Memorial to NZ military chaplains unveiled

Tuesday, July 15th, 2014

The Chief of the New Zealand Army, Major General Dave Gawn MBE and Roman Catholic Bishop to the Military, Archbishop John Dew, along with the Catholic community gathered for the blessing and unveiling of a bronze Risen Christ.

The bronze of the figure of the Risen Christ is a tribute to the Catholic military chaplains who served during World War I and in subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

It will hang on the wall of the Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Wellington.

The Unveiling will took place at the Cathedral on Monday 14 July.

Archbishop John Dew led the service.

He was joined by Bishop of Palmerston North, Charles Drennan, and Bishop of Dunedin, Colin Campbell.

This Tuesday the Bishops will lead a Pilgrimage to the grave of Fr Patrick Dore MC MID in Foxton.

Fr Patrick died of his wounds at Chunuk Bair helping the medical officer attending to other wounded soldiers. His ‘most gallant conduct’ was honoured with a Military Cross.

“Their ministry ensured that our soldiers who were serving their country and putting their lives at risk for our freedom were cared for in times of great danger and sacrifice, a long way from home, and isolated from families and communities,” Archbishop Dew said.

“This bronze of the Risen Christ and the coming together of the Armed Forces and Catholics is a way to recognise and honour the service of so many Catholic military chaplains, priests who put their lives at risk to minister to soldiers serving in theatres of war and places of conflict or unrest,” he said.

“The presence of chaplains meant that soldiers could be given pastoral care, such as Christian burial rights, the last rites in their final moments, which meant some comfort to soldiers and their families in a time of tragic loss.”

“Some chaplains, as well as pastoral care, took part in active duty alongside other soldiers.”

“The documented history of these men shows clearly they too displayed gallant conduct like many of their comrades that served in the Great War,” said Dew.

The bronze was commissioned by Fr Brian Fletcher when he was Catholic Chaplain to Burnham Military Camp.

On closure of St Michael’s Chapel, it was gathered, with other artefacts from St Patrick’s Chapel Waiouru, for presentation on an appropriate occasion.

The date for commemoration was chosen as it’s the anniversary of Fr Patrick Dore’s MC MID death.

New Zealand Military Chaplains Roll of Honour

James McMenamin
Patrick Dore MC MID
T B Segrief
R Richards MC
T W P Price
PJ O’Neill,
P OFlynn
W J Murphy
J C Murphy
O M Doyle
N B Moloney
P J Minogue
C Lacroix
L J Daly
T Kinkead
J Duffy
T Connolly
W Skinner
L Spring
JJ Fletcher
Bishop H W Cleary OBE
J T Brennan
M J Bleakley
F S Bartley
J F M Barra
J Kingan M C
V Callaghan
W Sheely
T Hayes
T Cloher
E Ryan
E Forsman
F Cullen
J Cullen
J Mcneil
J Rolland
M Ryan
E Cashman
F Scott
J Collins
F Columb
P Cronin
M Cahill
C Crosbie
T Duffy
P Foy
G Broad
J Hally
J Henley
P Holland
J Martin
R Marlow
J Murphy
T Power
A Welsh
E Joyce
N Berridge.