Church minister joined up as a soldier in World War I when chaplains were not required
METHODIST church minister Pat Hare offered his services as an army chaplain in the early months of World War I but was surplus to requirements at that stage.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
METHODIST church minister Pat Hare offered his services as an army chaplain in the early months of World War I but was surplus to requirements at that stage.
Undeterred and keen to serve, he enlisted as a soldier with the 3rd Artillery Brigade.
The Reverend Herbert Patrick Hare had previous experience as an engineer and had served in the Southern Tasmanian Artillery and the Southern Tasmanian Infantry.
DAY 11: PRIVATE FREDERICK LANGE
The son of Henry and Maria Hare of Hobart, he was living and working in the Queensland town of Mt Morgan as its Methodist church minister when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force for service in World War I.
He was 33 years old and married to fellow Tasmanian Gladys Crisp. He quickly moved up the ranks from corporal to sergeant.
Usually known as Pat or Paddy, he joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in April 1915 and was transferred to the Dardanelles.
Several of his letters home in the first months of 1915 were published in the Capricornian newspaper in Rockhampton.
In one letter he wrote of being witness to the capture of the German cruiser Emden by HMAS Sydney off the Cocos Islands.
“Just a line to let you know that all’s well, and have arrived this far slowly but surely. We have been delayed on the voyage for various reasons, all of which were unknown to us but doubtless good ones. The only incident worth anything was the capture of the Emden by our convoy Sydney off the Cocos Islands. We were ordered up on deck about 8pm, all lights being extinguished, and we stood silent for about three hours, looking into the dark sea and hearing in the distance the boom of guns. In the morning we heard of the capture, and all hands shared in the rejoicings. …. I becoming more and more a troopship soldier. We are getting plenty of stables and gun drill, and I am becoming quite an expert artillery man. …. the whole of the company have been very kind and generous to me, and my life on board the ship, both as a soldier and a parson — as I am conducting both duties on the ship — have been very pleasant. We (the Field Artillery) have lost no men, and only four horses. In the whole transport consisting of 40 ships (including the New Zealanders) six men have died and 46 horses, so we have not done too badly. We don’t get much in the way of war news, so I really don’t know how things are going, but I am sincerely hoping that things will so happen as to enable us to return early next year. How are things going at the Mount? I trust you are keeping and doing well. Give my regards to any of our mutual friends.”
In another letter he reflected on the success of the attack on Gallipoli.
“We are allowed to send a line from the front. You have, of course, heard about our engagement, the subjugation of the unspeakable Turk being our objective. So far we have done well, though it has been very costly and many of my personal friends have died doing their duty. My brother was wounded in the first attack on the Peninsula. My word, our fellows have done very nobly indeed. I believe that our attack on what was considered to be an impregnable position is one of the best things in the history of warfare. To have heard and to have seen the bombardment by the warships was the sight of a lifetime, and it sounded as though hell was let loose. I hope we shall soon reach Constantinople, but lots will have to happen before then. It was hard luck that the Light Horse was out of it, having to remain in Egypt, but its turn may come later. I believe I have been turned out of Mount Morgan, for which I am very sorry. I hope someday to see you and tell you of this great campaign.”
Pat was promoted to second lieutenant while at Gallipoli. He was reported as sick in hospital at the end of October and on November 4 was admitted to hospital in Malta.
While in Malta he was promoted to lieutenant and was sent to the Officers’ Convalescence Depot in Palermo.
Alexandria was his first port of call after returning to active service. He rejoined his unit at Tel-El-Kebir, also in Egypt, and from there they embarked for Marseilles, France.
On August 7, 1916, Pat was wounded in action when an enemy shell landed in a gun pit and killed or wounded most of the detachment.
Pat Hare’s right arm was shattered and he died of his wounds the next day. His body was buried in the Puchevillers British Cemetery in France.
Pat’s wife and stepdaughter returned to Tasmania after his enlistment and were living with the Hare family at “Derwent View”, 1 Augustus Terrace (now Faraday St), West Hobart.
After the devastating news of her husband’s death, Gladys wrote to ask if the army could tell her anything about what happened.
It was December 1916 before they were able to send details of her husband’s death and burial place.
In the meantime, Gladys received a number of letters of tribute and condolence, and some of these were shared with the readers of Queensland newspapers.
Major Keith Jopp said he had been with Pat when he was injured. “He never complained, and just bore his pain with his wonderful cheerful courage that he has borne everything. He asked me in case of things going wrong, to write to you, and let you know that he went down in action, and to give you his love, and also to little Mildred. Believe me, Mrs Hare, you have all of our sympathy for we all loved Pat.”
The first of his person effects were delivered in June 1917. Gladys received a copy of Pat’s commission in October 1919 and then in 1922, a Victory Medal and Memorial Plaque.
Lieutenant Herbert Patrick Hare is remembered at tree 23 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue in Hobart.
Clyde Mill breathes new life into historic Bothwell distillery
After years of watching the iconic Nant Estate Distillery sit dormant, a local farming family has breathed new life into the historic flour mill ahead of its grand opening as Clyde Mill
New Archbishop to be sworn in after appointment by Pope Leo
Selected as the new Archbishop of Hobart by Pope Leo XIV, Anthony John Ireland will officially be installed in the role at a special mass in two weeks’ time.