Charles Harold Mawson, known as "Charlie", was born in Bradford in 1898. The family settled in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, and as a young man he took up employment in a bank. Around that time, he began to keep a diary, and the entries are notable for the honesty with which he muses on his desire to be a totally committed follower of Jesus Christ. However, following the passing of the Military Service Act in early 1916, on October 25th of that year he was called up for military service in the 2nd Life Guards, and was assigned to the Household Battalion. Diary entries ceased, but letters home (always liable to be censored) began. From the extracts from his letters it is clear that the aspirations expressed in his diary entries were fulfilled in his experiences at the infantry training camp in Windsor, where he took every opportunity presented, informally and in Christian services, to talk about His Saviour. But how would he fare when sent overseas to "France" (more accurately, Flanders, in Belgium)? He was only there for some 4 months, but his letters home reveal how faith can be triumphantly joyful in the most dangerous of circumstances. He is truly inspirational.He was taking part in an action at Poelcappelle, near Ypres, on October 12th, 1917, in the First Battle of Passchendaele, when a shell exploded nearby and he went to be for ever with his Lord and Saviour, no longer to be found on earth. He was 19 years and 8 months old. The effect of his life on his comrades in arms is well evidenced by the letters which they wrote to share memories of him with his family. His name is recorded on Panel 3 of the Tyne Cote Memorial to the Missing in Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium; but, as he himself said of other believers, "How splendid to leave the army with a record in the Lamb's Book of Life." The extracts from his diary and letters home form a fitting memorial: on reading them, the Bishop of Durham could write, "I bless God for this splendid young life, filled and used, first in peace, then in the fiery crucible of soldier-life, not by any vague 'new thought', nor worship of mere manhood, but by the old and unchangeable Gospel of the Grace of God in Christ" [Handley Moule, (May, 1918)].100 years have passed since that day in October 1917 and his story remains a challenge to us all: in these more settled days, do we face our problems with the same uncompromisingly cheerful faith as Charlie faced his?

About the Author
Charles Harold Mawson, known as "Charlie", was born in Bradford in 1898, the eldest son of the evangelist, author and editor of Scripture Truth, John Thomas Mawson (1871-1943). His younger sister, later Mrs Alice Chambers (1900-1995), was well-known as a speaker at Christian women's meetings and author of several books. The family settled in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, and as a young man he took up employment in a bank. On October 25, 1916, he was called up for military service in the 2nd Life Guards, and was assigned to the Household Battalion. The extracts from his diary and letters clearly show he shared his father's evangelistic fervour and the family talent for writing. Posted to Windsor for infantry training, he spent his spare time there engaged in Christian service. But God had other plans for him. After seven and a half months at Windsor, the Battalion was posted to "France" (actually Belgium) and less than four months later he was killed by shell fire at Poelcappelle on October 12th, 1917, during the early stages of the first battle of Passchendaele. He was 19 years and 8 months old. The extracts from his diary and letters home form a fitting memorial, for on reading them, the Bishop of Durham could write, with feeling, "I bless God for this splendid young life, filled and used, first in peace, then in the fiery crucible of soldier-life, not by any vague 'new thought', nor worship of mere manhood, but by the old and unchangeable Gospel of the Grace of God in Christ" [Handley Moule, (May, 1918)]

Reviews
To-day, in London, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, I have at last read "I am Kept" from end to end. As I closed the book, I found myself speaking aloud, though alone, a heartfelt thanksgiving. To me, in these tremendous days, when not only death and grief are so thick around us, in the great conflict for mercy, liberty and truth, but when it is almost as if "all things" were "coming to an end", and the very Gospel seems widely forgotten, it is inspiring and cheering in a wonderful way to read Charlie Mawson's diary and letters. I bless God for this splendid young life, filled and used, first in peace, then in the fiery crucible of soldier-life, not by any vague "new thought", nor worship of mere manhood, but by the old and unchangeable Gospel of the Grace of God in Christ. I bless my Lord for the message brought to me by this young believer, who, like Hedley Vicars long ago, "burnt his boats", let himself be "a marked man" (while never forgetting that the "marked man" must be the bright, unselfish, simple-hearted comrade), and found the reality of the promised "keeping power" alike in Bank, Billet, and Battle-field, and so left a radiant track of light behind him. Charlie Mawson is indeed not dead. He lives with his Lord above, and he lives as His Witness here in these bright pages. You have done well to produce the beautiful booklet, with the portrait, eloquent of purest and bravest happiness, for its frontispiece. God give it wide circulation, and follow it with blessing to every reader. [Prefatory letter from the Bishop of Durham, Handley Carr Glyn Moule (1841-1920), May 12th, 1918]



Book Information
ISBN 9780901860545
Author Charles Harold Mawson
Format Paperback
Page Count 46
Imprint Scripture Truth Publications
Publisher Scripture Truth Publications
Weight(grams) 67g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 140mm * 2mm