The Sandbag Times Issue No: 41

it, but for all their pathetic disfigurements and
their ghastly wounds, they were the gayest
company I remember meeting.
No man wanted to be forgotten and left
behind in the mud of Flanders. It was comforting
for the soldiers to know, and be reassured,
that if the worst fate should come to
them, the padre, a good man would inter
them and send them to Heaven with the full
blessing of God!
Herbert’s unique story has now been told in a
book which has been written by his granddaughter,
‘The Half-Shilling Curate, A personal
account of war & faith 1914-1918’. More
information is available at www.halfshillingcurate.com
Retired General Sir Peter de la Billière, who
has endorsed the book, quoted Field Marshal
Haig adding; “A good chaplain is as valuable
as a good general - and this book proves it.”
Alan Mallinson (The Times Literary
Supplement) stated: ‘In many ways, The Half-
Shilling Curate is the story of the 5,000 chaplains
who served with the British army in the
First World War, 179 of whom died during that
service." "Love and decency shine from the
pages in both words and photographs."
Rev Herbert Butler Cowl was one of the
youngest and first Army Chaplains to go out
to France and Flanders in 1915. He was one
of the first and youngest chaplains to receive
the Military Cross for gallantry. He had been
severely wounded on the frontline and a week
later he found himself on the hospital ship
‘Anglia’ when she became the first Red Cross
ship to be lost due to enemy action in the war.
Herbert saved many lives that fateful day.
Rev. Herbert B. Cowl C.F. M.C. considered
himself no hero, but this is his story – one of
many stories which has never been told
before.
The Army Chaplains who served so gallantly
during the Great War have been largely over
looked. However, let us hope now that their
selfless courage is never forgotten.
For more information , go to
www.halfshillingcurate.com
www.sandbagtimes.co.uk 15 |