Hulton-Sams, Frederick Edward Barwick

Special Memorial, Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Ieper, Belgium

www.roll-of-honour.com/Buckinghamshire/Emberton.html

Killed in action at Hooge on the 31st July, 1915 [SDGW and CWGC states Friday 30th July] whilst crawling undercover to fetch water for the wounded men. Age 33.

THE FIGHTING PARSON
He was only a small church parson,
When the war broke out and he looked and dressed and acted like all parsons that we see.
He wore the clerics broad cloth and hooked his vest behind,
But he had a man’s religion,
And he had a strong man’s mind.
He heard the call of duty
And he answered that call and went and bravely marched with them
Everywhere the boys were sent.
And he put aside the broadcloth and put the khaki on.
He said ‘I’ve come to be a soldier, and I’m going to act like one.’
He refereed the prize fights that the boys put on at night,
And if no one else was handy he’d slip on the gloves and fight.
He wasn’t there a fortnight
Ere he knew the soldier’s needs,
But he said “I’ve done with preaching,
It’s now the time for deeds.”
In the front line trench he laboured,
And he knew the feel of mud.
But he didn’t run from danger.
He wasn’t scared of blood.
He wrote letters for the wounded,
And he cheered them with his jokes.
He never paid a visit without passing round the smokes.
But one day a bullet got him as he knelt beside a lad,
Who was going west right speedy,
And they both seemed mighty glad,
For the held the lad’s hand tighter,
And smiled and whispered low,
And said “you needn’t now be frightened Jim
Because over there I’ll go”
And they both passed out together
Hand in hand I think they went.
He had kept his vow to follow
Everywhere the lads were sent.

Anonymous - Written during the First World War in honour of
The Fighting Parson - Rev Hulton-Sams
[Source: Doug Browne ]

[Source of Photo: Andy McGrandle, Emberton History Society]