Poem ~ Preacher Becomes Soldier - Thursday, 14 January 1915

The afternoon business,

Carried out in Westminster,

Was to involved a meeting

At Church House - regarding

Diocese of Rockhampton,

Of Queensland Australia -

For securing financial aid.

It was then that Bishop

Dr Holford, on his mission

To Britain, told of Rev. Sams,

Who accompanied him  -

And his desire to apply to join

The Army Chaplaincy - only

To find himself turned down.

In his determination to serve

In some aspect, the Rev. Sams

Then enlisted as a ‘Tommy.’

The Bishops reaction to say,

That it was not correct for any

Clergyman to take up arms.

The agreement was that,

As a ‘distinct personage,’

Rev. Sams would have

Influence on those around

Him - Also it was impossible

For him to stay in the ranks.

The Rev. Sams then accepted

A commission, with the Duke

Of Cornwall’s Light infantry -

Within a months time he would

Then be serving in the front.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Clergyman in the Ranks. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14 Jan. P.3. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11336460/Daily-Telegraph-January-14-1915.html [Accessed: 14 January 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 14 January 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11336460/Daily-Telegraph-January-14-1915.html

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