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Anzac Chaplains

Jon BassettWestern Suburbs Weekly

WORLD War I army chaplains John Fahey DSO and Walter Dexter DCM were honoured with a service to all armed forces' padres at a RSL sunset Anzac Centenary service attended by about 400 at King Park last night..

"My great-uncle Father Fahey was one of two chaplains who ignored instructions and who landed with the first troops at Gallipoli," great-nephew Phil Ryan said.

Irish-born Father Fahey was the Catholic chaplain to WA's 11th Battalion, and at Gallipoli he tended all faiths, the dying and dead, often at the frontline where he captured a Turkish rifle, before being mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry under fire.

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He became the longest serving front-line Australian chaplain on the Western Front until November 1917.

"He spoke of the simple faith of the average Australian soldier saying"I've done my best", as they went to their deaths," Mr Ryan said

After the war, Father Fahey was the priest at Cottesloe's Star of the Sea Church until 1959 when about 2000 people were at his funeral.

English-born Walter Dexter DSO was a mounted veteran of the Boer War and a former sea captain who was the chief chaplain of 1st Division AIF, and was one of the last to leave the Gallipoli Peninsula after the eight-month conflict, when he walked through cemeteries scattering silver wattle seed.

"He wrote,"If we have to leave here I intend that a bit of Australia shall be here. I soaked the seed for about 20 hours and they seem to be well and thriving." WA grandson James Dexter said.

On the Western Front, Chaplain Dexter organised films and music for troops, and was awarded the military cross for tending the wounded at Ypres , France.

He died in Victoria in 1950, after returning to the church when his soldier-settler farming venture near Geelong had failed.

N Services continue at the State War Memorial, Kings Park, 5pm until Friday.