Rev. Leonard Francis Tyrwhitt, M.A., M.V.O, O.B.E., was Rector of Rolleston (1907 - 21), Chaplain to the King (1901 - 21), Canon of Windsor (1910 - 21) and Chaplain to the Forces (1914 - 21). Not surprisingly, his epitaph reads: “Not slothful in business, Fervent in spirit, Serving the Lord.” While on active service during the First World War, he used a large Union Flag as an altar cloth and, on his safe return hung it in the Sanctuary in St. Mary’s. Below are extracts of his long letter to his parishioners printed in the January 1916 issue of the Parish Magazine (and subsequently reproduced in the 2004 Winter issue, 2005 Spring and Summer issues of the Rollestonian). A local reminder of Christmas in the Army on the 90th Anniversary of the First World War.

My dear Friends,

The life here has been so strenuous during the last month, that I have had no time for correspondence, and alas! I have before me a huge pile of unanswered letters and Christmas Greetings. But I feel that I must at-any-rate, make time to send you a New Year greeting! Since we came here at the end of November, the troops have been extremely active, and when we return to the firing line - almost immediately - I am certain this Division will be in rare fighting form and ready for anything. I have shared in the activities as much as possible, so that “my youth has been renewed” like the Eagle’s! 

Each morning I run with the troops at 7.15 a.m., selecting each day one or other Company of one of my Battalions. It only lasts for half-an-hour, but is a capital and Vigorous Start to the day’s work. The mornings are getting lighter which makes things more agreeable. On my return to Rolleston (if I survive the war) we must institute an early morning Parade for the Churchwardens and Sidesmen, and Organist, for a short run round Tutbury and Hatton, only it will have to be 4 a.m., so as to be back in time for milking the cows! We have also had some Battalion and Brigade route marches of varying and ever-increasing distances. Just before Xmas the whole Division moved from here, and though I must not say exactly what our purpose was, it will suffice to say that we were continually on the march, and slept in different billets each night. Long halts crouching beneath hedges on the road side in drenching torrents of rain (which was rendered all the more penetrating and inquisitive by the gale behind it), waiting for despatches, and wondering what it was all about - these and other incidents passed the days along. The country through which we passed must be beautiful in Summer and fine weather, and it is very delightful to see hills and downs once more after the Flat Plains of Flanders! I discarded the use of my horse almost entirely, and tramped for hours with the men through inches of mud. We never did more than 25 miles in one day. It has done my Bootmaker a real good turn, as I have knocked two pairs of boots entirely to pieces.

***

The Mules amused me immensely, splendid animals some of them, from Egypt and Malta. One particularly vicious mule, capable of any crime and at the shortest notice, and with the now familiar "mailed-fist" expression about its face (especially at dinnertime) has of course been nicknamed "Kaiser Bill" and right Royally it played the part - ready to bite the hand that fed it - or shewed it any hospitality!

Jennie was quite another type - lacking all sense of proportion, she persisted in lying down and disengaging from her back the pack of ammunition and other trifles at our first halt in the early morning. Either she had had a bad night or else was work-shy, and lacked the diligence and other good Feminine Characteristics of her sex! Occasionally other mules (evidently musically inclined) would join in the "Tipperary" chorus, in loud megaphone, asinine tones! It would have needed our Rolleston Organist in his most patient and persuasive mood to have restored harmony! But why dwell further on these details? Mules will be mules, even in War time! One night, when the shades of night had fallen, and the moon threw the shadows of a Village Church and clustering farms and houses into bold relief, and whilst we stood easy in a village street, as the various billets were being arranged for, a man came up to me, and asked me to take his name as a Confirmation candidate for the next opportunity, and told me of all his home affairs, which is quite characteristic out here of the strange mingling of things sacred and secular! Another evening, when we'd been on the march since 8 a.m. and had yet another six miles to go, we halted and moved into a soaking wet field, and sat down by Companies, and the "Cookers" (following behind us) were called up and the men had some hot food which had cooked itself, en route. The officers had tea, and my delight was huge, and my sense of romance gratified, when in the semi-darkness, I spied a Sugar Coated Cake which had lately arrived from Mr. Murphy's far-famed establishment in Fenton (Staffordshire Potteries), and which he had sent me as a little Christmas token of friendship, and for "Auld Lang Syne"! "Once a cake, always a cake" was falsified, for it went like the wind, and when the Junior Subalterns came up in due course for their nibble, not a crumb remained, and even its seasonal symbol of spurious holly berries had vanished. We got in that night at about 8.30 p.m., the Colonel slept in the pantry of a farm house, and four others of us dossed down on the floor of the kitchen. Yes! they were stirring times, and we were fetched back here for Christmas Day.

The weather was dead against a cheerful and complete observance of the great Christian festival, but I managed all the celebrations of Holy Communion I had arranged, but the out-door services had all to be cancelled. I celebrated at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. in a schoolroom, and the General and a large number of Officers and men came to worship, and later in the morning I celebrated for one of my Battalions in a barn, and the attendance was excellent. I think we shall all be returning to the Trenches and firing-line early next week.

***

I’ve come across several old friends since last I wrote to you. Lieutenant C.W.D.Lodge, one of St. George’s, Windsor, old Choir and school boys, met me one day, and we compared notes, and contrasted with much merriment, the quiet, orderly days at Windsor, and our present eventful existence. Our respective horses became” good comrades”, and I much doubt whether either Sir Walter Parratt or Mr. Fowler would have recognised either of us! I’ve heard several times from Harry Lowe - my old house boy - who is now in the Durham Light Infantry and not far from my Area. I hope his name is on Rolleston’s Roll of those serving King and Country, as he has been so long identified with those of us at Rolleston, and his fierce charges in the football field used to fairly astonish my little dog “Jock” and the Choristers! I’ve also met Denstone College boys grown out of all recognition, and at least one Officer of the North Staffs. who recounted to me some of their gallant and heroic deeds at Loos or thereabouts. And now 1915 has drawn to its close! 1915 with all its stirring events - its disappointments - its Scarlet Crimes on the part of our enemies! And we set forth into the unknown, to wit, 1916! It lies before us like a new Book with its uncut pages, its great possibilities, its tragic uncertainties! And how do we face it? Are we downhearted? and from a thousand thousand throats there comes, like an angry sea breaking on a shingly beach, the thunderous roar - No! and why not? that is the question that our enemies ask, and to which question they cannot understand our reply! No! gathering up the experiences (many of them dearly bought) of 14 months of War - we face the future with fresh confidence - with renewed vigour - with more Unbending Determination than ever! Faith in God! - Faith in our Cause! - Faith in ourselves - (provided our trials and tribulations have drawn us nearer to God and made us more God-like) we determine to go Forward.

Forward! be our Watchword,
Steps and voices joined;
Seek the things before us,
Not a look behind;
Burns the fiery pillar
At our Army’s head:
Who shall dream of shrinking
By our Captain led?
Forward through the desert,
Through the toil and fight;
Jordan flows before us,
Sion beams with light.

No! “Forward” must be our motto for 1916! Forward in Spiritual things! Forward in military concerns! And I pray there may be a forward movement at home, in the Political and Industrial World! “Wait And See” did for 1915, and none too well it did it! But “do” without further Waiting must be the new order of things. No more haggling over details of trade union rules, which may have served their purpose in times of peace. No more “waiting” on Political Party expediences, with one eye on the Ballot box, “a democracy which asserts the right of manhood suffrage, while denying the duty of manhood service, is living in a fool’s Paradise”! And I devoutly trust and pray that our 1916 “Forward movement” will drive us out of our “Fool’s Paradise” into instantaneous and unanimous actions of all kinds - actions which shall carry us beyond the sandy desert of our past futile hesitations, and land us safely (before next Christmas) into the Promised Land of final and overwhelming Victories. How shall I sum up my New Year greetings and good wishes? Can I do it better and more comprehensively than in the words of St. John in his 3rd. Epistle, v.2 - “Beloved! I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper, and be in health, even as thy Soul prospereth.”

Believe me,
Sincerely and affectionately yours,

Leonard Tyrwhitt.
Headquarters,
2nd. West Yorks,
Somewhere in France
6th. Jan., 1916.
Feast of the Epiphany.

Back to St Mary's Home Page

Home Page, establishments

© Richard Bush

Last updated: 30 May 2005