ANZACs — soldiers from the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps–fought in the Middle East theater during World War I.
During their recreation time, some ANZAC soldiers visited the Zeitoun YMCA hut where Oswald Chambers served as a chaplain.
The ministry flourished and Oswald loved the soldiers.
Those who listened to Oswald preach at Zeitoun loved him back.
Why was Oswald Chambers in Egypt?
Oswald and Biddy Chambers ran a successful Bible Training College (BTC) in London for several years before World War I began.
Six months into the war, Oswald began to think he might be needed for “spiritual first aid,” to soldiers serving in the British Expeditionary Forces (BEF).
He applied for a spot with the Young Men’s Christian Association and they accepted him for work in Egypt.
He brought his family, and ultimately a half-dozen BTC students, with him over the course of WWI to serve in the YMCA.
While not all Oswald’s students ended up at Zeitoun, enough joined him in ministry to make a difference for the war-weary men who worked so hard in the desert heat during the two and a half years Oswald served.
What was the YMCA war work in Egypt?
The YMCA Middle East head, William Jessop, had just begun the YMCA ministry when WWI broke out.
With the support and encouragement of the BEF (and, ultimately, the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces–EEF), the YMCA provided letter writing tools, a place to visit away from the tents, refreshments and entertainment.
OC, Gladys Ingram Donnithorne and the bread slicer at Zeitoun. (Wheaton College photo)
Ultimately, Jessop oversaw six different “huts” serving various forces around Cairo. (The Australians, for example, set up camp near the base of the pyramids at Giza).
When Oswald arrived, Jessop sent him to a rough “hut” attached to the Egyptian General Mission alongside the Zeitoun army camp.
Huts or tents provided morale opportunities for the soldiers. The temperature in their white bell tents often reached 120 degrees in the desert heat.
The YMCA’s large downtown center at Ezbekiah Gardens provided books, tea, activities, games and ultimately a swimming pool. The YMCA also ran a hostel in the cosmopolitan city for ANZAC troops.
Oswald and the ANZACS
ANZAC soldiers were stationed at Zeitoun–mostly New Zealanders and others associated with the Desert Mounted Rifles. The Fourth and Twelfth Australian Light Horse Brigade was also there.
Hard-charging and hard-living men, they did not respond well to Oswald’s first night at the “hut.”
ANZAC Light Infantry leaving Zeitoun (Australian War Museum)
Oswald announced a prayer meeting in the hut his first night in camp. The ANZACs left.
But, Oswald’s no-nonsense and practical teaching began to work in their hearts. Many had recently returned from Gallipoli; they needed encouragement. They sought consolation in Oswald’s concern for them, personally.
When they discovered British women (Biddy and her friend Mary Riley) along with a toddler Kathleen were in the camp serving tea and fellowship, enthusiasm increased.
Soon, many men visited the hut for prayer, friendship, Oswald’s teaching and to play with Kathleen.
Out into the Desert
Ministry to the soldiers continued after they left Zeitoun.
The YMCA sponsored mobile units to travel with the troops.
Oswald’s BTC student Phil Hancock spent most of his service in Egypt near the front lines.
But it wasn’t just secretaries.
The ANZACs took Oswald’s ideas with them and formed small groups to continue reading and studying the Bible.
(Cadbury Research Library drawing)
Six months after arriving in Egypt, Oswald left Zeitoun for the summer to work in an even more primitive camp along the Suez Canal.
The Ismailia hut served men living in the sands along the western side of the canal. They learned to dig trenches, fire machine guns, and other battle tactics.
Once Biddy, Kathleen and Mary Riley joined him at Ismailia, Oswald organized free teas on Sunday for the men.
It was a place of relief and an opportunity to feel like civilized men with a teacup, if only for a few hours.
Appreciation in Life
“It was almost worth enlisting to hear Oswald Chambers speak,” said one soldier
Many ANZACs came to faith and took their spiritual understanding into battle.
At least one Zeitoun favorite, Peter Kay, was at the Battle of Beersheba–an extraordinary charge that succeeded against all odds.
In 2024, my husband spoke to a New Zealander whose ancestor participated in the charge. The family history reported members of “The 800,” saw angels and visions of God on the Beersheba battlefield.
Oswald’s heart definitely followed the ANZACs into battle and beyond.
He had a long prayer list containing soldiers’ names–which he prayed through daily.
In 1917, the EEF made preparations toward taking Jerusalem–thus opening the door for the end of WWI in the Middle East.
Fearing casualties, the EEF asked the YMCA to provide a chaplain for every unit.
William Jessup organized his men to go, including Oswald. He would be at the front lines with American Dr. Gilbert Deaver.
Before Oswald could go, however, he fell ill.
Oswald Chambers died on November 15, 1917.
Appreciation in Death
Many ANZACs mourned Oswald’s death.
Riflemen, officers all, to honor Oswald Chambers in death. (Cadbury Research Library photo)
A thousand people attended a service in Oswald’s honor the next night at Zeitoun.
The YMCA’s Chambers ministry to the ANZACs did not end with Oswald’s death.
His wife Biddy stayed on to help run Zeitoun for the rest of the war with former BTC student/YMCA secretary Jimmy Hanson.
At Jimmy’s suggestion, Biddy put together a pamphlet of one of Oswald’s talks to send in response to condolence letters.
Many letters came from ANZACs whose lives were changed by Oswald’s teaching.
Within a few months, the YMCA stepped in and helped send out the pamphlets–to 10,000 people in all the theaters of war.
It was the beginning of what led to all the Oswald Chambers books, including My Utmost for His Highest.
An eternal ministry
By providing a place for spiritual first aid in the Egyptian desert, the YMCA ensured many ANZACS–and others–found respite and eternal life.
It was a partnership of a British teacher, Oswald Chambers; an organization founded in the United States, the YMCA; and men and women seeking the consolations of eternity with God.
Heaven must have applauded.
Tweetables
How the YMCA and Oswald Chambers teamed up to serve ANZACs during WWI. Click to Tweet
Fighting in the desert, but not lost to God; the YMCA, ANZACs, and Oswald Chambers. Click to Tweet
How did the YMCA minister to ANZACs in Egypt during WWI? Click to Tweet
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