Local connection

Local connection uncovered at project lecture.

The latest of our Great War talks was given by Dr Dan Jackson of the project group on Tuesday evening (22^nd) on the Chaplaincy services in the War. A packed room at the Low Lights Tavern on the Fish Quay heard a comprehensive review of the many issues surrounding the role and function of the military chaplains as they strove to bring comfort to the men at the front. Sometimes under the critical eyes of the commanders who wished to see the men infused with a fighting spirit, chaplains often trod a difficult path between their vocation and their patriotic sentiments; which on occasions saw them abandon their strictly non-combatant role and lead men in action when all their immediate officers had fallen in action.

Dr Jackson noted comparisons between the chaplains of the Church of England and those of the Roman Catholic Church. Drawing on a wide range of sources he quoted the observations of Robert Graves in his famous autobiographical memoir – Goodbye to all that, where criticism of the Anglicans (certainly up to late 1915) was contrasted with admiration for the Catholic priests who went forward in action and strove at all times to ensure that their co-religionists had the rites and comfort of their faith in the hours of extreme danger and often near certain death.

The great importance placed by the High Command on the role of the chaplains, as they saw it, was reflected in the undoubted courage and willingness of most chaplains to endure the hardships of the men and place themselves in danger alongside the fighting troops. Many of the characters of the war still remembered today were chaplains. ‘Woodbine Willie’ was the nickname of the Revd. Studdert-Kennedy (he was always armed with a packet of the troops’ favourite cigarette); and the Revd. ‘Tubby’ Clayton, founder of the refuge and place for quiet reflection he established a few miles behind the lines at Ypres – Talbot House in Poperinghe - where men of all ranks could mix freely and try to forget, for a brief time, the horrors to which they would have to return.

 ‘Woodbine Willie’ the Revd. Studdert-Kennedy

However the amazing coincidence of the evening came after our speaker had noted the heroism of a double VC winner – Captain Noel Chavasse of the Medical Corps and son of the then Anglican Bishop of Liverpool. Later, during questions a member of the audience noted that she was the great niece of Chavasse and that her grandfather was Chavasse’s twin brother, who had served as a chaplain and subsequently himself appointed as Bishop of Rochester.

The public response to our forthcoming lectures at Northumbria University has been significant and has already obliged us to seek a larger lecture theatre for these lectures. Notice of the new venues will be given in this column and by e-mail when we have determined the likely attendances. To register your interest to attend any of the lectures from 13^th November onwards (Dr Martin Pugh – Women in the Great War) please see our website.