264 sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



cook had been moved into making him a special cake, on the 

 top of which in icing-sugar was the following choice poem : 



Private Bunker 

 Wasn't a funker 

 But was a hero. 



When the chaplain asked the patient if there was anything 

 he wanted the youth replied, " Yes, sir, I want some ginger-ale." 

 Unfortunately there was none to be had anywhere near, but the 

 chaplain trudged through miles of mud and got some for him. 



The chaplains often have to do the censoring of the letters, 

 and Captain Mac did his share. He noticed what several 

 others have told me, namely, that there are very few in which 

 religion is not mentioned in some form or other. 



The Colonel commanding the Salvation Army headquarters 

 has given me some delightful stories of the workings of their army 

 and their chaplains. Stories of the terrible mud through which 

 the men often had to wade when returning to billets : terrible 

 sticky mud in which tired, spent men have sunk up to their 

 armpits and died. Captain Mackenzie used to go out and meet 

 them, to cheer and if possible to help them in . 



The men often begged him not to expose himself to danger 

 when not obligatory. He replied, " Boys, I have prayed with 

 you and I have preached to you. Do you think I am afraid to 

 die with you ? I'd be ashamed to leave you when you are up 

 against it hard." 



Chaplains see humanity robbed of all its shams, all its 

 veneer, but what they see and hear is sacred, therefore much of 

 their work is unknown to the world. They seldom speak of 

 their experiences as relating to individuals, but the Australians 

 themselves delight in telling stories of their Captain Mac, 

 whose sympathy is sought by all, as well as his spiritual aid. 



One big, splendid-looking sergeant coming back from the 

 firing-line on the Somme threw himself into Mackenzie's arms, 

 sobbing like a child, and saying, " Oh, Mac — Charlie's dead — • 

 Charlie's killed ! However shall I tell mother ! " The man's 

 brother had been killed at his side. 



The pluck of the wounded is very wonderful. They manage 

 to laugh and joke when it might seem impossible. A Salvation 

 Army chaplain going into hospital to see a man who had lost 



