The Story of Fr Francis Vernon Douglas

I am showing you that I can retell something by reading it and using my own words to retell it.

Father Douglas was really good at sports particularly good at Boxing, Cricket, Rugby and Handball. After he left school he worked for a year in the Post Office and later on went to study for the priesthood. Later on in 1938 he set sail for the Philippines and arrived in his new parish Pililla.

Late in 1941 the Japanese army invaded the Philippines and the Philippines became involved with the second world war. Father Douglas had plenty of time to leave but he was loyal to his people and chose to stay with his people during the terrifying time. The Japanese took Father Douglas because they thought that he was a spy and often was interrogated.

After Guerilla raids in 1943 Father Douglas was arrested by the soldiers, beaten and tied to a pillar in the church and he was left there for three days. A wooden slab was put across his middle and the soldiers would jump up and down on him. They thought by taunting Father Douglas that he would reveal where the guerillas would be. But Father Douglas wouldn’t say a word. The Japanese put Father Douglas’ body inside a military truck. When the truck returned Father Douglas was missing. His body was never found, they believed he died on 10 July 1943. He was only 33.