CHAPLAIN'S HEROIC DEATH.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16086, 17 December 1917, Page 7

CHAPLAIN'S HEROIC DEATH.

HOW ItEY. G. S. BRYAN-BROWN WAS KILLED. COMRADE'S TOUCHING TRIBUTE. Tho eirn-.injs-ianecs under which the Rev. G. S. Bryan-Brown, Chaplain to the New Zealand Forces, formerly Chaplain of Christ's College, was killed while on service at the Western Front, .•u'o disclosed in the following letter, which was received by Mr G. E. Blanch, headmaster of the College, by the last mail: — France, October 10th, 1917. The Principal, Christ «s College, Christchurcli. Dear Sir, —1 wish to extend to yen and your school my. deepest sympathj iu tiio loss you have .sustained by tho dentil of the Rev. G. Lryan-Brown. I had the honour to bo associated with him in the advance of October 4th, arid can testify to tho noroic se 'i" sacrilico with which ho laboured for tho comfort of the wounded. Our pill-box had been subjected to a fierce bombardment all and oarly in the dav one of the windows had been blown in " He was unafraid through it all. and most devoted to the poor fellows who wero lying outside, for whom thero was no floor space in the R.A.P. Ho was busy blocking up the windows from the outside, when three shells camo in cmick succrasiou. T saw him fall, staggering, sideways, and I rushed to him at once, but lie was dead. God rest his gallant soul, for if ever a man gave his life awav that man was G. Bryan-Brown. Devotednoss was tho keynote of liis life in the Army, and his unobtrusive kindness endeared him to all. A few days before wo moved into tho line the Brigade halted for a day, and Brown went around all tho companies of his battalion to collcct my Roman Catholic boys? for an evening church parade. This was typical of the man. A brother nndro and all ranks feel his loss as a Doignant grief. Tho Army is the better for bis life and for his heroic death; in the inspiration he was and is to us all. " 'Qui procul hinc,' the legend's writ— The frontier grave is far awey, 'Qu; unto diem periit Sed miles, scd pro patria.' " Again, dear sir, I extend to you, tho faculty, and tho boys of Christ's Colloge, my personal sympathy, and I wish to sharo with you your grief, and yet your pride, in the passing of my gallant comrade. Faithfully vours, FRANCIS C. BARTLEY, R.C. Chaplain, 3rd "Wellington Infantry Battalion.