Almond, John Macpherson (Military Chaplain in Europe, head of Canadian Chaplain Service)
Dublin Core
Title
Almond, John Macpherson (Military Chaplain in Europe, head of Canadian Chaplain Service)
Description
John MacPherson Almond began his work in the location by fulfilling the duties of a battlefield chaplain, which namely included giving lectures and sermons, writing, and reading for illiterate soldiers, and caring for the soldiers’ religious needs.
Once promoted, his work became more clerical in nature. He worked to keep the peace among the various denominations on the battlefield, ensure that many of the majority religions had representation among the chaplains, and establishing additional branches of the organization, to provide more support for those on the frontlines.
Once promoted, his work became more clerical in nature. He worked to keep the peace among the various denominations on the battlefield, ensure that many of the majority religions had representation among the chaplains, and establishing additional branches of the organization, to provide more support for those on the frontlines.
Date
1915-1919
Type
Person
Coverage
Eastern Front
Person Item Type Metadata
Birth Date
1871
Birthplace
Gaspé/North Shore, Canada
Death Date
1939
Place of Death
Montreal, Canada
Occupation
Clergyman; Military Chaplain; deacon; priest; Director of Canadian Chaplain Service; archdeacon; assistant curate
Languages Spoken or Written
English
Biographical Text
John Macpherson Almond was a Church of England military chaplain during the first world war, initially attached to the 1st artillery division. He was promoted twice, first to honorary major, then to lieutenant-colonel. During this time, he also was promoted to assistant director of the Canadian Chaplain Service (CCS). Later becoming director, he set about transforming the CCS to become a multi-denominational service, working to recover the service from his predecessor’s mismanagement. He removed some underperforming clerics, reinforced links to Canadian branches, and encouraged his padres to compete in educational and social work for the Canadian troops. He survived the first world war, continuing to work in aiding the veterans, including ensuring that they received a proper burial. After the war was declared in 1939, he once again volunteered for frontline service but passed away unexpectedly in his sleep 3 days later.
Portrait Credit
John Macpherson Almond, photograph, Bay Chaleur Military Museum, accessed May 31, 2021, https://www.chaleurmilitarymuseum.com/memories/a.htm
Associated Course
Quebec Since 1800 (Carleton, HIST 3301A)
Student Cataloguer
Kegan Rumig
Citation
Kegan Rumig, “Almond, John Macpherson (Military Chaplain in Europe, head of Canadian Chaplain Service),” Recipro: The history of international and humanitarian aid, accessed October 18, 2024, http://omeka.uottawa.ca/recipro/items/show/354.
Geolocation
Item Relations
| Item: John Macpherson Almond (military chaplain, South Africa) | Relation | This Item |