With Our Fighting Men

In sending forth this book I wish to acknowledge the kindness and co-operation of many friends, new and old, who have made my task easy and my story, so far as possible, complete.

In the first place, I express my hearty thanks to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Taylor-Smith, D.D. (the Chaplain General); Revs. E.G.F. Macpherson, M.A., and F.G. Tuckey (senior Church of England chaplains at the front); Rev. J.A. M'Clymont, D.D., V.D. (Convener of the Church of Scotland General Assembly's Committee on Army and Navy chaplains); Rev. J.H. Bateson (Secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Army and Navy Board); Rev. J.H. Shakespeare, M.A. (Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the Free Church Army and Navy Board); Rev. E.L. Watson (senior Free Church chaplain at the front); General Booth and Brigadier Carpenter (of the Salvation Army); Mr. A.K. Yapp (General Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association); and several others.

In the second place, I acknowledge with gratitude the help I have received from reports in the Methodist Recorder, Methodist Times, United Free Church of Scotland Record, Church Pennant, Baptist Times and Freeman, Guardian, Guy's Hospital Gazette, War Cry, and many other papers, to the respective editors of which I tender my thanks.

I also wish to express my cordial thanks to my colleague, the Rev. E.G. Loosley, B.D., for the painstaking care with which he has revised the proofs of my book.

I hope and pray that the story recorded in these pages may quicken interest in Christian work among soldiers and sailors, and so help to extend the kingdom of Christ.

W.E.S. ROCHDALE, April 1915.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

PREFACE iii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii

INTRODUCTION ix

I. AT THE HOME BASE 1

II. EARLY DAYS AT THE FRONT 26

III. AT THE FIGHTING BASE 44

IV. THE MARNE, THE AISNE, YPRES 63

V. THOMAS ATKINS IN THE TRENCHES 79

VI. CHRISTMAS AT THE FRONT 100

VII. CHRISTIAN HEROISM 116

VIII. AT THE SIGN OF THE RED CROSS 135

IX. WITH THE GRAND FLEET 153

X. CHAPLAINS DESCRIBE THEIR WORK 171

XI. HEADS OF ARMY WORK AT HOME TELL THE STORY OF WORK AT THE FRONT 192

XII. WHEN THE MEN COME HOME 207

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A MOONLIGHT CONSECRATION SERVICE Frontispiece

THE MILITARY CROSS: THE NEW DECORATION FOR SPECIAL GALLANTRY OF OFFICERS p. ix

TO FACE PAGE

WHEN THE LADS DEPART 12

HELPING THE HELPLESS 26

"IT'S A LONG, LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY" 43

BISHOP TAYLOR-SMITH, CHAPLAIN GENERAL, AND OTHER CHAPLAINS 58

BRITISH TRENCHES IN THE AISNE DISTRICT 74

BRITISH SOLDIER COMFORTING A DYING GERMAN 88

A SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE ON THE FIELD 98

IN THE TRENCHES 108

THE BISHOP OF LONDON ADDRESSING MEN OF THE ARMY SERVICE SERVICE CORPS AT THE FRONT 118

HOT FOOD FOR THE WOUNDED--A NEW FORM OF RED-CROSS WORK 134

A RESCUE PARTY. GOOD SAMARITANS OF THE BATTLEFIELD 142

AN INCIDENT DURING THE FIGHTING ON THE MARNE 150

A VOLUNTARY SERVICE ON A BATTLESHIP 162

A FIGHT IN THE AIR. BRITISH AIRMAN ATTACKING A GERMAN MONOPLANE 178

AN INCIDENT IN THE FORET DE LA NIEPPE 190

WHEN THE MEN COME HOME 207

[Illustration: THE MILITARY CROSS. The New Decoration for Special Gallantry of Officers. Already several Army Chaplains have won it.]

INTRODUCTION

The story I am about to tell is one of surpassing interest. It is the story of Christian life, work, and heroism among our troops at the front.

The soldier is easily moved to good or to evil. In the past evil influences have been more powerful and more numerous than influences for good. Our soldiers had been drawn, for the most part, from classes outside all churches and Christian influences, and the wet canteen had been the most popular institution in the Army.