HOW HE DIED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3156, 7 August 1917, Page 4

HOW HE DIED

. THE'LATE CHAPLATN-MAJOR ' M'MENAMIN. 'Writing on tho death o£- ChaplainMajor M'Menamin to the Rev. Father Liston, Holy Cross College, under date Juno 11, Chaplain-Captain Skinner says: "What a loss we have all suffered in the death of Father M'Menamin! Ho melius death by 6hell-fire whilst burying the dead 011 Mcssines Ridge, Juno 9. He was killed instantaneously, and several of the party were wounded. Ho was buried that same evening by Chaplain-Captain O'Neill (Dunedin) in a little cemetery at tho back of Ilill 63, a historic ?pot in this war. General Braithwaito attended tho funeral.

"For a month before, Father M'Menamin and I wero working together getting the men ready for tho fray, and they were ready, I can assure you; every man had been to confession and Communion, some several times. Father Mac was a saint and died a hero. May God be good to his soul."

Further details are given in the-fol-lowing letter from Chaplain-Captain Skinner to Mrs. M'Menamin,, mother of the late Chaplain-Major M'Menamin, under date Juno 11:—

"You will long ago have been notified of the death of your brave eon," writes Father Skinner. "I am sure you are resigned to the thought that your son was a model priest, and a brave, heroic chaplain, who spent his strength and gave his life in the interests of his men. iHo was the most loved and respected man I know, and personally I havo 'lost my dearest friend. I sincerely sympathise with you all, and you especially) but bear in mind your son was a saint and a hero. For the past'five weeks wo had worked together, and I know his great zeal. I served his'first Mass, and assisted him with his last. The night beforo_ the advance we talked late into the night, and went to confession to oach other before wo parted. We arranged to meet on Messiues Ridge, but wlien I went up I could not find him; ho had moved elsewhere. On Saturday, the 9th inst., he was out with a burying party, and while saying the prayers over a number of dead soldiers lie "was struck by a shell. Death was installtaneous. Several of the party were wounded. Father M'Menamin's body was brought back to the little military cemetery, where ho was buried by Father O'Neill. General Braithwaite attended the funeral, as did also Colonel CSaytor. His own colonel (Stewart) had baen previously wounded. The cure of the place is most anxious to have tha body disinterred, aud have it given all honour and buried in a vault reserved for p'riests hero. This may bo done, but in ; this crisis it is difficult to do anything. The cure was extremely fond of Father M'Menamin. All ranks who knew your priest 6on join me in tendering you their sincoro sympathy. May God bless you and yours, and enable you to bear up in your great loss."