A Great War O.B.E. Group of five awarded to ‘The Fighting Bishop’ Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel the Right Reverend Adam Urias de Pencier, Archbishop of the Metropolitan of British Columbia, who served with the 6th Canadian Chaplain Service, attached to the 62nd Battalion (British Columbia) Candian Infantry, who was also a notable local boxer

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, hallmarks for London 1917; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves, emblem on each campaign medal (Hon. Lt. Col. A. U. De Pencier); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted as originally worn, ribands somewhat frayed, generally very fine or better (5) £600-£800

O.B.E. London Gazette 7 June 1918.

M.I.D. London Gazette 29 May 1917 and 28 May 1918.

Adam Urias de Pencier was born 9 February 1866 at Burritt’s Rapids, Ontario, Canada, and was the great-great grandson of Charles I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Following his education at Kemptville (Ottawa) and Trinity College Toronto, he was first ordained as an Anglican priest with the Church of England in Canada in 1890 at Navan. He made good progress in his career, taking up various ecclesiastical positions in Canada at St Albans, Uxbridge, Toronto, Brandon, Vancouver, and was made Bishop of New Westminster in 1910.

During the Great War de Pencier volunteered for overseas service and was given the rank of Honorary Captain in August 1915 with the 56th Canadian Chaplain Service, attached to the 62nd Battalion CEF. In his Christmas address, he is recorded by Melissa Davidson in her thesis ‘Preaching the Great War: Canadian Anglicans and the War Sermon 1914-1918’ as having said:

“Let us clearly apprehend that it is by mobilizing the Spiritual forces of our Country and by beseeching God in prayer that the material supply for the Nation’s need will most effectually be obtained.... I call upon you by virtue of the office to which God has called me, to use this greatest of all weapons, this power of the Spirit, for the conquest of our foes, both our individual, personal sins, and our national vices and enemies.”

De Pencier travelled with the 62nd Battalion (British Columbia), Canadian Infantry to France in January 1916. He later served as Temporary Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class on attachment to No 1 Canadian General Hospital between late 1916 and 1918, and was made Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in April 1918, being twice mentioned in despatches. De Pencier also served for some time at Kinmel Park Camp, Rhyl in 1918, and was made OBE in that year. Returning to Canada, he is recorded as having taken part in a night of boxing at Vancouver University, where he: ‘Young’ De Pencier - ‘The Fighting Bishop’ (then aged 53!) took on ‘Battling Berto’ fought in a three-round ‘no-decision’ fight, which was recorded as having been ‘fast and even’.

Bishop de Pencier died in 1949.

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