Winner of the 2015 Australian Christian Book of the Year.
Inspiring stories of Aussie Army Chaplains and their men wins Australian Christian Book of the Year Award 2015.
The judges described Michael Gladwin’s winning book as ‘a history of national importance and an insight into the Australian character’
Known affectionately as ‘Padres’, chaplains have been integral to the Australian Army for a century.
From the legendary William ‘Fighting Mac’ McKenzie, whose friendships with diggers in the trenches of Gallipoli and France made him a national figure in 1918, to Harold Wardale-Greenwood, who died caring for the sick while a POW on the brutal Sandakan ‘death march’ in July 1945, this book assesses the contribution of Australian Army Chaplains in conflicts and peacekeeping missions, in barracks and among service families.
Drawing on a wealth of original archival material and little known published sources, Captains of the soul represents the first comprehensive account of Australian Army chaplains. It surveys their changing role and experience from the Great War of 1914–18 to the recent conflict in Afghanistan; charts the evolution of the Royal Australian Army Chaplains’ Department across its first century; and addresses the significance of Army chaplaincy for Australia’s military, religious and cultural history. It is a story of personal conviction and selfless devotion.
“I think Michael Gladwin did a brilliant job, capturing the essence of what chaplains have done for 200 years,” the Army’s principal chaplain, Geoff Webb, said. ”I asked him to give an accessible history, while being academically rigorous, and he has done that.” Army’s principal chaplain, Geoff Webb
Army’s principal chaplain, Geoff Webb –
I think Michael Gladwin did a brilliant job, capturing the essence of what chaplains have done for 200 years, the Army’s principal chaplain, Geoff Webb, said. I asked him to give an accessible history, while being academically rigorous, and he has done that. Courtesy Sparklit – Australian Christian Book of the Year media release
B+P –
The judges described the winning book as ‘a history of national importance and an insight into the Australian character’. ‘While increasingly unfashionable in some spheres of society, chaplains continue to be valued in proportion to the proximity of battle,’ said the judges. Courtesy Sparklit – Australian Christian Book of the Year media release
article – Books + Publishing –
Books + Publishing – Friday 15 August ‘1235’ named Australian Christian Book of the Year 1235: A History of Australian Army Chaplains by Michael Gladwin (Big Sky Publishing) has won this year’s Australian Christian Book of the Year Award. The judges described the winning book as ‘a history of national importance and an insight into the Australian character’. ‘While increasingly unfashionable in some spheres of society, chaplains continue to be valued in proportion to the proximity of battle,’ said the judges. The $2500 award celebrates ‘excellence in Australian Christian writing’ and is presented annually by SparkLit to a book written by an Australian citizen and published by an Australian publisher. The winner was announced in Melbourne on 13 August, along with the winner of the Young Australian Christian Writers Award. The winning title was chosen from a shortlist of nine
Sparklit –
The soldiers without a gun, as one soldier in Vietnam dubbed the chaplains, have waited a long time for their story to be told, being one of the last Army corps to have an official history published. It is a history of inspiring home-grown stories, according to the Australian Christian Book of the Year judges. I am a bit stunned, but honoured as well, was Australian Christian Book of the Year winner, Michael Gladwin’s reaction on taking out this year’s award. His book, 1235, is an official army history of Australia’s chaplains. Author Michael Gladwin won Australian Christian Book of the Year with his work, ‘1235’. The common task remains the ministry of God’s word and the sacraments to soldiers, burying the dead and presenting an alternative reality to the conflict, chaos and suffering, said Gladwin. Gladwin said that in writing the book he was struck by the chaplains’ Testimony of Christ while being with Australians in the most difficult and horrendous circumstances imaginable. The story that had the most impact on me was about Geoffrey Bingham, a famous Australian evangelist. But in the POW (prisoner of war) camps in Singapore it was a chaplain who enabled him to work through the difficult existential and philosophical questions brought on by being a POW. Bingham who went on to have an international ministry, always looked back to that time when the chaplain Aubrey pain, was standing with him helping him through that difficult time. Chaplains leading men to a transcendent hope in God throughout all of Australia’s military history is a powerful testimony, said Gladwin. I think Michael Gladwin did a brilliant job, capturing the essence of what chaplains have done for 200 years, the Army’s principal chaplain, Geoff Webb, said. I asked him to give an accessible history, while being academically rigorous, and he has done that. 2015 saw an especially strong field of entries to the book awards which were opened to books published by overseas publishers for the first time. This meant that books like John Dickson’s A Doubters Guide to the Bible, (published by US-based Zondervan), and Michael Bird’s The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church wrote the Story of Jesus (published by Eerdmans, also from the States), with other local entries provided stiff competition. The Australian Christian Book of the Year is awarded yearly by Sparklit.
Geoff Webb – Bible Society Review –
Dr Gladwin has succeeded in his aim as the result is a warm but not uncritical account and appraisal of an often overlooked ministry of the church. The book tells how Padres have pioneered both ecumenical and interfaith ministry and established themselves as a vital part of the life of the Australian Army. This tradition of service for God and mankind continues to this day and 1235 is a worthy testament to this vital ministry of God’s people – See more at: http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/book-review-captains-of-the-soul#sthash.Kl8yjqd9.dpuf
Peter Papps –
CHANGED- Living with Stillbirth that’s the name of a new book just launched and written by an Adelaide mother ( Liza Jankowski). One of the things we are often asked by bereaved parents is are there any other parents who have written about their experience, and we have been fortunate enough to have many families provide articles for publication through our newsletters and website. This is an intimate and personal story of a mother and her experience in two Stillbirths, the impact on personal relationships, the strength of the family and friends, subsequent successful birth and the life lessons that have ultimately changed her life. This book grabs you immediately and for those who have experienced a child loss then there will be a realisation of all the elements around that tragedy and the struggle to initially survive before finding new hope. It’s nearly 10 years now, but Liza is the first to acknowledge it seems like yesterday. For any Health Professional reading this, this is a must read book not only for your personal development but also a measure of understanding what someone who has experienced a child death is going through and to gain some insight into the emotions that arise and the support that should be provided. Personally and on behalf of SIDS and Kids SA, I would commend this book to you. Peter Papps, SIDS & Kids South Australia