Father Finn 281 



with fixed bayonets at the German positions. Several who have 

 tried to explain this moment to me have declared the men's 

 faces were quite happy, as though inspired. 



The Rev. Richard Hall, Wesleyan chaplain to the forces on 

 the western front, addressing a meeting of Methodists in Ulster 

 in 1915, paid an eloquent tribute to the fighting qualities of the 

 Irish Guards and the Roman Catholic chaplains, whom he said 

 he remembered amongst his best friends. Father Bradley he 

 considered one of the finest and best men he ever met. 



One night when the troops were lying on the ground, en- 

 deavouring to sleep, by a river, Mr. Hall, not feeling well and 

 very cold, remarked on the fact to Father Bradley, who at once 

 offered his blankets, which of course were refused with many 

 thanks. The following morning when Mr. Hall awoke he found 

 Father Bradley's blankets covering him. 



It is pleasant to hear of the various chaplains working so 

 happily together. This war has taught us many things. 



The attitude of the Catholic soldiers to their priests is 

 interesting. They seek them as they would their doctor, and 

 their piety is infectious. Thousands who never dreamed of 

 turning Catholic have felt themselves drawn into Catholic ways. 

 For instance, when Father Eric Green, chaplain of the Naval 

 Division at the Dardanelles, gave all his men badges of the 

 Sacred Heart before going into action, he was asked by numbers 

 of other denominations to give them one to wear. 



An English soldier of the Church of England, writing to his 

 people from Gallipoli, while telling them of his experiences on 

 the voyage and after landing, speaks highly of the priests : 

 " You know I am not allowed to say very much, but I will 

 tell you how we landed. We had a rough voyage, chased by 

 German submarines. Well, a Catholic Father sailed with us, 

 and a good job too. We thought we were done for, but he was 

 like a good shepherd. I learned how to pray then if I never 

 prayed before. ... I think if I am spared I shall take care to 

 lead a good Christian life. I shall never forget the way he 

 taught us to pray. The soldiers run after him shouting, 

 ' Bless me, sir, same as you have done that man ! ' Well, he 

 blessed us all on the ship and everyone kissed a cross he had. 

 It seemed strange to me, but I did what they did. The men 

 do pray in the field. We all wish he could stop with us always. 



