28 Aug 2015

Ceremony honours chaplain killed in action

10:20 pm on 28 August 2015

Today marks 100 years since the first New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) chaplain was killed while serving overseas.

Soldiers lay poppies to mark 100 years since the death of NZDF chaplain William Grant.

Soldiers remember Chaplain William Grant, who died 100 years ago. Photo: RNZ / Adriana Weber

A ceremony to commemorate William Grant and 10 other chaplains who died on duty was held at Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul this afternoon.

On 28 August 1915, Chaplain-Major William Grant was shot and killed at Gallipoli while trying to help wounded soldiers - both allied and enemy troops.

The 56-year-old father of five died doing what his great-niece Julie Engelbretsen said he was most known for doing: helping people.

"He just volunteered to go, he signed up as soon as he could to go to Gallipoli. He had this zeal that he wanted to go and help the boys over there."

Ms Engelbretsen said the father of five was a hero, the first of 11 Defence Force chaplains to die either in action, or from wounds received while serving their country.

Eight of those lives were lost in the First World War, and three in the second.

Suzanne McPherson's father, Chaplain Allan Charles Keith Harper, was killed at Monte Cassino in the Second World War.

"They would have three minutes between sporadic shellfire, he would rush out into it to minister to his men who had been wounded and not worry about getting out of it himself," she said. "So it's no wonder he lost his life over there, because he was completely selfless."

Chaplain's role sometimes forgotten

Ms McPherson said chaplains weren't often seen as heroes in war, but they should not be forgotten.

Principal NZDF chaplain Lance Lukin said their stories were not often told.

"Particularly the story and the role and involvement of our chaplains during the Great War is never told, because chaplains generally didn't come back and speak about their role," he said.

"They were very humble and saw their role as giving to others, and so - because their stories are never told - we thought it was important to remember them today."

Mr Lukin said chaplains had always been there to provide spiritual and pastoral care to soldiers at home and on duty overseas, and 37 NZDF chaplains continued to do so today,

Chaplain Paul Stanaway said there was something special chaplains could bring in situations when there was often little hope.

"Chaplains can provide a sense of hope and compassion to our own guys and girls, but also people on the other side. It reminds people that there's something more, there's something more than the conflict they're fighting and I think that's worth reminding people of."

In the ceremony today, 11 red poppies were laid down to commemorate the fallen chaplains, and remind everyone that they should not be forgotten.