4 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



Mr. Adams accompanied Lord Roberts (then Sir Frederick) 

 on the celebrated march from Cabul to Candahar during the 

 Afghan war. 



It was while the troops were in Peshawar awaiting events 

 that the Padre collected a few hounds, making a scratch pack 

 for the amusement of the officers, men, and incidentally himself, 

 being a great believer in occupation and sport as an antidote to 

 the mischief Satan is supposed to find for idle hands to do. 

 Many times I have listened to stories of the Padre's gallantry 

 which everyone loved to tell, and I w&s always glad to hear, from 

 the lips of soldiers ill in hospital — from his friends during our 

 early morning hunts when waiting for it to be light enough for 

 hounds to draw. 



From the General to the drummer-boy, all were proud of 

 that day, December 11th, 1879, when the brave sky-pilot, the 

 much loved Padre, won that simple Maltese Cross of bronze 

 bearing the thrilling inscription, " For Valour." 



This is how the story was told to me by a friend in the 9th 

 Lancers, who was an eye-witness. 



" The 9th Lancers had repeatedly charged the Afghans who 

 were swarming round our guns. 



" After one charge the Padre saw a young Lancer dis- 

 mounted and badly wounded, struggling to regain the regiment, 

 but his strength failed and he fell. Mr. Adams jumped off his 

 horse and rescued the lad under a heavy fire, and from amongst 

 many wounded Afghans who slashed at him as he passed. 



" It was difficult work carrying the helpless trooper across 

 the broken ground strewn with dead and dying, but he got his 

 burden safely to an ambulance at last. 



" Not content with this, he did another fine thing soon 

 afterwards, when some of the 9th Lancers were in difficulties 

 while crossing a deep watercourse. Two of them were drowning 

 with their horses on top of them while still in contact with the 

 enemy, who kept up an accurate and galling fire. Again the 

 Padre went to the rescue, scrambling down the steep, dangerous 

 bank, seized one man, and after some struggling freed him from 

 his horse and brought him to land ; then almost in despair of 

 saving the other, started off again to see what could be done. 

 Here again, thanks to his pluck and great strength, he was 

 successful." 



