Faith and Love in the First World War

Version: 02

Last updated: 29 November 2017

Author: Anne Richards and the Mission Theology Advisory Group

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Table of Contents

FaithandLoveintheFirstWorldWar 4Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................4Mud.............................................................................................................................................................................6Rats.............................................................................................................................................................................8Lice............................................................................................................................................................................10Poppies......................................................................................................................................................................12Cigarettes..................................................................................................................................................................16Daughters..................................................................................................................................................................20Ghosts........................................................................................................................................................................22Guns..........................................................................................................................................................................25Wire...........................................................................................................................................................................27Gas............................................................................................................................................................................29Shrapnel....................................................................................................................................................................31

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Faith and Love in the First World War

Introduction

Photo:IanBritton

2014isthecentenaryofthebeginningoftheFirstWorldWar.Noonewhofoughtinthatwarremainsalivetodayandsomanypeoplearelookingatwaystocommemoratethecentenaryandaskwhatthatwarmeansforpeopletoday.

Majoreventssuchasvigils,poppyplantingschemesandotherkindsofcommemorationhavebeenplannedforthecentenary.Churchesare,ofcourse,involved,andtheChurchofEnglandhasawebsitehttps://www.churchofengland.org/ww1withinformation,storiesaswellasliturgicalresourcestohelpChristiansengageinthecommemoration.ChurchesTogetherinBritainandIrelandalsohasarangeofe-booksandresourcesathttp://www.ctbi.org.uk/

Theresourcescontainedhereareratherdifferent.Inthereflectionsandprayerswhichfollow,wewillbelookingatlittlethingswhichaffectedthelivesofallwhowereinvolved,friendandenemyalike;littlethingswhichnonethelessarespiritualmatters,askingquestionsaboutGodinthemidstofwarfare.Whatwasitliketohaveliceinyourclothes,ormudinyourboots?Whatwasitliketoliveinasmashedlandscapefullofbarbedwire?Whatwasitliketostayathomeimaginingwhatwashappeningandhavetocarryonlivingwithoutperhapseverknowingwhathappenedtoyourlovedones?

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Inwhatfollowswewillnotlookatthebig,overarchingquestionsofwarfarebutatitsunderbelly,atthesimplehumanconcernswhichwerepresentthenandpresentnowintheconflictswhichcontinuetobreakourheartsaroundtheglobe.WhereisGodinthis?Inourreflectionswewillreachdownintothosedark,littleknownplacesandtrytofindout.

Oneofthepeoplewhoserecollectionswehavefollowedisperhapsnotaswellknowninthiscountryasourownwarpoetsandchroniclers.Frederic-LouisSauser,knownasBlaiseCendrars,awriterofSwiss-ScottishparentagewholosthisrightarmintheFirstWorldWar,wroteabookcalledLaMainCoupée,publishedinEnglishunderthetitleLice.InthatmemoirCendrarsremembersfriendsandcomrades,butalsoopenlywonderswhetherGodcouldbefoundinthosehorrificcircumstances.Recallingwithpityanddespairthedeathofamanwhosuffocatedupsidedowninalatrine,Cendrarssaysbitterly,‘Godisabsentfromthebattlefields.Heiskeepinghisnoseclean.Heishiding.Itisadisgrace.’1

YetthequestionofwhereGodismatters.Cendrarsdocumentsthewayspiritualityspringsupperpetuallyinthetrenches:whyitisnecessarytogotogreatlengthstorecoverafriend’sblown-offmoustacheandburyit;howordinaryobjectsbecomespiritualised;howlettersfromhomebecomeangelicmessages.Hehimselfspentthirtydaysinjailfortakenforbiddenphotographsofthedestructionofaroadsideshrine.Thefinalhorrificmemory,documentedinLice,istheincessantcallingofdyingyoungmenfortheirmothers,towhichCendrarsrespondswith‘WhydiedInotfromthewomb?WhydidInotgiveuptheghostwhenIcameoutofthebelly?Whydidthekneespreventme?OrwhythebreaststhatIshouldsuck?’(Job3.11-12).Cendrars,alongwithallthosewhopassedontheirexperiences,directsustotheeffectsofwaronthespiritualbeingthroughthelittlethings,andoffersusinsightsforreflection.

Inthefirstfourreflections:Mud;Rats;Lice;andPoppies,welookatsomeaspectsofthehumanbodyandthenaturalworldandwhatthesemeanttothespirituallivesofthemenoftheFirstWorldWar.Afterthis,welookatpeople,livinganddead.Finally,wereflectonweaponsandwounds.

1Cendrars,B.,(1946)LaMainCoupée,(1973)EnglishtranslationLice,London,PeterOwenLtd,p.149.

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Mud

Photo:JanetRamsden

‘Icontemplatedthislividdawn,slowlydisrobinginthemud.Nothinginthiswholemiserable,dripping,ravagedandtatteredlandscapewassolid,andImyselfstoodtherelikeabeggaratthethresholdoftheworld,soakedtotheskin,slimy,plasteredwithshitfromheadtotoe...’2

WhenwerepeatthelinesfromLaurenceBinyon’sfamouspoemFortheFallen,‘atthegoingdownofthesunandinthemorning/wewillrememberthem’weperhapsdonotremembertheconditionsofthestand-towhichCendrarsrecallssovividly.TheFirstWorldWarwasthefirsttoincludeextensivetrenchwarfare.Forthemengoingtothetrenches,oneofthebiggestfeaturesofordinarylifewasthepresenceofinescapablemud.Ifyoucutdeeptwelvefootdeeptrenchesinthatearth,youhitwaterandmudwastheinevitableresult,addedtobyrainfall.Additionally,prolongedshellingchurnedthegroundbetweenthetrenchesintomudandreducedno-man’s-landtoamassofruinedearth.Soldiershadtostandinthemudforhoursonend,feelingitseepintotheirbootsandclothes,untillikeCendrars,theyweresoakedthroughandunabletogetdry.Thisledtomanysoldierssufferingfrom‘trenchfoot’,withgangrenoussoresdevelopingasaresultofprolongedexposureto

2Cendrarsp.47

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damp.ThewriterandartistDavidJonestalkedvividlyinhisownwarmemoiraboutthewaythe‘fluidmudisicilydiscomfortingthatcirclesyourthighs’.3

Soifwerememberthem,perhapsweshouldrememberthepain,cold,wetandmudandwhatthoseconditionsdotothehumanspirit.MudformspartofthespirituallandscapeoftheFirstWorldWar,representingdestruction,dirt,painandsoul-sappingwork.Whencarefullytilledfieldsandentirelandscapesturntofeaturelessmuditisliketheundoingofcreationandaforetellingofdeath.

Itwaspossibletodrowninthemudofno-man’sland.Ifwoundedsoldierfellintothemud,theymightwellasphyxiatebeforetheycouldbereached.Mudwasthereforealsotheenemy,lyinginwaittoclaimyou.Yetmudwasalsowhatkeptyousafeinthetrenches,themovingoftonsandtonsofdampsoiltocreateamazeofearthworksthatwereyourbestprotectionagainstbombardment.Mudofferedsoldiersadifferentsoundscape,asbullets,grenadesandshellsbuzzed,ploppedandburstintothesoddenandchurnedgroundandbecamememoriesthatcouldnotbeexplainedadequatelyiftheyhadnotbeenshared.

Soifwe‘willrememberthem’weshouldrememberwhatitisliketoliveontheedgeoflifeanddeathinthemud,thesoilofGod’sgoodcreation,shelteringyou,butalsoreadyatamoment’snoticetobecomeyourtomb,toturnyou,wetanddirty,backintothemuditself.

Prayer

Godoftheearth,Godofdirtandmud,atthegoingdownofthesunandinthemorning,wewillrememberallthosewhoenduredthecold,clingingwetandfluidsoils.

Wewillrememberthetilledfieldsoncewhiteforharvest,thestandsoftrees,smashedtopieces,thelandscapesofhumantoilandhabitation,reducedtoruin,thespoilheapsofwaste.

Wewillrememberthemud-soundsofwar,thebuzzingofbeesthatarebullets,zingingintosoil,thewetexplosions,fountainsplattersofearth,thestrangesuckingandgurgleofsubmergeddeaths.

Godoftheearth,Godofthelostandburied,helpustovalueyourgoodsoil,totendit,plantit,restorewhatisbrokenandruinedtoitsbeauty,andwhenwewashthedirtfromourhands,rememberthem.

3Jones,D.,(1937)InParenthesis,London,Faber,p.45.

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Rats

Photo:SoniaPauen

‘Drollrat,theywouldshootyouiftheyknewYourcosmopolitansympathies’

IsaacRosenberg,BreakofDayintheTrenches

'Cuinchywasoneoftheworstplacesforrats.Theycameupfromthecanalandfedonthemanycorpsesandmultiplied.WhenIwasherewiththeWelshanewofficercametothecompany,and,asatokenofwelcome,hewasgivenadug-outcontainingaspring-bed.Whenheturnedinthatnightheheardascuffling,shonehistorchonthebed,andthereweretworatsonhisblanketstusslingforpossessionofaseveredhand.Thiswasthoughtagreatjoke.’4

Ratswereubiquitousinthetrenches,attractedbyscrapsoffoodleftinthelitterofdiscardedfoodcans and by the presence of corpses. For some soldiers, the rats were a sign of life going onuntroubledbyhumanaffairs.AsIsaacRosenbergnoted,theycouldhappilypassfromtheBritishtothe German trenches across noman’s land, scavenging in places where humanswould lose theirlives.Thereweresomeaccountsofsoldierstamingindividualrats,feedingthemandcaringforthemaspets.Someoftheratsgrewveryboldandwouldenterthetrenchestofilchfoodfromunderthenosesofthesoldiersoroutoftheirpockets.Therewasanindestructabilityaboutthemandtheyalsogrewinhugenumberssincesoldierswerenotallowedtowasteammunitiononkillingthem.

4Graves,R.,(1929/1957)GoodbyetoAllThat,London,Penguin,pp.116-117.

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Yet for verymany soldiers rats were not just vermin but nightmarish creatures, a product of thesqualor and unsanitary conditions. The idea of rats eating the bodies of fallen comrades arousedfeelingsofdisgustandhorror.Sorats,breedinginhugenumbersandswarmingaroundthetrenchesbecamepart of a spiritual distress at theway friends and comradesmet their end. Some soldiersrelieved feelings of frustration and boredom by baiting bayonets and trying to kill the rats, eventhough it was a futile exercise. Ferrets and terriers were also introduced to try and keep thecreatures’numbersdown.

Howdoesapersoncopewithlivingamongmillionsofrats?Ratswhichwillconsumeyourbodyifyoudie,oraretoowoundedtofightthemoff,ratswhichare,ineffect,waitingtoeatyou?Whatwouldyou do, be glad of their life and vigour or be filled with disgust and want to kill them? Are theoverflowing rats of the trenches and no-mans-land gifts of creation or harbingers of hell? Bothreactionsarepartofthespiritualityofwarfareandshowussomethingaboutourinnerselves.

Prayer

Godofallcreatures,weremembertheratsthatinfestedthetrenches,werememberthatwarbreedsopportunity.Weremembertoothosewholivedamongthem,themselveslikeratsfightingforsurvival.

Amen

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Lice

Photobyroujo

BlaiseCendrarstellsthestoryofoneofhisfriends,Rossi,swearingandcursingashehuntedoutthelicewhichinfestedhisclothes.

‘Thenyoucouldseehimundressing,inspectingtheseamsofhispantsorthefoldsofhisbelly,andyoucouldhearhimswearingwithragewhenhecrushedawholecolonyofliceandlarvaeintheplacketofhistrousersorshoutingwithtriumphwhenhesucceedinginnickingoutacrabfromhispubichair.Thenhewouldtakeuphisletteragain,keepingoneeyeonhisunderwear.Whatthehellcouldthepoorsodwritetohiswifeorsweetheart,inconditionslikethese,exceptpoetry?’5

Thecloseproximityofsoldiersinthetrenchesmeantthattherewasnoescapingthetransmissionofbodylice.Inconditionswhereitwasdifficulttowashproperlyorgetclothesclean,licelivedeasilyintheseamsofclothingandhatchedintofreshcolonies,despitethebesteffortsofthementokeepthematbay.Soldiersattemptedtodestroythembyrunningacandleflamealongtheseams,butnomatterhowhardtheytriedtogetridofthem,thelicealwayscameback.Theyalsospreaddisease,causingtrenchfeverandmakingmenillandmiserable.

Cendrarshoweverpointsustotwootherimportantpointsaboutthelicewhichimpactonthespiritualconditionofthelouse-infestedmen.Firstofall,Rossiwageshisownprivatewaragainstthelice.Unabletobesurewhetherheisabletomakeanydifferenceinthelargerwarofwhichheis

5Cendrars,pp.10-11.

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part,heisabletoclaimsmallvictoriesovertheliceattackinghim.Hecriesoutintriumphwhenheabletopluckoutandkillthelice.Inthisway,themenwereabletoregaincontroloverthesmallwars,towinlittlevictoriesandsoimposeakindofsenseonthebigger,moreincomprehensiblewargoingonaboutthem.Secondly,CendrarsmakesaninterestingobservationwhenhesaysthatRossicouldonlywrite‘poetry’tohiswife.Themenwouldnotdetailthehorrorsofratsandliceinlettershome,ifyouaregoingtospendtimeonapreciouscommunication,youwouldwriteofhigherhumanmatters–love,reassurance,faith,promises.

Thistellsussomethingabouttheindomitabilityofthehumanspiritwhichwill,ifitcan,findawaytoriseabovethesenselessandseektoimposeorderandcreatebeautyeveninthemidstofchaos.

Prayer

Godofallthatcreepsupontheearth

Wethankyouforthehumanspirit,whichchooseslifeoverdeath,loveoverchaos,hopeovercatastrophe.

Wethankyouforthesharedbondsofhumanfriendship,thecamaraderiewhichbroughtpeopletogether,theaffectionandlove,thepoetryoflettershome.

Amen

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Poppies

In1916,asoldier,PrivateCecilRoughton,pickedapoppyfromafrontlinetrenchonbattlegroundatArrasandpresseditintoapocketnotebook.Thatpressedpoppystillsurvives,adirectlinktothatplaceofwarandviolence,whereyetsomethingbeautifulendured.Moresignificantly,ittakesustoaperson,who,inthemidstofthebusinessofwar,couldstillbeattractedby,andtaketroubleover,somethingthatspokeoftheunsulliedbeautyofGod’screationandkeptitsafeagainstthedamageanddestruction.Whatdiditmeantohim?Justasouvenir,aparticularmoment,awhim?Orwasitanactofdefiance,sayingsomethingaboutthetriumphofthehumanspirit,thehumanbeing,refusingthedehumanisingeffectsofwarfare?

InthesatiricalcomedyseriesBlackadderGoesForth,theepisodespokedfunatagroupofmenstationedinthetrenchestrying(andfailing)tomakesenseoftheirsituationandtrying,byanymeanspossible,nottogetkilled.Yetinthefinalepisode,afterthecharactersdiscusstheirhopesandfearsforthefuture,theyareforcedatlasttogooverthetop.Asthecameraswitchesfromthetrenchtoviewthemenemerging,cryingoutandrunningacrossnoman’slandamidfiercebombardment,theirfeaturesbluranddisappear,theshotturnsintoaquietfieldofbrilliantred

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poppiesandtheaudiencerealisesthatdespitetheirefforts,thecharactersarealldead.Onereviewercalledit‘themostsoberingendingofanywarfilmeverdone’.6Whatwasinterestingaboutthereactiontotheendingofthisepisodewasthewaythepoppies,morethananythingelse,turnedthecomedyseriesintoaseriousreflectiononthewasteoflifeandtheprofoundlossofgiftedanduniquehumanbeingsthatwarentails.Insteadoflaughingatthejokes,theaudiencemourned,takenintotherealityandhorrorofwar.

WhythenhasthepoppybecomesuchapowerfulandenduringsymboloftheFirstWorldWar?Andwhydoesitcarrysuchdeepspiritualsignificance,enoughtoturnacomedyseriesintotears?Perhapsitisbecauseitdefeatstheimaginationtotryandpicturethecarnageofthefrontline,thesheerscaleofdeathanddestruction,andourmindsmaybaulktryingtoinhabitwhatwedidnotexperience,-butwecanimagineafieldofpoppies,asifthedeadweretransmogrifiedintosomethingwecangetahandleon,andthroughwhichwecanmourn.

Forthepoppy’svividredcolourremindsusimmediatelyoffreshlyspilledblood,andsorecallsthedeathandinjurythattookplaceinthosefields.Thepoppy’spetalsarefragileanddonotlastverylongandsotheflowerscometorepresentthebodiesofthesoldierslostonthebattlefields.Poppiesgrewinabundanceinthefieldsofwarandsoafieldofpoppiesgivesasenseofthesheernumberofmenlost,asthoughallthosedeadweregiventheirownindividualmemorialwheretheyfell.WehavefoundsignificanceinthosefamouslinesofJohnMcCrae‘InFlandersfieldsthepoppiesblow/betweenthecrosses,rowonrow’placinginourmindsthelinkbetweenthedeadandthelivingandenduringflowerswhichbecometheirmemorial.OnRemembranceDaythepoppywreathslaidatwarmemorialsconjureupthoseassociationsandsoconnectuswithanunimaginablepast.

August5th2014markedthebeginningofaninstallationintheTowerofLondonMoatcalled‘BloodSweptLandsandSeasofRed’,createdbynearly890,000ceramicpoppiestoremembertheBritishandcolonialservicepersonnelwhodiedinthewar.ThelastpoppywasplacedonArmisticeDay,11thNovember2014.NearlyfourmillionpeoplehadvisitedtheTowerofLondonbythatdatepromptinganextensionofthehoursoffloodlightingtoallowmorepeopletoseetheexhibit.Thesheernumbersflockingtoseethepoppies,someofwhomleftphotographsandremindersoffamilymembers,showsthetremendousemotionalandspiritualdrawoftheTower’smoatfloodedwithpoppies.Thepoppywillcontinuetoevokeinusasenseoflossandawayofimaginingallthosesacrificedlives.

6http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0526712/reviews

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Prayer

CreatorGod,

Yougiveeachpersonthepreciousgiftoflife,yetinwarsomanygiftsarebrokenorcometoperish.Helpustolookuponthepoppiesblowinginthefieldsandseethroughthemtothelossofhumanbeings,fathers,sons,husbands,brothers.

Maywebethankfulforourowngiftofliferememberingthosewhoselivesweretakenfromthem.

Amen

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Photobyfdecomite

Welookhereatthespiritualissuesinvolvedinhumanrelationshipsandatbondsofloveandfriendshipandatloss.

TherearefourreflectionsonCigarettes,Sons,DaughtersandGhosts.

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Cigarettes

‘Whenthereain'tnogaltokissyou,

Andthepostmanseemstomissyou,

Andthefagshaveskippedanissue,

Carryon.’

GeoffreyStuddertKennedy(‘WoodbineWillie’)TheSpirit

Inasocietywhichnowwellunderstandsthedangersofsmoking,itiseasytooverlooktheimportanceofcigarettestothesoldiersfightingintheFirstWorldWar.Cigarettesbroughtcalmtoagitatedmen,stuckwaitingaround;theygavesoldierssomethingtodoandsomethingtoshare.Cigaretteswerecurrencybutalsoeasyandimportantgifts.

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ThiswaswellunderstoodbyGeoffreyStuddertKennedy(“WoodbineWillie”),aforceschaplain,whocombinedgivingWoodbinecigarettesalongwithBiblestosoldiersleavingforthefront.Hesaidthathisministrywasbasedon‘aboxoffagsinyourhaversack,andagreatdealofloveinyourheart’.7

ThistellsussomethingimportantaboutthespiritualityoftheFirstWorldWar.Inasituationwheretheimpactonthebodywassoextreme,afflictingpeoplewithcold,wet,noise,andstress,thingswhichgavebodilycomfortbecamesourcesofpowerfulrestorationandhope.Similarly,smokingalsohelpedsoldiersdealwiththeboredomwhiletheywerewaitingfororders.Lackofa‘fagissue’couldsapthespiritandleavethemenfeelingbereftandirritable.Soacupofteaoracigaretteasactsofsimplehumankindnesscouldhelppeoplecopeandformimportantbondsoffriendshipandsharing.Cigaretteswerecommonlysharedbetweenseveralindividuals,cuppingitintheirhandssothattheburningtobaccowouldnotshowandgivetheirpositionaway.Soldiersalsosmokedpipeswhichconcealedthetobaccoandmanyothersoldiersrolledtheirownfromtobaccowrappedinthincigarettepapers.Thetobaccowastypicallykeptintinstokeepitdry.Soldierswhodidnotsmokebeforethewarquicklytookupsmokingwhendeployed,sothatitbecameanimportantactofsolidarityandfriendship.

AsaChristianchaplain,WoodbineWillieunderstoodthattherewasnopastoralcarewithoutrecognisingthespiritualneedsofthebodytoo.WoodbineWilliedidn’tjustgiveoutcigaretteshowever.HewasawardedtheMilitaryCrossforhisbravery,searchingforthewoundedwhileunderfireandhelpingandencouragingthembacktothedressingstations.HiswayofwitnessingtoChristwasononehandgivingpracticalgifts,sharinghisfriendship,andontheother,sparingnothoughtforhimselfinhelpingthoseinneed.Afterthewar,onthebasisofhisexperiences,hebecameastrongproponentofpacifism.

YoucanfindoutmoreaboutWoodbineWillieathttps://www.churchofengland.org/ww1/history/woodbine-willie-in-world-war-one.aspx

Prayer

LovingGod,

WerememberwiththankstheserviceofWoodbineWillie.Wethankyouforthecomfortthesoldiersfoundinteaandcigarettes,newrations,friendships.

Wepraytodayforallourforces’chaplains.WethankyoufortheircareandChristianwitness,theirselflessloveanddedicatedservice.

Amen

7J.K.Mozley,ed.,G.A.StuddertKennedybyhisfriends(1929).P141.

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Sons‘..theswiftironburningbee

Drainedthewildhoneyoftheiryouth’

IsaacRosenberg,DeadMan’sDump

‘Reg’PhotouploadedtoFlickrbyTimGreen;editedARR.

BlaiseCendrarswrotethatthe‘mostfrightfulcryonecaneverhear’wasthesoundwhichcamefromthebattlefieldatnightofmortallyinjuredsoldierscallingfortheirmothers.8Thesoundsofthosemencallingfortheirmotherswassodreadfultotheothersoldiersthattheywouldshootatthesoundsinthedarkinthehopeofsilencingthesufferingsoldiersratherthanhavetogoonlisteningtotheirpleas.

8Cendrars,B.,(1946)LaMainCoupée,(1973)EnglishtranslationLice,London,PeterOwenLtd,pp.186-188.

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ThereissomethinginthecriesofthesewoundedsoldiersoftheFirstWorldWarabouttodiefarfromhome,whichplumbsthespiritualdepthsofaperson’sbeing.Cendrarsnotesthattheyare‘infantile’voices;thewoundedbecomechildrencallingforthepersonwholovesthem,whowillcometotakecareofthem,healthem,wipetheirtears.Whenallhopeisgoneandthedyingpersonknowsthattheyarealoneandbeyondhelp,thentheystrivetoreturntotheplacewheretheywerelastsafeandinreachofcomfort.Thatthiswouldsounsettlethesurvivingsoldiersishardlysurprising,stirringupamixtureoffear,loss,griefandcompassion.Howeerieanddistressingthosecallsmusthavebeenandhowterriblethesufferingofthosedyingbyinchesinthedark.

Thislastappealforhelphasbeendocumentedinothersituations.Criticallywoundedsoldierscalltotheirfriendsforimmediateaidandtotheirmotherstobridgeadeepspiritualvoid.Whatdoesthistellus?Ittellsusthatinthedesperationofwar,whenapersonisdying,aloneandlost,thereisadeepneedforreturn:returntoone’splaceoforigin,returntoatimeofsafety.Butsuchcriesarenotnecessarilyjustofdespairandregressionbutmightalsobeafinaldeclarationofconnectionandlove.Itisnotsurprisingthen,thatScripturetalksofahomecomingtoatenderGodwhowipesthetearsfromtheeyesofthosewhohavedied(Revelation21.4).

Wearetoldthatfromthecross,inhisdyingmoments,JesusbelievedhimselfabandonedbyGod.SowemightimaginethatinthosecriesfromthebattlefieldwealsohearthevoiceofChrist.AndwhattheChristianstoryrevealsisthatthosecriesarenotunheard.Whenthehorrorsofhumandestructionareover,Jesusreturnstohisfriendstoshowthatthisisnottheend.Hesaystothem:‘Peacebewithyou’(John20.19).

Prayer

Godoflove,

WerememberallthoseintheFirstWorldWarwhodiedfarfromfamilyandfriends.Weprayforallwhocriedoutattheirendandforallwhoheardtheircries.

Todayweprayforallwhoarepartedfromtheirfamilies;allwhofeelabandonedandlost;andforallwhoaremakingtheirwaybacktoyou.

Amen

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Daughters

Photo:VHHammer

‘But,thoughkindTimemaymanyjoysrenew,ThereisonegreatestjoyIshallnotknowAgain,becausemyheartforlossofYouWasbroken,longago.’

VeraBrittain,Perhaps(toR.A.L)

AstoryfromAnneRichards,MissionTheologyAdviser,ChurchofEngland.

WhenIwasateenager,AuntieJanewasawell-knownfigureinthevillagewhereIlived.ApillarofthelocalCongregationalchurch,shewasoftenseenaboutonherbikeorworkingonherallotment.Shelivedinasmall,run-downcottageandlivedfrugallyonhervegetables,ironingherskirtswithanoldflatironwarmedinfrontofthefire.IhelpedherknitendlesssquaresforblanketsforchildreninothercountrieswhileshesangwarblyariasfromTheMessiahincessantly,andsheonceembarrassedmebeyondmeasurewhenIwentwithhertoaconcertandshesanglouderthantheentirechoirfromherplaceintheaudience(andhorriblyoutoftune).Hercontributiontoecumenismwastogotoeveryotherchurch’sbazaar,feteorconcertandherinevitableconclusionwasalways‘Verynicecupoftea.Notasgoodasours,butveryniceallthesame’.Everyonethoughtshewasaneccentricspinster,goneabitdaftfromtoomuchreligionandlivingalone.

Oneday,sheaskedmetocomebyhercottageasshehadsomethingtogiveme.WhenIgotthere,amidmuchsingingandtalkingtoherselfunderherbreathshereachedunderhersimplelittlesinglebedandtookoutawornsuitcase.Insidethesuitcasewasalengthofsoft,shiny,fadedandyellowedmaterial,abitfrayedaroundtheedges.

‘Whatisit?’Iasked.

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‘It’sparachutesilk’shesaid.‘Ithoughtyoumightlikeitforyourdresswhenyougetmarried.Ihadhopesyouknow,soIkeptit,buthedidn’tcomeback,so...so...Idon’tneeditanymore.’

Iwasatoncetouchedbytheofferedgiftandembarrassedbyitsobvioususelessness.Thesilkwassodamageditwascomingapartinherfingersevenasshehelditout.Yetitwasclearthatforapersonwhoownedalmostnothingshewasofferingmethemostpreciousthinginherpossession.Butitwasinthatmoment,holdingthefaded,frayedsilk,Isawpastherdottyoldladyexteriortotheyoungwomanshehadbeen,holdinginherhandsthesoft,brightandpreciousmaterial,fullofhope.Therehadbeenaboyfriend,whocouldhavebeenafiancé,withapromisedweddingatthechurch,alifetogether,children,andhopesofgrowingoldwithacompanion.Iaskedhertotellmeaboutit.Asateenagerherself,shehadbeenputtosewingtheparachutesforpeoplemanningobservationballoons.Herboyfriendwasnotallowedaparachuteinhisplanehowever,becausetheywerefelttobetoobulkyandtotemptingtouseiftheplanewerehit.Sotheparachuteunderherbedhadanotherkindofterriblepoignancy.

Herboyfriendlosthislife,-andshelostherseventhoughshesurvived.Shehadalife,agoodlife,alifeofdedicationandservice,whichthechurchnurturedandnourishedandalsoconsumed,butthewartookfromheroneofhercherishedfutures.

VeraBrittain,(motherofBritishpoliticianBaronessShirleyWilliams)madeanimportantcontributiontothecauseofpacifism.Yetshealsolostherfiancé,towhomherpoemPerhapsisdedicated,andnevergotoverthedeathofherbrotherinthewar,requestingthatherownashesbescatteredfinallyonhisgrave.

Wegivethanksforthesons,husbandsandfathers,whowerelost,butweshouldgivethanksandprayforthemothersanddaughterslikeAuntieJaneandVeraBrittainwhomadedifferentlivesandworkedforabetter,morepeacefulworld,whentheirswasshattered.Theirbrokenhearts,theirmemoriesofother,hoped-forlives,infadedphotographsandkeepsakeskeptunderbeds,shouldalsoberemembered.

Prayer

Godofthebroken-hearted,youholdinyourheartthetearsofallwhomourn.Youknowtheeveningsspentwithphotographs,withquestions,thevoidofthemissingandthedead.

Wegivethanksforthosewhogoonliving;theirrebuiltlives,theiractsofdedication.Forthosewhonursed,dug,fed,andworkedforpeace,sothatothersshouldnotsufferastheyhaddone.

Helpustoseebeyondtheirsmilingfaces,andtakefromthemthegiftsentrustedtous.Maywereceivewhateverisleftunhealeduntilthatfinalhealingisfoundinyou.

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Ghosts

Whispersshallcomfortusoutofthedark--Hands--ahGod!--thatweknew!Visionsandvoices--lookandhark!--Shallprovethatthetaleistrue

RudyardKiplingEn-Dor

Photo:MattWilson

Formanyfamilies,thehouseholdhadsaidgoodbyetofathers,brothersandsonsandhadmaybereceivedafewcommunicationsthroughlettersorpostcardsasthewarprogressed,thenthelettersstoppedandnothingfurtherwasheard.Ever.

Manysoldierswerenotjustkilledbutvaporisedinanexplosionorblowntosomanybitsthatitwasimpossibletorecoverforsureanythingthatmighthavebeenanindividual’sbody.BlaiseCendrarstellsthestoryofasoldierwhowasblownupbyashellwhenhewasgettinginahorse-drawncab.Hisfriendsgatheredupwhateverbitstheycouldfindandburiedthemixtureofhorseandhuman

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together.Eventuallyhowever,theyalsofoundhismoustache,bloodstickingittoashopsign.Sotheyrecoveredthemoustacheandburiedthat;theonlypartof‘him’theycouldreallylaytorest.9

Somanywhofoughtanddiedsimplybecameghostsfortheirfamilieswhohadnorealwaytoachieveclosureorsaygoodbye.Theycouldbealmostcertainthattheirlovedonesweredead,buthowandwheretheycouldnotknow.Peoplefeltguiltyformovingonwiththeirlives,orforremarrying.Unansweredquestionsandterribleimaginingsoftheirloved-onesendsaccompaniedthemintotheirfuture.

Itisperhapsunsurprisingthatspiritualismroseinpopularity,asthoseleftbehindturnedtopsychicsandmediumstoholdséancesandgivereadingsinwhichthesilentmissingandthedeadweregivenvoicesandpassedonmessagesofloveandcomforttothosegrieving.Sometimes,the‘spirit’wassaidtohavematerialisedinthedarkenedroomandwentabouttouchingandstrokingthebereaved.Thiscontinueddespitesomeobviouslyfraudulentpeopleofferingservices,assatirisedinKipling’spoemEn-Dor.Grievingfamiliesseemtohavegonetothemeventhoughtheywerewellawarethepeopletheywerepayingwerefrauds.Theyneededtohavethatsenseofrecoveryandclosureeveniftheyactuallyknewitwasn’treal.Sometimeswhatpeoplewantedwaspermissiontomoveon,toformnewrelationshipsandtohavethechance,anychance,tosaygoodbye.

Thistellsushowimportanttospiritualityafuneralcanbe.Withoutabodyoraritualthatallowsthelivingtosaygoodbyeitcanbedifficulttoacceptthataperson’slifenarrativeisclosedandsopeoplewillneedtofindwaystoinventthatclosure.TheghostsoftheFirstWorldWararenotjust‘spirits’or‘remnants’ofthosewhohave‘passedover’asthespiritualistsmighthaveit,butvesselsofloveandnewsandrelationshipthatthelivingcarriedwiththemandhadnowheretoputthemdown.Andthatasksus,asChristians,aquestion:whatdowegivepeoplewhohavenosenseofclosure?Wheredoweofferpeopleaplacetolaydowntheirpreciousvesselsofloveandlonging?

Prayer

Godofthegrieving,werememberallthosetodaywhodonotknowwhathashappenedtotheirlovedoneswhoarecertainlydead.

Wegivethanksthatyouknowtheirunknownrestingplaces,theirunmarkedgraves.Weprayforallthosewhostruggletoaccepttheirpainfulloss.

Helpustorecognisewhattheycarry:thefinalstories,news,the‘sorry’leftunsaid;helpustofindwaystolovethegrieving,relievetheirburdens,setthemfreetolive.

9Cendrars,p20.

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Inthelastsetofreflectionswelookattheeffectsofmunitionsonspirituality.Inadditiontofightinghandtohandwithgunsandbayonets,orsnipingfromthetrenches,soldierswereforthefirsttimesubjectedtomunitionswhichwereoptimisedforthedestructionofmanypeopleatonce.Shellsandgascouldbereleasedwithoutthosefiringknowinghowmanytheyhadkilledorinjured.Whoorwhatwastheenemy?Amanwhosoughttokillyoupersonallywithhissniperrifle,orthemetalobjectthatrandomlylandedwhereyouhappenedtobe?

WewillexploretheseissuesandtheireffectsonspiritualityinGuns,Wire,GasandShrapnel.

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Guns

‘Andabulletcomesdroning,whiningby,Totheheartofasentryclosetome.’

RBMarriott-WatsonKismet

Killedinaction1918

In1917,aprivatesoldier,WilliamHill,wasshotduringintensefighting.Thebulletenteredhislefttempleandexitedattheothersideofhisskull.Hecollapsedandwastakentobedead.However,afterhehadbeenremovedonastretcherandleftwithanumberofothercorpses,heregainedconsciousness,gotoffthestretcher,andbegantohelpotherwounded,apparentlyunawareofthegapingwoundsinhishead.NotonlydidWilliamHillsurvive,butheappearedtohavenoseriousinjury.Hisfriends,astonishedbyhisluck,calledhim‘Lazarus’.

William,however,didnotbelieveitwasluck.Hebelievedthathehadbeensavedforapurpose.Formerlyuninterestedinreligion,hedecidedthathehadineffectdiedandbeenraisedtonewlife.Afterthewarhebecameaministeranddedicatedhislifetotheserviceofothers.Inhispocket,hecarriedthespentcasingfromabullet.Wheneverhemetanewperson,hewouldsay‘I’mWilliamHill,likethebookmaker,andIshouldbedead,butthroughJesusChristIamalive’.Andhewouldshowthemthebulletandtalkabouthisfaith.

Suchmiraclesofsurvivaldidsometimeshappen.BlaiseCendrarstellsofhisfriendGarnero,whowasblownup,scalpedbyashellandwhohadfallenintoacatatonicstate.Believinghimdead,Cendrarslaidhiminashellholeandcoveredhimwithearth.Yearslater,CendrarsmetGarneroinParis,tofindhimaliveandwell,thoughmissingaleg.Anothershellhadexplodedhimoutofhisgrave,blownoffhislegandshockedhimintolifesothathewasabletoyellforhelp.Garnero,another‘Lazarus’,

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recalledtheroughtendernessandkindnessshownathis‘burial’.Henotedtoo,thatCendrarshadnotescapedunscathedandnowhadonlyonearm.10

OneofthepopularsouvenirsfromtheFirstWorldWarwasa‘pocketshrine’madefromthecasingofabullet.Theinnerpartoftheshellrotatedtoreveal,typically,acarvedimageoftheVirginMary.Manysoldierstriedintheirownwaytoturntheirfirearms,theveryembodimentofdeathanddestruction,intoideasoflifeandsalvation.Cendrars,hisrecollectionshotthroughwithirony,relateshowhisfriendGoywasputonachargeforputtingphotosofhiswifeanddaughterintohisriflebutt:‘Ariflebutt,withitsregisterednumber,mustnotbetransformedintoareliquary.Itissacrosanct.’11

Yetwhatthistellsusisthatoneofthewaysinwhichsoldiersassertedtheirhumanitywasthroughspirituality,eveniftheywerenotparticularlydevout.BycarryingadeadlybullettransformedintotheMotherofGod,orplacingaphotoofaloved-oneorafamily,intoriflebutt,showedadesiretoassertwhatisgoodandtrueovertheevilofdeath.Thegunscouldnotbestopped,buttheymightbetransformedbysmallactsofhumandefiance,smallactswhichcontinuedtosaythatGod’sworldhadbeenmadedifferentlyandthehopeofthatworldstillremained.

Prayer

GodofLove,

Werememberallthosewhocarriedgunsandusedthem.Wethankyouforthosewhosurvivedthebulletsandmournthosewhodidnot.Wethankyouforthedeterminationofthosewhotriedtomakegoodthingsinthemidstofevil.

Mayweworkforreconciliationinyourworld,sothatallwhocarrygunstowartoday,mayhavethechancetolaythemdownforgood.

Amen

10Cendrars,B.,(1946)LaMainCoupée,(1973)EnglishtranslationLice,London,PeterOwenLtd,pp.58-69.11Cendrars,p.35

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Wire

‘IntheRoyalWelchthebarbed-wireentanglementwastheresponsibilityofthecompanybehindit.Oneofourfirstactsontakingovertrencheswastoinspectandrepairit.Wedidalotofworkonthewire.’

RobertGraves,GoodbyetoAllThat.

Photobysunshinecity

‘Mindthewire’resonatesthroughDavidJones’FirstWorldWarmemoirInParenthesis,asherecalledmakinghiswaythroughthemazeoftrencheswithhisfriends.12Hewastalkingnotjustaboutbarbedwiredefencesbuttelephonewire,theimportantmeansofcommunication.Wirewaseverywhereatanyheightandinthedarkunbrokenwirescouldknockortripyouoverorbrokenpiecescouldsnagonyourclothing.

Barbedwirewasbothfriendandfoeandthousandsofmilesofitwereemployedaspartoftrenchwarfare.Barbedwirecouldbedeliveredinlargecoilsandunrolledanderectedquicklyonpostsasa

12Jones,D.,(1937)InParenthesis,London,Faber,pp.36;44;197.

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defenceforthetrenches.Sometimesmultiplelinesorcoiledentanglementsofwirewereputupandcupsofstoneshungonthewirewhichwouldjangleatanyapproach.Accesspointshadtobeverycarefullydefended.Thewirethen,wasadefenceagainsttheunseenenemycomingtowardsthetrenchesatnight,butitcouldalsobeanenemyifyouweretryingtogetbackfromasortieandgottangledinit.Onceyouwerecaughtonit,panickingandpullingtoescapemightmakeitmoreandmoreimpossibletodoso.Sosoldiershadsimultaneouslytolearnhowtorepairthewireandinventbetterwaysofbreakingorgettingoverit.OnraidstowardstheGermantrenches,BlaiseCendrarsremembersthezigzaggingnetworkofGermanwireandthefearthatcuttingthewiremightsoundanalarmordetonateamine.13Barbedwirethen,wasoneofthosestrangeelementsofwarthatcouldbebothfriendandfoe;itcouldsaveyourlifeorendit.Soldierswereallissuedwithwirecutters,bothtofacilitatetheendlessrepairthatGravesrecalls,butalsotobreakthroughthewireaswell.‘YoustretchouthandstoJerry-wireasifitwerebramble-mesh’wroteDavidJones.14

Anotherresultofthemilesandmilesofwardefenceswasthatthewirebecameagruesomegalleryofdeathanddecayasdeadsoldiersbecameimpaledonitandsometimesdecayedwheretheyhung,irrecoverable,facingtheirfriendswiththegrislyrealityoftheirdeath.Cendrarsrecallsa‘mummy’entangledinthewire.15It’snotsurprisingthatoneofthesongsoftheFirstWorldWarcarriedthelines‘Ifyouwanttofindtheoldbattalion/They’rehangingontheoldbarbedwire’.

Wirethen,wasanotherspiritualissue.Itwasaguardianofyourlife,butitcouldalsocontributetoyourdeath.Itcouldsignaldanger,butalsobetrayyou.Italsoconfrontedyouwiththepossibilityofyourowndeathandspoketoyourdeepestdistressaboutnotbeingabletorecoverandburythedead.ItisnotsurprisingthatitenteredtheanxiousvoicesofInParenthesisorbecamepartofasong.Howelsecouldyoudealwithit?

Prayer

MercifulGod,

Werememberallthosewhoseliveswerewoundaboutbywire:mending,defending,cutting,breaking.Werememberallthosewholosttheirlivesonthewire,thosewhosebodieshungtherewhiletheirfriendscoulddonothing.

Wepraytodayforaworldbeyondbarbedwire,forfreedomfromfearandanxiety,fromthejangleinthenightthatannouncestheenemy.WepraythisinthenameofyourSonwhohungonacrosswhilehisfriendscoulddonothing.

Amen

13Cendrars,pp25-29.14Jones,p.166.15Cendrars,p.55

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Gas

Gas!Quick,boys!–Anecstasyoffumbling,Fittingtheclumsyhelmetsjustintime;Butsomeonestillwasyellingoutandstumbling,Andflound'ringlikeamaninfireorlime

WilfredOwenDulceetDecorumEst

Killedinaction1918

InthePrefacetohiswarmemoir,InParenthesis,DavidJonesmusedonthechangefromfightinghandtohandwhereyoucould,asitwere,lookintotheeyesofyourenemy,and‘loosingpoisonfromthesky’.Hemusedonallthelovelythingshumanbeingsarecapableofexperiencing,andwonderedwhatitmeantthattoalltheseexperienceshadtobeaddedthingslikedoinggas-drill.16

VeraBrittainwrote:‘Iwishthosepeoplewhotalkaboutgoingonwiththiswarwhateveritcostscouldseethesoldierssufferingfrommustardgaspoisoning.Greatmustard-colouredblisters,blindeyes,allstickyandstucktogether,alwaysfightingforbreath,withvoicesamerewhisper,sayingthattheirthroatsareclosingandtheyknowtheywillchoke.’17

Gaswasdisablingratherthannecessarilyakiller,althoughsometimessoldiersdiedweeksaftergasinhalation,theirlungsalreadycompromisedfromtheinsanitaryconditionsandsmoking.Phosgene 16Jones,p.xiv.17Brittain,V.,(2009ed)TestamentOfYouth:AnAutobiographicalStudyOfTheYears1900-1925,ch10.W&N.

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andchlorinegaswerealsoused.Sogasmasksanddrillswereanecessarypartoflifeatthefrontinanattempttopreventinjurythroughcontactwiththepoison.However,gaswasperhapsmosteffectiveincreatingdreadandfearinpeoplewhocouldseetheslowmovingcloudsapproachingandknowthattheycouldnotavoidbeingenvelopedinit.Unlikebeingammunitionswhichwouldeitherhityouormissyou,thegaswasallthemorefrighteningforbeingpervasiveandgettinginsideyou,makingitdifficulttosee,speakorbreathe.

Whatdoestherealityofchemicalweaponsmeantous?Ascreatedbeingsareweperhapsmoreafraidoftheideaofgascloudsandpoisonsenteringuswiththeairwebreathethanbulletsorexplosions?Thereisapsychologicalhorroraboutgasthatcanprofoundlyaffectus.Whatdidtheapproachinggasmeantothosewhofoughtinthetrenchesandhow,spiritually,didtheycopewiththisstrange,creepingenemythatcouldgetintotheireyesandlungs?

AsDavidJonesnoted,aworldwhichrequireshumanbeingstodogasdrillhasmovedalongwayfromGod.

Prayer

LovingGod,

WerememberallthoseaffectedbygasintheFirstWorldWar.Weaccepttheirhorrorandtheirpain.

Wegivethanksforallthosewhocomfortedandnursedthevictimsofgasattack,andforallwhoworkedtoprovidegasmasksandprotectors.

Weholdbeforeyouallwhoarevictimsofchemicalwarfareinourtime.Weprayforallthoseworkingtopreventsuchweapons.

Amen

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Shrapnel

‘Tomorrowwereturntothetrenches.Themenarepessimisticbutcheerful.Theyalltalkaboutgettinga“cushy”onetosendthembackto“Blitey”.....Theylookforwardtoabattlebecausethatgivesthemmorechanceofacushyoneinthelegsorarmsthantrenchwarfare.’

RobertGravesGoodbyetoAllThat

Photobyflikr

Shrapnelcamefromahollowshellwhichwasdesignedtoexplodeaboveanenemyposition,showeringthemenbelowwithleadandsteelballs.Anotherkindofexplosive,thefragmentationshell,wasdesignedtoexplodeonimpactandfragmentintomanypiecesofdamagingmetal.Bothkindsofshellwereintendedtocausemaximumcasualtiesforthefewestnumberofmunitions.

Bothkindsofexplosivecouldkill,butmanymoresoldierswereseriouslyinjuredbytheshrapnelandfragmentsembeddingthemselvesintheirbodies.Ifyouwerereally‘lucky’youmightgeta‘Blightyone’asRobertGravesrecordsabove,aninjurywhichwouldsendyouhometorecover,butnotsodevastatingastoaffectyoupermanently.

Shrapnelinjuriescausednotjustdisabilitybutalsodisfigurementandtheseinjurieswerethedriversbehindimportantadvancesinearlyplasticsurgeryandreconstructiontechniquesinmedicine.Manysoldierssufferedhorrificinjuriestothefaceandthisrequireddoctorsandhospitalstoinvestigatenewwaysoftreatingsuchdamagesothatex-soldierswouldagainbeabletosee,hear,smelloreat.

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Thesekindsofinjuriesneedednotonlyphysicalhealingbutalsoawaytocometotermswiththespiritualissuesassociatedwithhealingandwholeness.

Butsomepeoplewerealsoinjuredinsuchawaythattheshrapnelormetalfragmentscouldnotbeextractedandsotheshrapnelbecamepartoftheirdailyexistenceandapermanentreminderofthewar.Inthisway,shrapnelinjuriesbecamepartofaperson’slegacyandtheirspiritualdevelopment.Tocarrytheevidenceofwarinsidethebodymeantthatitcouldnotbeleftbehind,onlyaccommodatedandhopefullytransformed.

Buttherewerealsopsychologicalandspiritualformsofshrapnel,notphysicalbitsofmetalbutthetraumaoftheexplosionsandinjuriesresultingin‘shell-shock’.Suchshell-shock,whichwewouldtodaycallPost-TraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD),wouldleaveex-soldierswithnightmares,flashbacksandfeelingsofdissociationorintenseanxiety.DavidJonesremembersbreakingdown:‘allgonetopiecesandnotpullinghimselftogethernotmakingthebestofthings’18andwashimselfaffectedbymentalsufferingafterthewar,unableinfacttowriteInParenthesisuntilsomeyearslater.Somesurvivingex-soldierswerenotabletosettlebackintotheirhomelifeafterwardsormakesenseoftheirexperiences.Somepeoplecarryingthismental‘shrapnel’intheirmindscommittedsuicide.

Prayer

Godofourhealing,

WeremembernotjustthosewhowerekilledintheFirstWorldWar,butthosewhowereinjuredanddisfiguredbyshellsandbombs.Especiallyweprayforthosewhobrokedown,thosewhoranaway,thosewhowereshell-shocked.

Todaywepraytooforallwhobearintheirbodiesthemarksofwar.Allthosewhocarryshrapnel,allthosesufferingfromPTSD.

Weprayforallwhoworkinhealthprofessionswhoseektorehabilitatethosehurtbywar.

Wepraythatallthosewhocarryshrapnelintheirmindsorbodiescanberestoredtohealthandwholeness.

Amen

18Jones,p.153.