I never knew my grandfather but he served in the first world war and the book is called The Daily Portion Testament. I'm guessing it was issued to troops to give them comfort and to help preserve faith.
This is inside the front cover:
Lord Roberts's Message to the Troops
25th Aug 1914The message inside the front cover is not overly legible which is not surprising, as if it was Lord Roberts that wrote the message by hand, he was 81 at the time. He died later that year, in November, aged 82.
I ask you to put your trust in God. He will watch over you and strengthen you.
You will find in this little Book guidance when you are in health, comfort when you are in sickness, and strength when you are in adversity.
Roberts.
I wonder if the same time, thought and effort goes into the spiritual welfare of today's troops.
27 comments:
hello my grandfather also left me a bible front cover ;daily portion new testament. active service 1917.
however on the inside front cover is the message from lord roberts dated 25th august 1914 very strange. take care god bless from melda carson
I have one from 1916 that was passed to me by my grandmother who received it from a wounded soldier she was nursing in November 1916.
Hi, there are still charitable organistions working for the spiritual welfare of our troops today. I work for one such organisation - Sandes (www.sandes.org.uk). I was aware of Lord Roberts comments and was online looking for the actual quote when I came across your entry. We run Christan Centres for Soldiers on the camps where they can come to relax and chill out and through which we distribute Bibles and Christian literature. It is a befriending ministry. We also have a parcel ministry sending boxes to Afghanistan with sweets and snacks but also Scripture and literature to encourage them.
For 140 years now the Lord has enabled us to continue being a Christian witness to those in our Armed Forces.
I have just acquired a copy of 1917service testament, with Lord Robert's words inscribed on inside cover, dated 25th. Aug. 1914, The book seemed to have belonged to a Reben Lee of 13, Royle Road, Burnley Lancs. I was wondering if he might have been a member of one of the pals regiments, but so far can't trace him. Any leads gratefully accepted!
Unfortunately I have very little information about my grandfather. But if I find out anything, I'll post it here.
I also have a Bible that belonged to my father,dated 25th May 1914, but inside the back cover is another date,27th March 1918,this is my fathers declaration that he understood the conditions of the Bible.So the Bible must have been passed to him as he was only born in 1905.There is another frontispiece to this book from Heyman Wreford with an address in Exeter.
My grandmother gave my grandfather a small bible when he was leaving Australia in 1918,for WW1. Inside the bible is Lord Robert's words inscribed in her hand. The little bible was taken to and from the war with each location written inside. He treasured it all his life. My grandmother also wrote "The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another"... And the prayer was answered!
I also have a New Testment bible with Lord Roberts message 25/05/14.Also has msg:
"Psalm 119.105 Thy Word is a .....my feet and a light unto my ... 1922.
A little rememberance is
One of our soldiers' in the great 1914 War - Peace 1919 with best wishes Dr. R E Sproule - Boston, Mass and Toronto friends J G Butland, Etter Cotellan Brenton
Any info??
Hello, I work for the charity that distributed those New Testaments, so I can tell you a little bit about them.
They were produced by Scripture Gift Mission, a Bible charity that gave away 43 million items of scripture during the First World War. There are lots of different editions, but if they have the message from Lord Roberts, it's definitely from SGM.
The introduction from Roberts was quite meaningful for the soldiers. He was a hero of the Afghan and Boer wars, well known to the troops. His preface is in his own handwriting, which is why it's a little hard to read! He was in his 80s when the war started, but he still traveled to the front to support the soldiers. He died of pneumonia in France in the winter of 1914. Lord Roberts was one of only two non-royals to be honoured with a state funeral in the last century, the other being Winston Churchill in 1965.
The New Testaments often include a few hymns at the back so that chaplains could conduct services in the field. At the back of the New Testaments is a commitment form that soldiers could sign. Many did, and our office received lots of letters from grieving families saying how comforted they were to get their loved one's possessions back, and find that they had turned to God in the trenches.
Scripture Gift Mission is today known as SGM Lifewords, and we're still at work around the world. Our military work now rests with the Naval, Military and Air Force Bible Society, which used to be part of SGM and became a separate organisation in 2004.
If you have any questions about the New Testaments, we'd be happy to try and answer them! You can visit sgmlifewords.com or find us on Facebook.
I also have a bible with Lord Robert's message dated August 25, 1914
Heather - San Francisco
I recently came by one of these in an old officers uniform, pretty badly damaged. Uniform was full of holes and both were stained brown. The bibles inscribed rev robert miller carseldine
I had to clear my elderly aunt's home and there, with memorabilia, was one of these old and tattered New Testaments with Lord Roberts inscription. Showing my aunt, she said it was her father's, Frederick West, and that he carried it in his pocket throughout every day of standing in the Ypres trenches during the 4 years of WWI. We both remembered him telling us that bullets were all around but never one touched him. I note also that Lord Roberts, a greatly acclaimed man,simply signs himself as, Roberts. I believe that he would not sign himself as Lord in these Bibles, in acknowledgment that only Christ is truly Lord. Although a great man, he was plainly a true and humble believer who even at 81 did an enormous service in inspiring the troops with these NTs and message and even us today.
Arlene, I have a copy of the exact same inscription; Dr. Sproule and Toronto friends. I found it in a house I was cleaning in Toronto. Are you also in Toronto?
excellent background information from SGM lifewords. I have my grandfathers new testament with Lord Roberts's handwritten message to the troops dated 1914
My grandfather's copy is dated 25th Aug 1914 and reads "I ask you to put your trust in God. He will watch over you and strengthen you. You will find in this little Book guidance when you are in health, comfort when you are in sickness, and strength when you are in adversity.-"
Roberts 7/14
I have a bible with the inscription dated 25th August. Lord Roberts Message to the troops. It also states it was from Crowborough Friends. My grandfathers name was Albert Charles Pearson & his army no 30716. Also states East Sussex and Luton. Any info on this appreciated
I have just found a small book as described by all called the "The A B C" of the Gospel. it also has a note on page 2. "With Gods blessing"
and signed Alburt Richards Chaplain. 5th East Surry Reg dated 1916.
Left to me by my beloved Father Edward Horace Gooch.
Christopher Franklyn Gooch
Now occupying pride of place in my First World War Collection is a
"Shrapnel Damaged Active Service New Testament – The Somme Trenches, 1918"
A fascinating item with a splendid story coming directly from the trenches of the Somme in 1918.
This New Testament (and accompanying items) relate to a Sgt. William Stone from the Black Watch Regiment. He was wounded by shrapnel from a grenade on 22 March 1918. His New Testament took the brunt of some damage and was penetrated by some shrapnel.
Completing this little collection is a card that was sent just after after his brush with death. It reads, "By the will of God I have been saved. A miraculous event and story to be told! I shall relay to you through smiles upon my return."
A very poignant message inside the Active Service Testament reads:
"25th August 1914, I ask you to put your trust in God. He will watch over you and strengthen you you will find in this little book guidance when you are in health, comfort when you are in sickness, and strength when you are in adversity, ROBERTS."
(This item was displayed in the Whitehall Theatre of War/London War Museum in Whitehall during the 1980s).
I have found an "ACTIVE SERVICE" TESTAMENT 1916,with the message from Lord Roberts on the inside cover. It belonged to my Grandad, Walter Calvert 1884-1959.He was in the Army and possibly served in France and Belgium.It is interesting because he has placed about half a dozen flowers between the pages which possibly have not seen the light of day often from the day they were picked.
I`ve just found in a box of momento`s an `Active Service` Testament with the same message from Lord Roberts, dated 25th. May 1914.
I guess this must have belonged to one of my grandparents, but can`t find anything in it to give me a clue which one. Is there any way to try and trace which grandparent would have been given it?
It would have been to the grandparent who was enlisted in the armed forces at that time.
I also have the Active Service Testament signed by Lord Roberts. My Grandfather, Thomas William Brennand, was killed in action and is buried in an unmarked grave site so uncertain how this Bible eventually found its way back home to his wife. Most interesting was my Grandfather carried a picture of his son, who died as a baby in 1912, and a lock of his hair, in the Bible throughout the war until his death on August 9, 1917. This infant's picture and hair still remains in this Bible today.
I have acquired "Active Service" Testament 1916 with Lord Robert's message of 25th Aug 1914 on the inside of the front cover. On the inside of the back cover is a Decision Form with the address of 84, Bathley St but unfortunately the name is illegible and i've no idea who it could have belonged to is there any way of finding out.
Some contributors to this string are using the date 25 May 1914. At first sight I thought that was the date on the SGM reissue of the "Active Service" Gospel of John and wondered why Lord Roberts would be writing his message of exhortation so far in advance of the declaration of war (4 August 1914). But then I looked more closely and the date is 25 August.
I've just been given a YMCA Lord Robert's New Testament. As it happens the soldier who was the recipient was born in the sister village to where I live. I am at the moment researching his life and will be blogging about him shortly. My book is also dated 25 Aug 1914 but at first, glance could easily be mistaken for May 914.
Hello, I have just purchased a little new testament bible in a charity shop in Eastbourne East Sussex and have been delighted to find out the history if this remarkable man Lord Roberts, of the history of his life and his dedication to Britain. Such remarkable patriotism so rarely encountered today. A life of dedicated service to King and country for freedom and liberty. The inscription is dated 25th August 1914 and signed Roberts SM and then has been inscribed with a second inscription 'with all good wishes from friends at Caterham and dated May 1916. There is no other information written in the bible. I'm so pleased to be holding this little piece of history in my hands.it is in extremely good condition considering its over 100 years old
Jeanie From Bromley Kent
Post a Comment