HEROIC DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12193, 17 December 1917, Page 4

HEROIC DEATH.

HOW HEY G. S. BRYAN-BROWN WAS KILLED. COMRADE'S TOUCHING TRIBUTE. The circumstances under which the Bey 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, are, disclosed in the following letter, which was received by Mr G. E. Blanch, head master of the college, :>y the last, mail':--France, October 10, 191 <• The Principal, Christ a College, Christohurch. Dear Sir, — I wish to extend to you and yoMr school my deepest sympathy in the loss you have sustained, by the death of the Bev G- Bryan-Brown. I had the honour to be associated with him in the advance of October 4, and can testify to the heroic selfsacrifice with which he laboured for the comfort, of the wounded. Our pill-box had been subjected to a, lierce bombardment all day, and early in the dav one of the windows had been blown in-' Fie was unafraid through it fill, and most, devoted to the poor follows who were lying outside, for whom there "was no floor in. the R.APlie was busy blocking up the windows from the outside, when t-hre* shells came in quick'succession. I him fall, staggering, sideways, and I pushed to him at once, but he waa dead. God rest his gallant soul, for if ever a man gave his life away that man was G. Bryan-Brown. Devotedness was the keynote of lua He in the Army, and his unobtrusive kindness endeared him to all. A few davs before we moved into the line the Brigade halted for a, day, and Brown went around all the companies of his battalion to collect my Roman Cathol'O hoys for an evening church parado, This was typical of the. man. A bro ther padre and all ranks his los/ as a poignant grief. The Armv is the better for his lif( and for his heroic death; in theinspira* lion he \vas and is to us all.

•• ' Qui procul hinr,' the legend's writ— Tho frontier grav-i is far away, 'Qui ante diom periit Sed miles, seel pro patria..' "

Again dear sir, I extend to you, the faculty and the bovs of Christ's College, my personal sympathy, and T wish to rl:nre with you your grief, and yet y<Mr pride, in the passing of my; gallant cmrrafle. Faithfully Yours, FRAN;.'IB C. HARTLEY, R.C. Chaplain, 3rd "Wellington Infantry Battalion.