Revs. Hall, Tron, D.S.O., and Addison, V.G. 301 



It is not therefore difficult to see where the V.C. Addison's 

 courage and endurance came from. 



A httle bird has told me that when Mr. Addison won his 

 Victoria Cross he was really disobeying orders, as he had been 

 forbidden to expose himself to so much danger, and when a 

 certain General heard he had again " gone over the top " he 

 used some strong language and declared he would have him 

 court-martialled ; instead of this, however, at the end of the 

 day he was publicly thanked by two Generals for what he had 

 done. 



Mr. Addison returned to England in 1917, and in July of 

 that year was married and received his Cross from the King 

 at Buckingham Palace on August 8, 1917. His regiment, 

 the King's Own Royal Lancashire, gave him a handsome 

 wedding-present in the form of a silver salver, as well as a sub- 

 stantial cheque from the Brigade. We all know how precious 

 and valued are these tokens of friendship and appreciation. 



And of the chaplains themselves, what do they feel after 

 sharing the hardships and stress of battle with the soldiers ? 

 They are, I know, deeply grateful and uplifted when they see 

 any return for their services. The following little story shows 

 how occasionally the Padres find crumbs of comfort and en- 

 couragement when, having cast their bread upon the waters, 

 some of it returns after many days. 



Just before a big push a chaplain was addressing his men 

 and administering the Holy Communion, and in his address he 

 quoted the text, " Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." 



During the battle that followed, when this Padre was helping 

 the walking wounded out, in the dark, one lad badly hit in 

 the mouth, which was full of blood, put his face close to the 

 Padre's and, spluttering blood all over it, pressed close up and 

 with difficult speech said, " Though He slay me, yet will I trust 

 in Him.'' 



