Chapter XVIII 



Father Brindle as Army Chaplain — His Greatest Friends — Homely Expressions 

 — The Soldiers' Boast— Who did the Washing ?— Father Brindle Captains 

 a Boat — Wins a Prize — Advice to the Soldiers — How they Followed it ! — 

 The Taube Responsible — Father Brindle carries Despatches — Saves an 

 Awkward Situation — Discipline — Gordon Memorial Service — A Special 

 Prayer — Caton Woodville's Picture — Queen Victoria Disappointed — Men- 

 tioned in Despatches — Queen Victoria and the D.S.O. — With Lord Kit- 

 chener in Egypt — Commanding a Gun-boat — Many Decorations — Father 

 Brindle becomes Bishop of Nottingham — A Letter from Kitchener — Letters 

 of Appreciation — The Duke of Portland and Father Brindle — A Touching 

 Prayer — A Funeral Pageant — The Last Post. 



FATHER BRINDLE was the most famous of army chap- 

 lains and the first to receive the D.S.O. for heroic conduct 

 in the field, at Atbara in 1898. 



Lord Kitchener was a warm admirer of his, and they died 

 very nearly together in the month of June, the younger man 

 going first, coffined in the Hampshire, Father Brindle passing 

 peacefully away in his bed very shortly after. 



Father Brindle loved the army, and amongst his greatest 

 friends were Lord Kitchener, Lord French, Sir Evelyn Wood, 

 V.C., and Colonel Kenna, V.C. 



In his book, " From Midshipman to Field-Marshal," Sir 

 Evelyn Wood refers several times to his old friend, and always 

 in terms of appreciation ; while Lord Wolseley used to say that 

 Father Brindle was the bravest man he ever met, and I know he 

 tried more than once to get him knighted for his services in the 

 Soudan. 



The soldiers loved their chaplain, who shared all their 

 hardships throughout the campaign, insisting on marching 

 every inch that they did ; a pony was kept exclusively for his 

 use, but he kept it only for the sick and footsore. 



I remember him in Egypt about that time, and he certainly 

 was the most popular man in the expedition that went to rescue 

 poor Gordon. I believe, as a matter of fact, he took part in 

 nearly all the operations in which the British troops were 



