On the evening of Thursday 3 October some 60 guests gathered at Hinsley Hall for the North of England launch of a new book about the history of Britain’s Catholic military chaplains. An earlier event was held in London in June, but the Leeds event was an opportunity to congratulate one of the book’s co-authors, Dr James Hagerty, on home ground. Along with Barry Hudd he has written a book of nearly 400 pages entitled Defend Us in Battle – Catholic Chaplains in the British Military.

Dr James Hagerty KSG is former headteacher of St Bede’s Grammar School, Bradford. He has published major studies and articles on the history of Catholic chaplaincy in the British military for international, national and local historical journals. Barry Hudd KSG, Media Advisor to the Bishopric of the Forces, worked alongside the military in Britain, Germany and elsewhere as an accredited Defence Contractor for many years before joining the staff at Plater College, Oxford.

The guests were welcomed by Mgr Andrew Summersgill VG, and he was followed by the Bishop of the Forces, the Rt Rev Paul Mason, who spoke about the book’s importance as a record of dedication, courage and service that might otherwise be easily forgotten. In thanking the authors, he said that the kind of research and writing that had gone into producing the book was a service to the Church – helping to record and preserve the collective memory of the Catholic community in this country.

Among the guests were several former military chaplains, including Fr Simon Bradbury, the Parish Priest of St Robert’s, Harrogate who spent 20 years as a Royal Navy chaplain, beginning in the mid-1990s. Also present were relatives of two military chaplains who had served in the Second World war; one was the nephew of a Leeds diocesan priest, Fr Bernard Benson who died during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944.

The book is published by Sacristy Press and can be purchased on-line via https://www.sacristy.co.uk/books/history/catholic-military-chaplains

https://www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/

Pictured (l-r): Barry Hudd KSG, Rt Rev Paul Mason, Dr James Hagerty KSG