“THE FIGHTING PARSON."

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10477, 12 October 1912, Page 3

“THE FIGHTING PARSON."

HOW HE WpN THE VICTORIA CROSS. The Rev. James Williams Adams; B. A., Chaplain to the Forces in India, was attached to the avenging column which fought its way up to Kabul under Sir Frederick Roberts after the massacre £of Sir Louis Cavaguari and his embassy. On the ilth of December, 1879, he was in the fighting line with the 9th Lancers at Killa Khaggi during a fierce struggle with the Afghans, in which for a time the Lancers |were getting the worst of it from the fierce fanatics who surged, yelled, and hacked around the guns. The Lancers had charged again and again. The paths they had carved were marked by scores of the enemy’s dead, and by many of their own, including brave Colonel Cleland, their loader, and several of his officers. .Yet so overwhelming was the tide of attack that the utmost efforts of the gallant horsemen were unable to stem it, and by and by the men, with, lance points drenched and gay pennons dyed and torn, were seen in detached groups fighting for their lives.

The tide of battle was surging backwards over difficult ground, intersected by deep water courses, when Parson Adams saw a young lancer, dismounted and wounded, stagger towards where he was standing with others of the staff. As the youth gained a rocky eminence he fell exhausted to the ground. Adams dismounted and ran to his assistance, and half dragged him towards the ambulance. His horse meantime had bolted, and, having seen the soldier safe, he was returning to the front, which was gradually approaching nearer and nearer to our abandoned guns in the rear, when he saw in one of the water-filled nullahs a sight which stirred every fibre of his being. Two lancers had fallen in, and were being kicked and crushed to death as they lay under their terrified steeds, which were plunging in a futile attempt to rise. The Afghans were quite close, their fire was sweeping the spot; but Adams, without a moment of hesitation—and hesitation would have been fatal —sprang into the water waist deep, and by alternate pushing and hauling which taxed all his strength he got both men clear of their frantic steeds, and landed first one and then another drenched and exhausted upon the bank. The leading men of the Afghans were now within a few feet of the three men, who, all being horseless, had to make their escape on foot. A few minutes later the enemy were swarming over the spot, and all could see from what terrible fate gallant and devouted Parson Adams had rescued the fallen lancers.

■ The whole episode of heroism was witnessed by Sir Frederick Roberts himself, who, always willing to recognise conspicuous bravery, recommended the young clergyman for the Victoria Cross, which honour was duly gazetted on August 26th, 1881, more than a year and a half after the event. Mr Adams was afterwards known to Tommy Atkins as “The Fighting Parson.”