The Lord he moves in Mysterious ways...

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BROOKES, DOM RUDESIND, r.a.cH.D., attd. 1bn

Father Brookes wrote his own memoires entitled ‘Father Dolly: The Guardsman Monk’ in which he describes his early life, his commission in the Irish Guards during WW1, his life as a monk and subsequent service as Chaplain with 1Bn Irish Guards in WW2.

From medal recommendation:

Father Brookes has been the chaplain attached to this Battalion ever since it came abroad. He has now served in both the Tunisian and Italian campaigns. In both these campaigns he has show almost unbelievable devotion to duty and bravery. No wounded or dying man wherever he may be has gone without Father Brookes’ attention.

He has been in places where the fire was impossibly heavy and yet he has given comfort to the dying without any thought for his own safety.

During the last few weeks, in probably the fiercest fighting the British Army has yet seen, this Priest moved through shot and shell never appearing too tired to go to the furthest points to help a wounded man. He acted as the Medical Officer’s assistant and on many occasions helped the stretcher bearers in their dangerous tasks of carrying men in.

There are not words strong enough to describe the wonderful and shining example Father Brookes gave to all ranks, and all the officers and men of this Battalion would give testimony to the tireless kindliness, inspiration, and help they all received from his hand. His personal bravery in addition to his priestly qualities gain him the admiration of all. The sight of Father Brookes pacing up and down reading his Breviary under heavy fire has restored the confidence of many a shaken man.

In recognition of this Chaplain’s extreme gallantry and unsparing devotion to duty, I recommend he be awarded the Military Cross.

Publications: Father Dolly: The Guardsman Monk

[Oldman]

Very good post nice to see the photo of the open air service in the desert, my dad said the stopped for communion on the way forward, and both in Sicily and Italy, perhaps Ron could let us know what his unit did there.
The mention of Sherwood Rangers and especially the Book Tank into Normandy it tells
of how Sgt sleep met his end.
Sgt Sleep was a relative by marriage to my late mother, and his daughter is still in touch with the family.
Guys thanks and seasons Greetings to you all

Oldman

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From The Times, April 29, 1942:

ALBERT MEDAL (POSTHUMOUS)
The Rev. C.C. TANNER, Temp. Chaplain, R.N.V.R., H.M.S. Fiji

When H.M.S. Fiji was sunk in the Battle of Crete he stayed to save the wounded men from the sick bay, and was one of the last to leave the ship. While in the water he spend himself in helping men to rafts and floats, and, when the rescuing ship came up, in bringing over to her disabled men and such as could not swim. At length only one man remained to be brought across. In spite of his exhaustion, Mr Tanner brought him across and saw him safely on board. But when hauled up himself he died within a few minutes.

Chaplain The Rev. CHRISTOPHER CHAMPAIN TANNER, A.M., H.M.S. "Fiji", Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who died age 32 on 23 May 1941
The Revd. Tanner was the only England Rugby player to win the Albert Medal during the second World War. B.A. (Cantab).
Remembered with honour PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 60, Column 3.
CWGC :: Casualty Details

BBC - WW2 People's War - Kit Tanner: A Hero of the Battle of Crete
Heroes of the Battle of Crete
Christopher Tanner | Rugby Union | Players and Officials | Scrum.com

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From The Times, June 14, 1943:

ECCLESIASTICAL NEWS

NAVAL CHAPLAINS' GALLANTRY

Of the hundreds of Church of England naval chaplains serving in British ships and at naval shore establishments, 13 have gone down with their ships, two have been taken prisoner by the enemy, five have won decorations, and seven have been mentioned in despatches.

Four out of five chaplains who have won awards in this war were formerly incumbents or curates of churches in the London area.

They are:-
The Rev. H.M. Lloyd, D.S.O., formerly curate of St. Mary's, Hendon, N.W.;
The Rev. H.P. Chappell, D.S.C., formerly curate of All-Hallows-by-the-Tower;
The Rev. J.E.I. Palmer, D.S.C., formerly vicar of St. Katherine's, Rotherhithe; and
The Rev. G.H.K. Sherlock, D.S.C., formerly vicar of All Saints', Hampton, Middlesex.

Mr. Lloyd won his D.S.O. when chaplain on board H.M.S. Illustrious. An official report states:-
"For gallantry and exemplary conduct. Worked incessantly on behalf of the wounded with complete disregard for his own safety throughout the action ... and he was conspicuous on the quarter deck, where many wounded men were isolated and a fierce fire was burning below, far into the night. During subsequent attacks on Malta he was constantly on the flight deck and between decks encouraging the ship's company by word and by his calm bearing."
Although no officially recorded, Mr. Lloyd did a running commentary over the ship's broadcasting system, describing for the men between decks how the fight was progressing. His commentary heartened and stimulated the men.

Of Mr. Chappell the official record states:-
"His Christian example was an inspiration to all." He won the D.S.C. as chaplain of H.M.S. Zulu when she was in fighting and bombing last December.

Mr. Sherlock, chaplain in H.M.S. Jervis, was awarded the D.S.C. for "outstanding zeal, patience, and cheerfulness and for setting an example of wholehearted devotion to duty." An officer who served with him wrote to the Chaplain of the Fleet:- "The good he has done is immeasurable. He is quiet tireless and utterly selfless in his work..."

The third D.S.C. winner, Mr. Palmer, received his award as chaplain in H.M.S. Penelope for "bravery, endurance and sustained devotion to duty."

The fifth chaplain to win an award was the Rev. C.C. Tanner, a former Cambridge and England Rugby player, and, until he joined the Navy in February, 1941, curate of Haslemere, Surrey. He was awarded the Albert Medal posthumously. Mr. Tanner was chaplain in H.M.S. Fiji when she was sunk. He concentrated on getting the wounded from the sick bay, and was one of the last to leave the ship. A survivor said: -
"In the water he was indefatigable in helping fellows to floats or wood, and swam about so tirelessly that when ultimately they got him on board he collapsed and died."

From The Times, December 9, 1943:

ECCLESIASTICAL NEWS

NAVAL CHAPLAINS

The Chaplain of the Fleet, the Ven. J.K. Wilson, said yesterday that out of about 400 Church of England chaplains now serving with the Navy, seven (including five of the R.N.V.R.) have been mentioned in despatches; one, of the R.N.V.R., has been awarded the D.S.O., three (also of the R.N.V.R.) the D.S.C., and five (two of whom are with the R.N.V.R.) the O.B.E. Fourteen chaplains have given their lives for their country, while one is missing and one is prisoner of war. In addition to the awards above, the heroism of the Rev. Christopher C. Tanner when the cruiser Fiji was sunk in 1941 during the evacuation of Crete, earned him the Albert Medal. More men are required as chaplains.

[CL1]

Hello D
interesting link
The Rev. H.M. Lloyd, D.S.O., formerly curate of St. Mary's, Hendon, N.W.

The Rev Henry Lloyd was a naval officer serving on the aircraft-carrier "HMS Illustrious" when she was severely damaged by German dive bombers in the Mediterranean in 1941. For his work with the wounded, he was awarded the DSO. After the war he became an Anglican priest. He was Dean of Gibraltar for ten years, and then Dean at the newly-built cathedral of Truro. He now lives in retirement in Sherborne, Dorset. He has assembled an collection of quotations from his favourite readings from all ages. Included are thoughts from St John the Evangelist to Jean Paul Sarte, St Teresa of Avila to Helen Keller, 1 Corinthians to J.F. Kennedy. Meditations on the theme of flowers gives the book its title, and inspires most of the pen-and-ink drawings taken from Christina Rossetti, Alfred, Lord Tennyson and several others.



Flowers of the Field: An Anthology of Encouragement: Amazon.co.uk: Henry Lloyd, Felicity Redman: Books

[Drew5233]

Awarded MC

This officer has been Chaplain attached 1 KOYLI for the duration of the Sicilian and Italian Campaigns. Throughout these two campaigns he has distinguished himself by his continual devotion to duty at all times although he has been for the greater part under enemy small arms fire. On occassions too numerous to mention he has gone out under fire to the aid of wounded men never distinguishing between one unit and another, between friend or foe. Whenever conditions have been difficult this Officer has always been up at the front, cheerful and encouraging. He has had a great effect in maintaining the morale of our troops whilst his constant indifference to his personal safety has been an example to all.

Passed by 15th Inf. Bde. 25.5.44.

No LG Date.

[Drew5233]

Does the Lord move in mysterious ways?

We managed to secure a lift out towards the destroyers in what I'd call a whaler, manned by four soldiers of the Royal Engineers who were doing the rowing, and I got the platoon of 30 men into this boat with another 10, including an army padre I'd never seen before who sat in the middle of the boat.

We set off in the gathering dusk, and we were about 400 yards away from a destroyer when suddenly it up-anchored, swung round and started off towards England. The padre leapt to his feet and shouted, 'Lord, Lord, why hast thou forsaken us?'

We were so overloaded that with every stroke of the oars, water lapped gently over the sides, but when the padre leapt to his feet, the boat rocked, and water poured in. With one accord everyone yelled, 'Sit Down !' That great sound echoed across the water to the destroyer which turned round and came and picked us up.

Sound Archives IWM.