274 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



With this Division were the 1st DubUn and 1st Munster 

 Fusiliers. Father Finn ministered to the spiritual needs of 

 both, the majority of the men being Catholics, and most sin- 

 cerely did he love the men and most unceasingly did he work for 

 them. 



On board the transport during the voyage out, when the men 

 became depressed with the monotony of the life. Father Finn 

 would tell them amusing stories, sing to them, arrange sports for 

 them, all with a view to cheering them up. 



At last the weary journey came to an end. On Saturday, 

 April 24th, the transport lay just off Tenedos surrounded by the 

 warships of the Allied Fleets that were preparing for the great 

 bombardment next morning. Father Finn held his last Mass 

 on board and was very happy, as so many attended the service 

 and partook of the Sacrament. 



His addresses to the men were homely and simple, what he 

 called a " few words." He knew, and the men knew, there was 

 some deadly work before them. Many of the priest's " few 

 words "were on the subject of contrition. He told them if they 

 were wounded and no priest was near, they should say, " O 

 my God, I am sorry that I have sinned against Thee, because 

 Thou art so good ; I will try and sin no more," and that this 

 would be acceptable to their Heavenly Father. His last " few 

 words " to the men while addressing them were on " Preparation 

 for Death." Little did any of them think that before another 

 sun would set the majority of them would have laid down their 

 lives. 



In the darkness of that early Sunday morning, with all 

 lights out, the s.s. Clyde ran aground, according to orders, close 

 to the shelving beach. With the first glimmering of dawn began 

 the thunder of the guns, the commencement of the great bom- 

 bardment. It was certain death attempting to land, and they 

 all knew it, for this was no surprise attack on the enemy ; they 

 knew our troops were coming and they had been preparing a 

 warm reception ; all was in readiness. 



All the landings were desperate undertakings, the Turks, 

 under German directions, having arranged every conceivable 

 device in barbed-wire traps, hidden machine-guns, etc., to 

 make impregnable these narrow landing-places. 



The moment the men from the Clyde began to disembark 



