With Our Fighting Men: The story of their faith, courage, endurance in the Great WarSellers, William E.
History
With Our Fighting Men: The story of their faith, courage, endurance in the Great War
Sellers, William E.
Great Britain. Army -- Military life; World War, 1914-1918 -- Religious aspects
Sergeant-Major J. Moore, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, tells us
that he had often spoken to one non-commissioned officer on the claims
of Christ. Three days ago, he says, he was walking from his company
officer's trench to another part of the company, when a bullet struck
through his greatcoat at the right arm, passed through his right
service dress pocket, then over his heart, and out through his left
pocket. He was not touched himself, but as he dropped into the trench
a little bit stunned, and saw how near he had been to death, he then
and there lifted up his heart to the Lord, thanked Him, and gave his
life to Him.
Sergeant-Major Moore tells another story of a lad brought up in a
Sunday-school. He had had the best mother in the world, he said, but
she was dead. He was sure she had gone to heaven. "Four days ago,"
says the sergeant-major, "his home-call came. Inside his war pay-book
was found an envelope from his wife, and he had written the following
while in the trenches:
Jesus! the name that charms _my_ fears,
That bids _my_ sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears,
'Tis life, and health, and peace.
He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoners free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood _avails_ for _me_.
That was the last he was known to write."
Sunday-school teachers may take heart of cheer. The work that they
were tempted to think was thrown away is taking root and bearing fruit
in the trenches.
Another sergeant-major writes:
"We are not able to meet so well, owing to the scattered condition of
the battalions. But we have managed, when things are a bit quiet, to
steal from the trenches this week, and hold prayer, praise, and
testimony meetings, and it would have done your heart good to hear the
dear brothers testify to the saving and keeping power of our adorable
Saviour, and every one felt drawn nearer to each other, and to God."
What does a charge from the trenches feel like to a Christian "Tommy"
who is taking part in it? Listen to this:
"We were in the trenches the whole time. Sometimes we had burning sun,
at others pouring rain, and at nights heavy dews soaked you. At the
end the order came to fix bayonets for a charge; then I just put my
hand over my eyes--so--and asked God to help me to do my duty like a
man. We rose up and ran forward a little way, and then fell flat while
the bullets and shrapnel flew over us like hail; then on again. We
hadn't advanced very far before their artillery was cutting us up
badly. Our adjutant and the two mates either side of me were shot
dead. Then I was hit in the leg. It made me go right silly like, and I
didn't know where I was for a bit. When I came to my mates had gone,
so I crawled away as far as I could. I didn't want them Germans to get
at me, sir.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account