284 sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



given, there was quite a rush for the cabins to pack necessary 

 articles, but apart from my chalice, etc., I only took my overcoat 

 and some Horlick's tablets. The important thing was to see to 

 plenty of blankets for the sisters and provisions for each boat, 

 because we were one hundred and thirty miles from the nearest 

 point of land^ — a long voyage in an open lifeboat. 



" Five of the sisters had been on the Braemar Castle when she 

 came to grief, so you can imagine what a terrible shock they 

 suffered. 



" We must give the Huns credit for playing the game 

 squarely, because with the exception of the doubtful shot near 

 our wireless and over the boat, the other shells were only as a 

 warning to stop. Please God we shall always be as lucky, 

 because the sea is a terrible place in these days. 



" I did not forget to say a Mass in thanksgiving for my 

 escape, because we may he in need of help any time ! " 



Ingenuous Mr. Gribbin ! 



The lists of priests killed in the vicinity of Namur alone is 

 appalling ; twenty-seven were done to death and twelve have 

 disappeared God only knows where. 



Father Willart was an eve-witness to his brother's death 

 after the burning of Louvain. Fugitives were making their 

 way to Brussels on foot. The majority were allowed to enter 

 peacefully, but the priests were supposed to have incited the 

 people to fire on the Germans, so they were all searched. Father 

 Willart's brother was a young Jesuit scholastic, aged twenty- 

 three, not yet ordained. In his pocket was a diary of passing 

 events with some of his own comments. For this he was 

 condemned to death without any trial. He was placed against 

 a tree at the side of the road. He asked his companions " not 

 to look." A volley was fired, but he was not killed. A German 

 officer then stepped up close to the young man and put a couple 

 of bullets through his brain. A hole was dug under the tree and 

 his body thrown in. 



I could write chapters more about the experiences of the 

 army chaplains, but space forbids, and it will not be possible 

 until after the war to make a complete list even of the fallen. 



