What was the status of the Church of England "preachers" in WWII, and did it change during the war? Were they subject to being called up, even if only as active duty chaplains? Was being a military chaplain purely voluntary? I know "preachers" isn't the correct term, btw, so enlightenment on that would be appreciated as well.
you can call them Chaplains, Priests, Padre, Clergymen, (edited due to inappropriate statement) I checked and found this. Chaplains are nominated, appointed, or commissioned in different ways in different countries. A military chaplain can be an army-trained soldier with additional theological training or a priest nominated to the army by religious authorities.In the United Kingdom the Ministry of Defence employs chaplains but their authority comes from their sending church. The U.S. Army and Marines lost 100 chaplains killed in action during WWII. Chaplain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Captured chaplains are not considered prisoners of war (Third Convention, 12 August 1949, Chapter IV Art 33) and must be returned to their home nation unless retained to minister to prisoners of war. Chaplains at War - The Role of Clergymen During World War II AUTHOR: Alan Robinson Patriotism and religious belief were defining characteristics of both public and private life during the 20th century. British army chaplains were shaped by these powerful sentiments and in turn shaped and interpreted them to understand their own roles and to provide a message and ministry to soldiers and officers. Focusing on World War II,. "Chaplains at War" reveals how the army, the government and the churches responded to the challenges of war, leading to innovation that was unknown in peace time such as the appointing women as Chaplains' Assistants.Alan Robinson uses interviews with former chaplains, officers and soldiers and extensive archive research in military, government and church archives to draw together personal experience and official policy. His book will be essential reading for anyone interested in British military history, church history and religious studies. Chaplains at War - The Role of Clergymen During World War II Many British Chaplains did carry 38 revolvers, But not US. What I have read they were appointed or nominated by the Church, But I could be wrong.
Interesting. I shared a hole with a sky pilot once and he said he'd been "drafted". I doubted that, but I never had reason to check on him when we got back to base. (He should have stayed as a REMF.)
From the many sites I checked and read before I posted, no mention of them being "Drafted". "REMF" AKA "Pogue" I haven't heard that in a long time, LOL.
I got the impression he meant his church had sent him into the military to "minister to the troops." Must have been why he followed us into the boonies. It was like dragging a brass band along.
Just because you put a winking smiley face next to something does not make it acceptable or appropriate.
While it is a book about Chaplins in WW1, have a read of 'God on our side'. Very interesting, the troops view of C of E Chaplins vs the Catholic Chaplins.