Reflection: Dr. Noel Chavasse
Noel Chavasse was a son of the Bishop of Liverpool, England, an Oxford University student, an Olympic athlete and a medical doctor who served in the frontline trenches during the First World War. In the mud, misery and horrors of the Western Front he was known for his exceptional bravery in entering no mans-land to rescue wounded soldiers. In fact, he was the only one to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during the First World War and he is one of only three to ever achieve that distinction.
Sadly, his second Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously. As the citation said, “Though severely wounded early in the action whilst carrying a wounded soldier to the Dressing Station, Capt. Chavasse refused to leave his post, and for two days not only continued to perform his duties, but in addition went out repeatedly under heavy fire to search for and attend to the wounded who were lying out.” During these searches, although practically without food during this period, worn with fatigue and faint with his wound, he assisted to carry in a number of badly wounded men, over heavy and difficult ground.
Preaching at Chavasse’s 1917 funeral service, Canon J. L. Lancelot, who had been his headmaster, said of him: “He might have been a great surgeon; he might have been a really great clergyman and medical missionary, such was the vision that floated before his mind from boyhood; but he was already a great Christian.” And as a recent commentator has said, “it is only his faith that draws together all the elements of his life.” We may not be gifted as Noel Chevasse, or called to display such physical courage. But we need the grace of God to be willing to lay down our lives in loving God and loving others, as our Saviour Jesus did, and as Noel Chevasse did also.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we may not be called onto acts of physical bravery, but grant us your strength to love you and to lay down our lives in the service of others in whatever way you call us.