Service

Kerrash !!! B- o - o - m ! ! Wh -o- o - sh!!

The enemy bombardment was very heavy. All senior NCOs were out of action. Sam was now in command, holding an isolated trench. A runner ran for assistance; huge shells fell within 20 yds of him, but he continued to dig out casualties in full view of the enemy and at close range from the German trenches. For the courage which saved at least 4 lives in November, 1915 in France, Corporal Samuel Meekosha was Leeds-born but claimed by Bradford as its first VC of WWI, he was the son of a Polish father and English mother, awarded the Victoria Cross.

Every VC winner is special; what marks him out?

Samuel was 25 when the Great War ended and so young enough to volunteer for WWII. His unusual name led people to ask him: ‘Aren’t you the chap that won the VC?’ As with so many holders of that medal, Samuel was very modest and dismissive of the act that earned him it. But the continued attention forced drastic action - he changed his name! He shortened his mother’s maiden name, Cunningham, to Ingham.

But the drastic action went painfully-deeper than taking scissors to mam’s name! Samuel had been immensely proud of his dad’s, Alexander’s, Polish roots. But the last traces of that had to go, too, if he was to get rid of the glare of publicity.

I was reminded of Sam Meekosha when reflecting on Jesus’ advice for those who want to be great in God’s Kingdom, who want to be first, even. Maybe you are surprised that He gave such advice. But, hey, we are human and God will not deny the basic instincts of human nature, one of which is the entirely laudable desire to do well, do better, be the best! The mother of two brothers, disciples, asked Jesus to give her boys pre-eminence in the coming Kingdom. Now, Jesus couldn’t grant that, as it happens, but when the others, angry at feeling outflanked, protested, Jesus outlines the way to greatness, superiority: it is by going down low, as low as you can!

What is the lowest a human being can go? Serving others. Serving sacrificially from the heart. That is to be the Christian’s ambition. Now, is that radical, or what? All the drive and thrusting eagerness to get to the top, sacrificed to exalt others rather than self.

Sam Meekosha sacrificed the surname which meant so much to him. That was preferable to popularity. Jesus sacrificed much more than a name, both as an example and so that we could get in to that Kingdom. Who’s up for this life?