Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 13 The following paragraph from the “Official Report to the Canadian Hierachy on the Canadian Catholic Chaplains overseas, “dated February 1, 1918, will show how Fathers MacGillivray and Tompkins were appreciated by the Assistant Director of the Chaplain Services (Roman Catholic): “During the year Major T. McCarthy (Diocese of London), Captain M.N. Tompkins (Antigonish), and Captain R. A. Macdonell, O.S.B. (Victoria), have been awarded the Military Cross for gallant conduct on the Field, and Lieut.-Col. F. French (Pembroke). D.A.D.C.S (France), was mentioned in Despatches. To Fr. French’s tactful and capable administration is due, to no small extent, the large measure of success which our priests have obtained in France. It is difficult to single out any name, yet I feel I must record the universal surprise that Fr. M. N. Tompkins had not been honoured long before official recognition came.” Service: Major Rev. Donald McPherson Major Rev. Donald McPherson enlisted on April 28, 1915 and went overseas with the 25th Nova Scotia Infantry Battalion. In England, he was stationed at East Sandling as chaplain to the 2nd Canadian Division. On the eve of departing for France with the 25th Battalion, he was ordered to the Eastern battlefront. On the Isle of Lemnos, he was chaplain to the No.1 Canadian Stationary Hospital, as well as to several Imperial and Australian units. Among those who received his priestly ministrations were the casualties from the Dardanelles campaign. On the evacuation of the Peninsula, Father McPherson was sent to Salonika with No. 1 Hospital, where he remained for eight months. He then returned to England, where he labored for some months in various Canadian training camps, including Bramshott Camp, where the St. Francis Xavier Hospital Unit was then stationed. Falling ill, Father MacPherson was recommended for light duty on the Mediterranean and, in Easter week, 1917, he joined a hospital ship working on this submarine-infested route. Early in 1918, he returned to England, and his long-felt desire of gong to the Western battle-front was gratified. He was assigned as chaplain to the 5th Canadian Divisional Artillery, with which he remained until the boys sailed for home. During his stay in France, Father McPherson had the honor of conducting to the Grotto of Lourdes the only pilgrimage made there by Canadian soldiers. Diary Account: Major Rev. Donald MacPherson The official report contains the following appreciation of Father MacPherson: “All Canadian units having returned from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces, we have no longer any chaplains there. During the trying time of our stay in the East, Captain D. MacPherson (Antigonish), rendered splendid service, and has been highly recommended on all sides.” As he was in the East I did not get to know Father McPherson till the end of 1917. He was the first priest of Antigonish Diocese in the Canadian Chaplain Service. He went overseas in May 1915. It was his lot to fight disease in Mudros and Salonika, as a hospital chaplain. (There were no Canadian combattant troops in this area). Not content with having risked his health in Salonika (fortunately he recovered) he would not be denied the privilege of risking his life in the Canadian Corps in France, where he took part in all the 1918 fighting, as chaplain of the Fifth Divisional Artillery. Unlike Father MacGillivray and Tompkins who were known as jovial dare-devil priests, Father MacPherson hid his romantic emotions under and ascetic exterior. All three priests were most zealous in their labor for souls. All three obtained in recognition of their military services the coveted majority. continued....
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