The Army and I: An account of life in the Army as a non-combatant Christian during the Second World War

This is an account of one individual's impressions and experiences in the Second World War. It is based on the author's memory and on a notebook in which, throughout the war, he entered names and addresses, locations, train journeys, leave dates, rates of pay, and so on. Many have recorded their experiences during those terrible years, but few have written of service with non-combatant status within the Army. He whose words can never pass away said "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). In times of national danger, Caesar inevitably tends to enlarge his claims upon us and it is good if there are statutory safeguards. Throughout the history of the church, there has been difficulty for many in discovering where, in practice, the boundary between these two responsibilities lies. The conscience of the believer is enlightened by, and subject to, the Word of God, but as one Christian said when called to answer before the Great Council in Zurich in the early part of the 16th century: "Do not oppress my conscience, for faith is a free gift of God's mercy and is not to be interfered with by anyone." May any who read this record be encouraged to commit their lives to Him who "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11).