you were in the hole." "No," said Father Fahey, simply. "I kept up with them." And that is what Father Fahey has been doing ever since. "Now, I ask you straight out," said Padre Green, "did you ever touch a rifle?" "'What would I-be doing with a rifle?" replied Father Fahey, adding reluctantly, "except in self-defence." There is 110 doubt that Fahey is an exceedingly brave man. Ho will be in the trcnches, but whenever the senior padre telephoned for him to see a R.O. who was in extremis 110 used to come down the hill at:tho double. The first two Protestant chaplains to land were the two senior chaplains, Colonel Green, Australian, and Major Luxford, New Zealander, and during the first two or three days they had many exciting experiences. Then came the Rev. Mr. Wray, Church of England chaplain, and the Rev. Andrew Gillison, Presbyterian chaplain. Wray is a regular old soldier, having been chaplain through the Boer war. He was both fearless and wise; he used to -walk about among the trenches encouraging the men by his cheerful conversation" He was armed with a big walking stick, and always wore a white clerical collar. Tho men used to wonder why he was not shot, as he was seen to expose himself. But his safety was really accounted for by his experience; he understood the lines of fire, walked in the saps, and never took unnecessary risks. He was indefatigable in his efforts to help his troops, and though no longer young, being an old campaigner, he was famous for the number of things lie could do without. His brother officers used to say that all Padre Wray wanted was iron rations and two teaspoonsful of water to wash his celluloid collar. For the rest he used to swim every day, but never in dangerous hours or places. Chaplain Andrew Gillisou ; M.A., who has sealed his devotion with his life, was one of the most fearless men 011 the peninsula. He constantly took risks, for ho had not tho experience of some of the other padres who had seen war before. Like Father Fahey, he was indistinguishable from the soldiers in his dress. On tho day when 110 was killed he went through a dangerous zone of fire with a corporal to succour a wounded man, and coming back both of them were hit. It was a great loss to his regiment. How Chaplain-Major Grant Fell. Another padre who was Mlled was Chaplain-Major Grant, of t'.ry'New Zealand force (Presbyterian). He and Chaplain Dobson went into a traverse to see il they could help some men whom they thought wounded, and whom they could hear talking in tho other trench of the V-shaped traverse. They passed the sentry (which they ought not to havo done), but the men they thought were wounded were Turks. On appearing in sight Major Grant was shot, and Chaplain Dobson went back for help to rescue him. But what shall wo say of the brave clergymen and Divinity students who were with'us in tho firing lino as combatants? They camo from different parts of Australia, and belonged to different denominations, but they all set us ail example of heroism. '1 he Rev. Mr. Andrews, M.A., who was a stretcher-bearer,' was in a section, all of whom wore "outed" cither by \vound3, sickness, or killed in action in tho spflco of fivo weeks. Ho is now acting as chaplain, and running a recreation tent. . Corporal J. G. Hunter, from King's College, .Brisbane, fell in a charge after doing splendid work from the day of the landing. Private Stapleton, of

Queens College, Melbourne, was killed lu action during the first terrible days of the landing. Lieutenant Rev. Digges La Touclie was killed in an action which has made his own regiment and the Ist Brigade famous for all time. The licv. Mr. Maxtcd, of Marrickville, after doing excellent work in the A.M.C., has just recovered from illness, and is returning to the front. Tho Rev. Patrick Hare, who went out with tho artillery and has done good work, is promoted lieutenant, and is hard at it at Anzac. The Rev. Major Luxford, of the N.Z. force, was shot whilst resting in the rear of the firing-line in the action undertaken during the Suvla Bay landing. Unfortunately, his leg had to bo amputated, but his many friends are glad to know he is doing well in a London hospital. Tne fighting padres have had their share of sickness, but in this regard they havo shown themselves unexpectedly tough. The Revs. J. C. M'Phee and Gordon Robertson, after doing splendid service under fire for months, are now both recovering from serious illness. Colonel M'Plieo is returning to the troops soon, but we hear that Captain Gordon Robertson is ordered home. Tho situation in regard to the padres is about hit off by two of the Light Horse cbaplahis when they were trudging up Shrapnel Valley to their stations on the day they arrived at Anzac. "More parsons arrived with new men," said tho first, putting his load flown to rost. "That's all right," responded bis mate emphatically, lighting a Red Cross cigarette, commonly callecl a "fag." "What do you think of them blokes?" asked the first as ho lifted his load. "Right on their bloomin' job every time," was the roply. "My oath " said the other.—"Sydney slorning Herald."