British Forces Chaplains
A Brief History including the four Chaplain Victoria Cross Winners.

From before 1066, armies have taken religious men / clergy with them to war. The roles of Chaplains within the military have changed over the centuries, but their presence has remained as important today, in current conflicts, as they ever were.

The Army Chaplains Department has been in existence since 1796, when the Parliament of Great Britain passed a Royal Warrant which established the Army Chaplains Department in the British Army. Previously, Chaplains had been part of individual Regiments, not working from a central establishment.

The Department was formed under Reverend John Gamble, the first Chaplain General. There were very few applicants for the post at this time.

He received his Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria, at Buckingham Palace, on 1st December, 1881.

Adams was, on 7th May, 1900, appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the Prince of Wales and, following the Prince's accession to the throne as King Edward VII, he was confirmed in the post of Honorary Chaplain to the King on 23 July, 1901.

Adams died on 24 October, 1903, and is buried at Ashwell Churchyard, Rutland, England, where he was Rector.

He had previously been the Rector of Postwick, and Vicar of Stow Bardolph, Norfolk. His memorial was restored in 2007.

In 1881, the Wesleyans joined the Department, followed by the Jewish faith in 1892.

During The Great War, there were such Chaplains as Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, known as “Woodbine Willy,” for giving Woodbine cigarettes, along with spiritual aid, to injured and dying soldiers. He was known to be a very heavy smoker himself.

In 1917, he won the Military Cross at Messines Ridge after running into no man's land to help the wounded during a German attack on the front line. For his actions here he was awarded the Military Cross. He was also known for giving comfort to dying Germans as well as British troops. Death has no nationality, we are all equal.

In 1929, he fell ill and died.

A crowd of more than 2,000 turned out for his funeral. They tossed packets of Woodbines onto the passing cortege - a gesture the Rev. Studdert Kennedy would probably have thoroughly approved of, being a heavy smoker himself.

A plaque in Worcester Cathedral reads:

Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, M. C.
A Poet: A Prophet: A Passionate seeker after Truth
An ardent advocate of Christian Fellowship
Chaplain to H. M. King George VI
Chaplain to the Forces
Rector of St. Edmund King and Martyr in the City of London
Sometime Vicar of St. Pauls in this City
Born 27 June 1883 Died 8 March 1929.

In December 1915, Tubby Clayton, assisted by fellow Chaplain - Neville Talbot, became synonymous with the opening of a soldiers’ rest house behind the lines at Gasthuisstraat, Poperinge, Belgium, which became known as Talbot House or ‘Toc H in Signallers’ jargon.

The aims were to bring comfort, care, and compassion to those caught up in the Great War, in a place where no matter the rank, everyone was equal and welcome. The House had a Chapel located in the loft, which is still there today. You can even arrange to stop at the House for a few days if you are visiting the area.

It was a unique place of fellowship, sanctuary and worship, known for its relaxed atmosphere. Many discovered religion here for the first time.

The House remained open until the Spring of 1918, when German advances brought it into the battle zone,
Today, Toc H is still going strong. The headquarters are in the UK, but there are members and branches in Belgium, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, France, and elsewhere.

Toc H Head Office
The Coach House
The Firs
High Street
Whitchurch
Bucks
HP22 4JU

Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Founder: The Revd P B ‘Tubby ’Clayton, CH MC DD
President: Most Revd and Rt Hon Rowan Williams

By the end of the First World War, just over 3500 Chaplains had served in all the theatres, ministering to the needs of the men and women serving their Country.

The Reverend Theodore Bayley Hardy VC. DSO. MC., born 20th October, 1863, was to become one of the most decorated non-combatants of the First World War.

Theodore was born to George and Sarah Richards Hardy, of Exeter. He was educated at the Royal Commercial Travellers School, Pinner, Middlesex, from 1872–1879,The City of London School from 1879–1882, and The University of London.

 
He was ordained in 1898. During 1891–1907, he was an Assistant Master at Nottingham High School. He could have met Albert Ball, the future flying ace of WW1, who attended this School 1907 – 1909. Both of these men have Houses named in their honour.

He married Florence Elizabeth Hastings, who died in 1914.

 
When the war broke out, Hardy was aged 51, and was priest at Hutton Roof in the Lake District. He volunteered at once, but was turned down as being too old, though in August 1916, he was accepted for army service as a Temporary Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, attached to 8th Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment.

He carried out a number of deeds for which he was awarded a series of decorations.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 18th October, 1917. The Citation published on the 7th March, 1918, in the London Gazette read:

Rev. Theodore Bayley Hardy, A. Chaplains. Dept.

 
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in volunteering to go with a rescue party for some men who had been left stuck in the mud the previous night between the enemy's outpost line and our own. All the men except one were brought in. He then organised a party for the rescue of this man, and remained with it all night, though under rifle-fire at close range, which killed one of the party. With his left arm in splints, owing to a broken wrist, and under the worst weather conditions, he crawled out with patrols to within seventy yards of the enemy and remained with wounded men under heavy fire.

Followed by the Military Cross on 17 December, 1917.

The Citation published on 23rd April, 1918, in the London Gazette read:

Rev. Theodore Bayley Hardy, D.S.O., A. Chaplains Dept.

 
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in tending the wounded. The ground on which he worked was constantly shelled and the casualties were heavy. He continually assisted in finding and carrying wounded, and guiding stretcher bearers to the aid post.

The above awards were followed by the Victoria Cross on 7 July, 1918.

Reverend Theodore Bayley Hardy, D.S.O., M.C., T./C.F., 4th Class, A. Chaplain. Dept

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on many occasions. Although over fifty years of age, he has, by his fearlessness, devotion to men of his Battalion, and quiet, unobtrusive manner, won the respect and admiration of the whole Division. His marvellous energy and endurance would be remarkable even in a very much younger man, and his valour and devotion are exemplified in the following incidents: —

An infantry patrol had gone out to attack a previously located enemy post in the ruins of a village, the Reverend Theodore Bayley Hardy (C.F.) being then at Company headquarters. Hearing firing, he followed the patrol, and about four hundred yards beyond our front line of posts, found an officer of the patrol dangerously wounded. He remained with the officer until he was able to get assistance to bring him in. During this time there was a great deal of firing, and an enemy patrol actually penetrated between the spot at which the officer was lying and our front line, and captured three of our men.

On a second occasion, when an enemy shell exploded in the middle of one of our posts, the Reverend T. B. Hardy at once made his way to the spot, despite the shell and trench mortar fire which was going on at the time, and set to work to extricate the buried men. He succeeded in getting out one man who had been completely buried. He then set to work to extricate a second man, who was found to be dead.

During the whole of the time that he was digging out the men this Chaplain was in great danger, not only from shell fire, but also because of the dangerous condition of the wall of the building which had been hit by the shell which buried the men.

On a third occasion he displayed the greatest devotion to duty when our infantry, after a successful attack, were gradually forced back to their starting trench.

After it was believed that all our men had withdrawn from the wood, Chaplain Hardy came out of it, and on reaching an advanced post asked the men to help him to get in a wounded man. Accompanied by a Sergeant, he made his way to the spot where the man lay, within ten yards of a pill-box which had been captured in the morning, but was subsequently recaptured and occupied by the enemy. The wounded man was too weak to stand but, between them, the Chaplain and the Sergeant eventually succeeded in getting him to our lines.

Throughout the day, the enemy's artillery, machine-gun, and trench mortar fire was continuous, and caused many casualties.

Notwithstanding, this very gallant Chaplain was seen moving quietly amongst the men and tending the wounded, absolutely regardless of his personal safety.

London Gazette.

Hardy was appointed to the honorary position of Chaplain to His Majesty on 17 September, 1918. He was wounded in action when again trying to tend to the wounded, and died a week later in Rouen, France, on 18 October, 1918.

 
He was buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France, in Block S, Plot V, Row J, Grave 1. There are memorials to Hardy at Carlisle Cathedral, at the former Royal Commercial Travellers School, Pinner, Middlesex (now the Harrow Arts Centre),The City of London School, and in his old church at Hutton Roof in Cumbria.

His medals are displayed at The Museum of Army Chaplaincy. (Amport, Hampshire, England)

Edward Noel Mellish VC., MC.

 
Was born on 24 December, 1880, at Oakleigh Park, Barnet, North London. He was the son of Edward and Mary Mellish. He went on to be educated at Saffron Walden Grammar School, and from there became a member of the Artists Rifles. In 1900, he began serving with Baden-Powell's Police against the Boers in South Africa.

During the First World War he offered his services to the Chaplaincy, and served from May 1915 until February 1919. The Reverend was attached to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers in the Ypres Salient in 1916, and it was there, during the first three days of the "Action of the St Eloi Craters," that he performed the following action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

 
During the period 27 - 29 March 1916 at St. Eloi, Belgium, Captain The Reverend Noel Mellish went backwards and forwards under continuous and very heavy shell and machine-gun fire between our original trenches and those captured from the enemy, in order to tend and rescue wounded men. He brought in 10 badly wounded men on the first day from ground swept by machine-gun fire. He went back on the second day and brought in 12 more and on the night of the third day he took charge of a party of volunteers and once more returned to the trenches to rescue the remaining wounded.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Fusiliers Museum, Tower of London, England.

Replica medals are on display at The Museum of Army Chaplaincy.

William Robert Fountains Addison, VC.

Born 18th September, 1883.

 
Died 7th January, 1962.

Addison was 32 years old, and a British Army, T/Chaplain, 4th Class during the First World War, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 9 April, 1916, at Sanna-i-Yat, Mesopotamia, the Reverend William Addison carried a wounded man to the cover of a trench and helped several others to the same cover, after binding up their wounds under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. In addition to these unaided efforts, his splendid example and utter disregard of personal danger, encouraged the stretcher-bearers to go forward under heavy fire and collect the wounded.

A replica set of Addison's medals is on display at The Museum of Army Chaplaincy.

Addison VC, stood as mark of the commitment of the Chaplains to serve wherever the British soldier was to be found, at whatever the personal cost to themselves.

179 Chaplains died during the First World War. In recognition of their devoted work since 1914, King George V conferred the prefix 'Royal' on the Army Chaplains Department.

1939-45

Devoted Chaplains such as The Reverends Happy Harry Thorpe, and HLO Davies in the prison camps of the Far East, helped sustain the captives during the horrors of life and death on the Burma-Siam Railway, and in the notorious Shamshuipo Camp. 96 British, and 38 Commonwealth Army Chaplains died during the Second World War.

1945-present

Chaplains still serve wherever British soldiers are sent, Korea, Suez, Aden, Northern Ireland, The Falklands, Iraq, Sierra Leone, the former Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan being just some of the places.

Conflicts have changed throughout the years, but the role of the Chaplain remains constant. The calling, care, compassion and prayer remain a big part of everyday life for members of our Armed Forces.

Amport House is the current home of The Military Chaplaincy, and is situated in Amport, Andover, Hampshire. Located here is the museum of the Royal Army Chaplains Department.

Army Chaplains are expected to minister to, and provide care to, any soldier who needs it, irrespective of denomination, faith, or lack of belief.

Chaplains are the only British Army Officers who do not carry standard Officer ranks.

They are officially designated Chaplain to the Forces (CF), and have grades which equate to the standard ranks, and wear the insignia of the equivalent rank.

 
Chaplain-General (CG) = Major-General
Deputy Chaplain-General (DCG) = Brigadier
Chaplain to the Forces 1st Class (CF1) = Colonel
Chaplain to the Forces 2nd Class (CF2) = Lieutenant-Colonel
Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class (CF3) = Major
Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class (CF4) = Captain

All Citations taken from the London Gazette

Amport House is the current home of The Military Chaplaincy, and is situated in Amport, Andover, Hampshire. Located here is the museum of the Royal Army Chaplains Department

Left Lord Raglan, Right Henry Press Wright

Lord Roberts

The reverend

James William adams VC

The Grave of

Reverend James William Adams VC, Ashwell Churchyard, Rutland

Chaplain Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy,

known as “Woodbine Willy,”

Earley Packet of 10 Woodbines

The Reverend Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy,

The Reverend

Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, (Woodbine Willie)

 Funeral in Worcester

The Reverend

Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy

Memorial, erected by his Wife.

The Reverend Tubby Clayton in his later years

The Reverend Neville Talbot

The Reverend Tubby Clayton

1915

The Toc H lamp,

 still used today, you can see them around the Country and there is a memorial at the National

Arboretum