BOSSENCE, Ignatius Ernest
| Service Number: | Chaplain |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 September 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, 1887 |
| Home Town: | Gundagai, Gundagai, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | RC Clergyman |
| Died: | Natural causes, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, 21 December 1969 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Gundagai War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Australian Army Chaplains' Department, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 1916: | Embarked Australian Army Chaplains' Department, HMAT Shropshire, Melbourne | |
| 25 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Chaplain, Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
True Christian Spirit
TRUE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT.
A fine example of the true Christian spirit that prevails among the military chaplains who are (says the Melbourne'Age') serving with the troops at the front is afforded by a letter written by Chaplain-Captain W. Maltland Woods, of the Church of England, to Dr. Gallagher, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Goulburn. Chaplain Woods is serving with the Desert Mounted Corps in Palestine. Attached to the same corps is Rev. Father I. E. Bossence, a Roman Catholic priest, who was recently awarded the Military Cross for great bravery in action. To Chaplain Woods was delegated the duty of conveying to Chaplain Bossence the congratulations of the Commander in Chief (Sir Edmund Allenby) and of the corp commander (Sir Harry Chauvel) upon the distinction conferred upon him. In the letter which he subsequently wrote to the Bishop of Goulburn, Chaplain Woods explained that he felt that it would interest the bishop to know that one of his priests had won high distinction for bravery on the battlefield in Palestine. He recounted how Father Bossence went into the front trenches to hear confessions, and from there felt it his duty to go forward with the lads of his brigade to administer the last comforts of religion to the fallen. , Subsequently, while at the front with the troops, he assisted to save the lives of several wounded men by carrying them to a place of safety. 'That act of devotion,' wrote Chaplain Woods,' was, I am sure, prompted in our dear padre by a profound appreciation of his holy calling and a deep sense of his spiritual responsibility to the lads under his care.'
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate Wednesday 24 April 1918 page 2
Submitted 12 October 2015 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
TRUE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT.
A fine example of the true Christian spirit that prevails among the military chaplains who are (says the Melbourne'Age') serving with the troops at the front is afforded by a letter written by Chaplain-Captain W. Maltland Woods, of the Church of England, to Dr. Gallagher, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Goulburn. Chaplain Woods is serving with the Desert Mounted Corps in Palestine. Attached to the same corps is Rev. Father I. E. Bossence, a Roman Catholic priest, who was recently awarded the Military Cross for great bravery in action. To Chaplain Woods was delegated the duty of conveying to Chaplain Bossence the congratulations of the Commander in Chief (Sir Edmund Allenby) and of the corp commander (Sir Harry Chauvel) upon the distinction conferred upon him. In the letter which he subsequently wrote to the Bishop of Goulburn, Chaplain Woods explained that he felt that it would interest the bishop to know that one of his priests had won high distinction for bravery on the battlefield in Palestine. He recounted how Father Bossence went into the front trenches to hear confessions, and from there felt it his duty to go forward with the lads of his brigade to administer the last comforts of religion to the fallen. , Subsequently, while at the front with the troops, he assisted to save the lives of several wounded men by carrying them to a place of safety. 'That act of devotion,' wrote Chaplain Woods,' was, I am sure, prompted in our dear padre by a profound appreciation of his holy calling and a deep sense of his spiritual responsibility to the lads under his care.'
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate Wednesday 24 April 1918 page 2
Biography
Military Cross
'Conspicuous gallantry on the night of 3rd/4th December 1917 during a raid on a strong Turkish position known as Bald Hill near Jaffa, in that he advanced with the foremost assaulting line, and under heavy shell, machine gun, and rifle fire, rendered first aid to wounded men and repeatedly assisted them to safety at very considerable personnel risk. His fine example and cheerfulness had a marked influence on the men at a very critical time.'
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