THE FIGHTING PADRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1916, Page 7

THE FIGHTING PADRES.

TATHER FAHEY'S CHARGE. IX THE RATTLE LIKE AT CALLIPOLL Tlie senior padre used to c-airtp in a dug-out above the casualty receiving station at Anzae, and he used to mess with tho beach party officers under a tarpaulin .just near, and it was a favorite spot for all the other padres to call and yarn. New padres arriving with the Light Horse when they came would fiml this little platform cut out of the hill, and when they came out of the trenches to bathe they woul(l come up to swap stories and watch the shells .bursting in front 011 the bench. There was a line 011 which the.v hung their towels alongside the senior padre's dugout. All this was a sore trial to the cook, who used to say when lie saw them coming: 'More 'bloomin' stiffs." At the same time he got even with them in the matter of certain puddings he made. Whether this was the cause of some of them developing stoniarh troubles which sent them to the hospital at Mudros is not eleariy known. At the 9ame time it should be recorded that cook was highly indignant if any padre passed without coming in for 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, 11 was ragging tlium no end,'' as the cook put it. "What I want to know," said Padre Green, "is it a fact that you were leading the charges, Father Folic", on the 25th?"

t; Ves, now. ti-.TI flic tru said Father Power, a New Zealand padre. Thus driven into a corner, Father Faliey, who is a priest from Western Australia, is attached to tlie men who formed the covering party on April 23, Other padres interpreted' their instructions to disembark with the C. Echolon literally, anil stayed on board the transports, but Father Faliey, with his "pack up," was with tlie men, and landed in the open boat.

".Vow, tell us what really happened," persisted Padre Green, and thus pressed Father Faliey said:— " WISH I HAD A BAYONET!"

"Well, it was getting light, and the Turks opened out on us. Man)' a man was hit before he got out. The. rest scrabbled in to the water, and waded ashore. I was with them, and when I got ashore I wondered whether 1 wasn't a fool for coming. But that didn't stop me digging a hole for my lie,id with my hands in the sand, and T lny ttiere while the rest of the men came ashore, and formed a rough sort of line. There I was with mv pack 011 my hack like the shell of n tortoise; I had forgotten to slip it off. Whilst we waited ihe men on my right and tlie man on my left were killed stor.e dead. There was a man in front of me lying in a hole like me. Now the men were readv, and I heard Major Roberts crv out. 'Fix bayonets,' and T wished to God 1 had a bayonet. Next . 1 heard him call out 'Charge!" 'Then Fadre Faliey stopped liis narrative, but Padre Green fixed him with his eagle eye and demanded: "What did you do? Did you charge?" "Yes, 1 charged," said Father Fahey. desperately. "T charged into a big hole in tiie side of the hill." Everyone laughed. Tint Padre Green said, "That won't do. Fahey. You're keeping the real story bock. What were the hoys doing?" "The hoys," cried Fathey Faliey, enthusiastically. "By this lime th°y could see the Turks, and they cried 'fmslii Yaller.' and they went for them with the cold steel, and 'pretty soon they stopped their machine-gun."

"All this time, of course-.' said tlier Power, "'you were in tlie hole."

"\"o," said Father Fahey simply. "1 kept up with them." And that is what Father Fahey lias been doing ever since.

"Xow, I ask you straight oai," said Padre Green, "did you ever touch a rifle?"

"What would I be doing with a rifle?" replied Father Fahey, adding: There is no doubt that Faliev is an exceedingly brave man. lie will be in the trenches, but whenever the senior padre telephoned for hiin to see a R.C who was in extremis he used to come down the hill at the double.

The first two Protestant chaplains to land were the two senior chaplains, Colonel Green, Australian, anil Major Luxford. New Zcalander, and during the first two or three days 'hoy had many exciting experience?. Tlien 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 trendies encouraging the men by his cheerful conversation. He was armed with a big walking stick, and always wore a white clerical collar. The men used to wonder why he was not. shot, as he was seen to expose himself . liut his safety was really accounted for by bis 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 vouug, being an old campaigner, he was famous for the number of things he could do without. His brother olli--cer? 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 Gillison, If.A., who has sealed his devotion with his life, was one of the most fearless men on the peninsula. lie coiwtantlv took risks, for he had not the experience of iiime 01 the other padres who had seen war before, l.ike Father Fahey, 'he was indistinguishable from the soldiers in his dress. On the day when he was killed he went through n dangerous zone, of fire with a corporal to succor a wounded man, and coming back both of hem were hit. It was a grjat loss to his regiment. HOW CIIAPUAIX-MAJOR GRANT FEU, ! Another padre who was killed was Chaplain-Major Grant, of the New Zealand Force (Presbyterian). lie and Chaplain Dobson went into a traverse to see if they could help some men whom they thought wounded, and v.'liom they could hear talking in the other trench of the V-sliapcd traverse. They passed the sentry (which tliey ought not to liave 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 liim. But what shall we say of the brave clergymen and divinity .students who wore with lis in the firing line as combatants? They came from different parts of Australia, and belonged to different denominations, but they all set us au «*amok of hero>m" /

Tlio Kev. Mr. Andrews, who was a stretcher-bearer, was in a seciioii, all of wlioni wore "outed" either by wounds, sickness, or killed in action, in the space of live weeks. Ho is now acting as chaplain, and running a, recreation tent.

Corporal ,T. ({. Hunter, from King's College, Brisbane, /ell in a charge after doing splendid work from the day of the landing. Private Staplfeton, of Queen's College, Melbourne, was killed in action dining the first terrible days of tlie 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 Rev. "Mr. Masted, of Marrickville, after doing excolleut work in tho A.M.C., has just recovered from illness, and is returning to the front.

The Rev. Patrick Hare, who went out with the artillery, and has done good work, is promoted lieutenant, and is hard at it at Anzae.

The Rev. Major Luxford, of the New Zealand force, was shot whilst resting in the rear of tho firing-line in the action undertaken during tho Suvla Bay lauding. Unfortunately, his leg had to be amputated, but his many friends are glad to know lie is doing well in « London hospital. The lighting padres have had their share of sickness, but in this regard they have shown themselves unexpectedly tough. Tiie Revs. J, C. MePhee and Gordon Robertson, after doing splendid service under fire for months, avc now both recovering from serious illness. Colonel MePhee is returning to the troops soon, but we hear that Captain Gordon Robertson is ordered home. The situation in regard to the |>adres is about hit off by two of the Light Horse chaplains when they, were trudging up Shrapnel Valley to their stations on the da£ they arrived at Au/.ac.

"More parsons arrived with new men," said the first, putting his load down to rest. "'That's all light." responded liis mate emphatically, lighting a Red Cross cigarette, commonly called n 'fapf.'* "What do you think of them blokes?" asked the first, as he lifted his load. "Right, on their bloomin' job every time," was the reply. "My oath!" said tlie other,—Sydney Horning' Herald.