Chaplains_FNL Padre Robert Seaborn was once described as "the most unpopular man in his regiment before D-Day because his religious zeal was only matched by his nervousness, which seemed to make him incapable of appearing sincere in his desire to be friends with the troops. Then came the invasion... It was during his time as Rector of St. Peter's Anglican Church, Cobourg, that the Rev. Robert Lowder Seaborn joined the Canadian Military as a chaplain. Of his 6 1/2 years as Rector, approximately half of them were spent away, in the service of his country and mostly overseas. Robert Seaborn took leave of absence from St. Peter's to join the Canadian Chaplain Service in August 1942 and served at first with the 3rd Battalion of the Queen's Own Rifles. After going overseas in 1943, he served with the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Scottish Regiment. He was wounded in the Normandy landings on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and received the Croix de guerre avec étoile en vermeil from the French Government. Honourary Captain Seaborn remained with the Canadian Scottish Regiment throughout the remainder of the North-West Europe Campaign and finished with them in Germany on VE Day. In October, 1945 he returned to Canada and his post as Rector of St. Peter's, Cobourg. Robert Seaborn's ecclesiastical and military life paralleled each other as he rose in rank over the years. In 1975 he was elected Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada (which included the Dioceses of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Fredericton, Quebec and Montreal). Then in 1980 he became Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Armed Forces, with responsibility for all Anglican chaplains serving in the forces, as well as for overseeing the pastoral care of Anglicans serving on various military bases across the country and overseas. CHAPLAIN ROBERT SEABORN Recommendation On 6 June 1944 (D-day) at Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, H/Captain Robert Louden Seaborn Padre 1st Battalion Canadian Scottish Regiment landed with his unit. He was slightly wounded in the landing craft just prior to landing, but refused to allow himself to be evacuated. As soon as he landed he began to assist the Medical Officer to attend the wounded on the beach, and on the advance inland. He paid particular attention to nesting the wounded and ensuring that their locations were clearly marked. Whenever the battalion stopped to reorganize, after all the wounded were attended to he began to bury the dead sometimes moving well out under enemy fire to recover bodies. Difficult as his task was, handicapped by fatigue and lack of transport and equipment, H/Captain Robert Louden Seaborn carried on, not only caring for the wounded, but frequently visiting all ranks in the battalion, giving encouragement with a cheery word and a smile, never thinking of himself, but always of the welfare of the men. He is a true Christian and is admired by the whole battalion down to the last man for his fortitude and gallantry. ...then came the invasion... and soon they were saying of the Padre, "Gee, I wish I was half the man that guy is." Holding Juno, Mark Zuehlke, Douglas & McIntyre Design provided by Quench Design & Communications Inc., Port Hope. www.quenchme.ca