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| Private Robert Revens |
East Lancashire Regiment,
Killed in Action
22nd July 1917
Age 36
Buried at Happy Valley British Cemetery, Fampoux
Newspaper Report:
A service, largely attended, was held at Haslingden Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday night in memory of the late Private Robert Revens, killed in action July 22nd, 1917. The Rev. W.H. Paulson conducted the service, and Miss Mary Richardson sang the solo, "No Night There." Mr. G.H. Hamer had charge of the musical programme, which included specially selected hymns.
In his sermon Mr. Paulson said:- There is something which stirs the blood when we hear the strains of martial music, and watch the splendid forms of trained and disciplined soldiers as they march along with even step and rhythmic swing.
Simply regarded as a pleasing spectacle, there is no sight of noble and developed manhood which is at once so impressive and so stirring. The old tales of chivalry and heroism have never failed to make their mark upon the imagination, especially as incidents of human courage and endurance. This is a detached and merely a spectacular view of soldiership, which has no necessary reference to other things included in the
BUSINESS OF THE SOLDIER
Now, St. Paul regarded himself as destined to a certain type of conflict. He was a warrior, he was called upon to do a great deal of fighting.
By training and temperament, byh the call and commission of God, he was peculiarly fitted for this life of strenuous battle. He lacked nothing of courage and spirit and will to conquer. He knew nothing of craven fear and weakness in face of the enemy. True, he was usually outnumbered and bearded, so to speak; but his sublime confidence never failed him. He was often like a ship, submerged in the angry deep, threatened with destruction and overwhelm. But he never gave in and gave up, and, in spite of the raging tempests, he kept his barque on the crest of the wave.
The language of defeat he knew not; it was gibberish to him, shorn of meaning and understanding. And so in that spirit he past his life, confronted ever with enemies, but unabashed and unashamed. St. Paul was a true soldier of the Cross, fighting the cause of the King in a life campaign that knew no cessation, and which gave no quarter to the enemy.
Then, as a contestant in the race of life, he entered the lists in the name of his Master. The running was often difficult, the course long and uneven. The track was not a prepared one, smooth and easy to travel. He was faced with stumbling stones and rocky ascents, which tried his powers of endurance, but he kept his clear and steady eye upon the goal of
CONQUEST AND REWARD.
