Chapter XVII 



The Rev. Hon. Maurice Peel — Vicar of New Beckenham — As Army Chaplain 

 — Bravery at Festubert — Receives Military Cross — ^V^'ounded in Three 

 Places — Home on Sick Leave — In Bethnal Green Slums — East End Children 

 — Their Holidays — Not always Happy — Starving amidst Plenty — The 

 Vicar's Views of Social Intercourse — Vicar of Tamworth — London " Peelers' ' 

 — Back to the Front — With the Stretcher-bearers — Where the Shells Fell — 

 Bar to Military Cross — On the Anniversary of Festubert — A Sniper's Kullet 

 • — Missing — A Plucky Priest — A Morning Post Notice — The Rev. Briggs 

 Gooderham in the Ranks — Receives a Commission — An Unexpected German 

 Shell — A Farewell Meeting — Homely Language — A Mild Reproof — The 

 Dublin Easter Riots — Trench Experiences — Loss of Self-control — Reason 

 Tottering — A Vaster Pity — Lines by Captain Colwyn Phillips — ^The Rev. 

 Percy William Beresford — From Curate to Commanding Officer — 

 AndD.S.O. — Influencing the Young — Life's Finger-posts — Forming a Cadet 

 Corps — Deplorable Ecclesiastical Bigwigs — Many Battles — Wounded — 

 Gassed — The Adjutant's Graphic Picture — " Fine Death for a Beresford " 

 — The King's Condolences — *' Carry On." 



IT is difficult, among the many brave men who have given 

 their Hves in this war, to know which to write about, each 

 and all having their own special interest. Most have died 

 while rescuing the wounded, the Rev. and Hon. Maurice Peel 

 amongst the number. He was the youngest son of the first 

 Viscount Peel, Speaker in the House of Commons. 



Mr. Peel was vicar of New Beckenham just before the war, 

 and a little book has been written to his memory by his suc- 

 cessor, the Rev. G. V. Sampson, who has given it the title of 

 " A Hero Saint." 



At all times Mr. Peel was a modest, unpretentious man, almost 

 too depreciative of his own powers and certainly of his own 

 goodness. 



When in 1914 the world was convulsed with the news of war 

 between our country, utterly unprepared ^ — and with a hopelessly 

 inadequate army^ — and an enemy that had been preparing for 

 " the day " for many years, Mr. Peel was among those who at 

 once volunteered to go out as chaplain, and was promptl}^ 

 attached to the 7lh Division in France. All say that he was 



