Fr. Gardner Gave His Life

On August 14th, 1937, Father Philip J. Gardner (1905-1942), Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette, bade fond farewell to home and country, and set sail from New York, one of a pioneer mission band of five, whose destination was far away Burma (now Myanmar).

A Sad Passing and Too Soon…

Eight years to the day after departure, another scene, mournful yet hallowed with resigned faith, was enacted in the Church of St. Theresa, Manchester, New Hampshire. Religious confreres, parents and friends, mindful of Father Gardner's heroic sacrifice at the hands of Burmese bandits, attended the Pro-Burial Mass which was being offered to his revered memory. A message from His Excellency, the Most Rev. Timothy Crowley, C.S.C., Bishop of Dacca, Bengal, India, had officially confirmed the report of Father's tragic passing, more than three years ago, in the early days of Japanese conquest in the Far East.

Death came to the young missionary some five years after he had set foot in Burma and begun his strenuous work among a benighted people. Few yet fruitful had been these brief years in the darksome land of pagodas. The sudden closing of a promising missionary career brought a crowning glory to Father Gardner's cherished dream – that of laying down his life for his people. Blessed was he with the words of the Master, "Well done", as he appeared before him to report "Mission Completed".

An Unfortunate Situation

The sad Odyssey of Father Gardner's death trek began in Mandalay, in central Burma. When he learned that the storm of war was approaching his favorite mission in Prome District, he bravely set out with his companion, Father Joseph A. Proulx, M.S., to make his way back to one of his Catholic Chin villages near Prome.

In the maelstrom created by waves of refugees fleeing north, the two missionaries traveled four or five days by river boat. Stranded on the banks of the Irrawaddy River with considerable luggage, Fr. Gardner decided to go and find means of transportation that would take them to a village called Shwethathay. He left the luggage in charge of his companion and disappeared in the jungle never to return. After waiting three days and making a thorough search, Fr. Proulx concluded that the missionary, caught in the turmoil of the invasion, had crossed the military lines and was unable to retrace his steps.

It was not till some months afterwards that an Anglo-Indian refugee in a nearby village got news of what had happened. The Father, he learned, was trekking alone and was now nearing his destination. Very tired, he stopped at a village one evening for a cup of tea at the village tea-shop. Before leaving he took out his wallet to pay for this, but the kind Burmese man refused the payment.

A bad character, however, happened to be present and he followed the priest. The following morning the body of the priest was found by a group of Indian soldiers who were on their way to Assam. The body was lying in a drain alongside the main road and was covered with wounds.

The culprits had already cleared out of the village and the thugyi (head of the village) could produce only the wife and the children of the leader. The soldiers wanted to burn down the whole village, but some British soldiers arrived just in time to prevent this. Punishment, however, was not long delayed.
The Japanese had put up a transmitter wireless station in the village to report the passing of British planes. This was soon discovered by the R.A.F. (Royal Air Force). It was more than a year after the murder that one morning British heavy bombers suddenly appeared over the village and this wireless station and all the culprits with their families and huts were blown up.

An Eye-Witness Shares the Tragic Story

We have as yet but a very summary account of Fr. Gardner's last moments, the details having been ascertained by Sister Mary St. Marcie, of the Institute Our Lady of the Missions. Recently upon being released from interment in Burma, she revealed facts received from an eye-witness, a woman who attested having been present at the slaying. Waylaid by "Dacoits" (a class of bandits armed with weapons left behind by the military) Father Gardner offered them all that he possessed.

He pleaded only for his life, that he might help his war-stricken people. The Dacoits denied his entreaty: "We will have your money and your life." He then begged them to allow him a few moments giving him time to pray. As he knelt down to commend his soul to his maker and clasped his La Salette crucifix in his anointed hands, they fell upon him with their terrible "dhas", slashing and bludgeoning him to death. With a final blow, his head was severed.

The place is known where the Indian soldiers buried his remains. An English soldier in a Military Hospital in Dacca was found in possession of a La Salette Crucifix which apparently was the victim's own. The British veteran would not part with since he claimed it had many a time protected him from death in battle. The same soldier kept a strip of white cassock which he had also taken with him from the Burma jungle. These are the meagre details presently available on Fr. Gardner's heroic death.

His Family Roots

Rev. Philip J. Gardner, M.S., the son of Joseph and Jessie (Martel) Gardner, was born Jan. 29, 1905, in Manchester, NH. He was baptized in St. Anthony's Church; made his first communion in St. George's Church in 1912 and was confirmed in 1918 in the Blessed Sacrament Church of that same city. He received his early education at the Manchester Public School and Junior High.

On September 7th, 1924, he entered La Salette Seminary, Hartford, CT and completed his classical studies in 1928. On July 1st of that year he received the Habit and Crucifix of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette at La Salette Novitiate, Bloomfield, CT… He pronounced his first Religious Vows and was assigned to La Salette Seminary, Altamont, NY for his Major Studies in Philosophy and Theology.

He made his Perpetual Profession July 2nd, 1932. On May 26th, 1934,… he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood… His first appointment was to the teaching staff at La Salette Seminary, Enfield, N. H. After one year he was transferred to La Salette Seminary in Hartford, CT.

An Invitation to Serve in a Foreign Land

When the Provincial Superior, the Very Rev. Francis M. Kirby, M.S., launched his appeal for volunteers to the newly opened Foreign Mission Field in Arakan, Burma, in 1937, Father Gardner was among the five pioneer members who qualified and set out as trail-blazers to distant pagoda-land.

The youthful band reached Akyab in November of that year and lost no time learning the language and getting instructed in the charge of mission posts. Father Gardner began his work under the direction of Father Ducloz of the Holy Cross Congregation who initiated him in the task ahead of him.

Within a few months, due to his natural facility in learning the native dialect he was left in complete control of Gyeiktaw Station. During the next few years he directed the construction of a new Church in the neighboring village of Sandoway. He himself was the architect of the magnificent mission church, built with funds from a generous benefactor of Boston, MA.

When Msgr. Thomas M. Newman, M.S., dedicated this first Church of Our Lady of La Salette in Burma, in September 1941, Fr. Gardner was unable to be present, having just been appointed to Prome (now Pyay) where he was necessarily detained to arrange the transfer of the station to our congregation. It is part of the tragic story of his death to learn that the Church of Sandoway which he took so many pains to build, lies today in utter ruin, due to devastating air raids in the latter part of the war.

It was a significant coincidence that the Pro-Burial Mass for Father Gardner's soul was sung on the Eve of the Assumption, the morning of the day marked with the thrilling announcement of Japan's surrender and the long prayed for end of the war which exacted the tribute of his missionary life. It seems that the memorial service was timed to soften the shock of his loss with the assurance that his death had not been in vain but proved to be an effective share of sacrifice to bring peace unto a war-torn world.

No Greater Love Than This

The Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Theresa's Church, Manchester, X. PL, was celebrated by the Very Rev. Francis P. Crane, M.S., American Provincial... A large number of La Salette Fathers, and relatives and friends of the departed attended the Requiem Mass.

The Eulogy was given by Rev. Alphonse Hebert, M.S., Provincial Treasurer. He drew a vivid picture of the life and heroism of Father Gardner, stressing his fine qualities of soul and his devotedness to the cause for which he sacrificed his young life. No greater tribute to his memory could be offered than that of Christ: "Greater Love than this no man hath, that he lay down his life for his friends."

There is no gainsaying the absolute quality of the gift made by Father Gardner when setting all human fears aside, he set out to abide with his Chin Catholic people in the jungle as war threatened his tiny flock. He was duly cautioned by the American Consul in Maynyo not to undertake the perilous journey.

He was warned of the danger of capture by the enemy. There was the personal menace of robbery and assassination by roving groups of bandits, who sought the opportunity to give vent to their hatred of the white foreigner and of the teacher of Christian religion on some unhappy victim.

May He Rest In Peace

"This last jungle journey," wrote Rev. John B. Gorman, M.S., in the Boston Pilot, “Father well knew, might end in death but along this way were souls who needed him. Like many a missionary before him and with the courage of those who will finish the trial he can no longer trod, he set out to help the souls he lived for, the souls he was soon to die for. No cross marks the spot, no epitaph in stone heralds his sacrifice. Only grieving hearts of little children, tear-filmed eyes of strong men, the grateful lips of the people he loved will tell a story.”

“They will speak not of marching men in green and armor but of a young priest in white cassock and golden cross. After the stories of war's horrors have had their day, one jungle story will remain in their hearts. Down through the years they will tell their children how Father Gardner died that they might live forever with his God, who is now their God."

Taken in 1940, (on left) Fr. Gardner on an elephant along with two of his catechists; (from left) Frs. O’Sullivan, Gardner, Peredna, Desmarais and Lucey