The improbable life of 'The Pinching Padre', a vicar with a thirst for adventure and ethical theft

Professor Daniel Reynaud on the incredible true story of an assuming vicar who turned out to be the most decorated military chaplain in Australian history, who had at one point lived his life on the edge.

During World War Two, a self-effacing man named Walter Dexter served as the vicar of a church in West Footscray.

Walter was in his 60s and his attempts to take up a career as a farmer and a teacher had failed, and so he’d returned to his earlier vocation as a clergyman.

His children regarded their father as apathetic and unambitious, who left a lot of half-completed projects around the house. 

But the people who knew Walter when he was younger, called him "terribly brave" and "larger than life" as Walter's earlier life was full of adventure, travel and great danger.

Walter's adventures began when he first boarded a ship at 14 years old.

By the end of the 19th century, and still a teenager, he’d seen Calcutta, New York, South Africa, Bombay and Tierra del Fuego.

Then, during World War One, Walter's courage and compassion under fire made him the most decorated military chaplain in Australian history.

Historian Daniel Reynaud has set the record straight about the improbable life of this unassuming vicar, known by the soldiers who loved him as 'The Pinching Padre'.

Sailor, Soldier, Vicar, Farmer: The Improbable Life of Anzac Chaplain Walter Dexter is published by Simon & Schuster.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Eliza Kirsch.

It explores military history, war, ANZAC Day, Dawn Service, military ethics, world war three, Egypt, Middle East, France, Europe, Germany, travel, sailing, maritime history, fathers, religion, Christianity, Church, biography, books, writing, Australian history, modern history, farming, agriculture, books for father's day.

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