236 sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



and while all his people at home were being congratulated, 

 came the news he had been killed while tending the wounded at 

 Bullencourt — truly Christ-like, for he died to save, 



A letter from the Rev. Eric Milner- White, the senior chap- 

 lain at the front, gives some account of his last days on earth. 

 It appeared in the booklet entitled " A Hero Saint," compiled 

 by the Rev. Gerald Sampson. 



"... I write as senior chaplain of the Division to tell you 

 first what a tremendous loss he is to the Division and his brother 

 chaplains ; next, to give you all the details that are clear as to 

 his death and burial ; and last, though not least, to convey to 

 all you who love him our reverent sympathy and our fellow-pain. 



" Maurice (we all called him by his Christian name) was the 

 greatest chaplain in France ; none could be greater. His own 

 ' immortal ' Division used to call him ' the bravest man in the 

 Army.' He always accompanied his men into the line. Wher- 

 ever a shell burst he at once ran towards it, lest any man had 

 been hit and he might be of service. The men, of course, 

 worshipped him. . . . When he came back to us in January he 

 did not rest on the laurels gained so desperately on Festubert 

 field. He nerved himself to greater efforts of mercy on the 

 battlefield and went everywhere regardless of risks, wherever 

 a wounded man lay. ... At dawn on the 15th, the second 

 anniversary of Festubert, he got out of his trench to visit either 

 a wounded man or an isolated post of men. On the wa}'^ a 

 sniper's bullet caught him in the chest ; he fell unconscious and 

 died very shortly, one Welsh Fusilier officer crawling out and 

 staying with him till the end. 



" That same night one of the chaplains, McCalman, with 



great courage went up to B with a cross, hoping to bring in 



the body and bury it. Arrived within a few yards, he was not 

 allowed to go further, the risk being too great." 



The little notice in the Morning Post when Mr. Peel's death 

 became known struck me as very charming. The writer had 

 instinctive and sympathetic knowledge of the soul-searching 

 moments when men are going into battle. I feel I cannot do 

 better than quote the words : " When the solemn moments 

 arrive and the men are waiting in tense and poignant expecta- 

 tion, though there may be many a joke, there is alway.i a great 



