Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 3 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Henry V Gill

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Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ (1872-1945), Irish Jesuit Chaplain, to Father Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ (1867-1941). Fr Gill writes of the effect of the Easter Rising on Irish troops at the front, particularly those of the 16th Irish Division. He describes conditions at the front and the weariness of 18 months of war. The son of H.J. Gill, head of the publishing firm, M. H. Gill & Son, Henry was educated at Clongowes Wood College and University College Dublin. He possessed an acumen for mathematics and science and studied in Louvain and under Professor J.J. Thompson, Cavendish Laboratories, Cambridge (1906 - 1908). Fr. Gill had a special interest in seismography: 'Experiments with Spinning Tops to illustrate earthquake reactions' was the title of a lecture given by Henry Gill at the Cavendish Laboratory, 16 June 1908. It is recorded that the hardship of four years as a chaplain in WWI, had a lasting effect on Fr. Gill. Fr. Henry Gill SJ was awarded the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order with the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles.

Irish Jesuit Archives IE IJA/CHP1/25/47 https://letters1916.ie/item/2581 English Henry V Gill 1916-05-03 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, British Expeditionary Force, France St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin Male 1945 World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918)

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 CHPI/25/ 2 Royal Irish Rifles B.E.F France 3/5/16 Dear Fr Provincial PC, We cannot think of anything else than the terrible things which have been going on in Dublin. Please God it is over now and that the authorities will use - as I am sure they will - tact in dealing with it. We only see the accounts in English, and French, newspapers. I hope none of our people have suffered in the affair. Nothing has effected Irishmen out here more than this. I have to doubt things will soon be righted again. But it has been a big lesson. Many who ought have known better seem to have been asleep. - But least said soonest mended. I pity the poor young lads who got entangled into so horrible an affair. I see the XVI Division have been in it. We too have had a bad week, but being of an Irish regiment lost in an English army corps we never get any praise. Ground mines were sprung and rushed by the Germans, but our boys got into them at once and grabbed them back.It was most ticklish for a bit, but they got more than they expected It will be known some day. Personally I am well, but utterly jogged out. Last 18 months with hardly a free day is a long strain, officially when there is the responsibility for well near a thousand souls scattered over any number of units. The few days leave are certainly no rest, but relieves me of the responsibility for a few days. You can judge from newspapers quite as well as we can as to the chances of another year. It will be time enough to consider the question. Of my going in a few months hence, but as things go now, I certainly do not feel that I ought to. I long for a comfortable rest. It is as by sense centred I feelings and imagin- ation that it is possible to keep going on. I know that a chaplain can do just that as much or as little as suits him, but I should be ytterly unhappy were I not able to do the work which has to be done. I have not seen any of our people since I saw Fr. Doyle some months ago, even he complained of the physical fatigue! You see I'm a rather bad bit of the hive, when there was a bout of fighting a year or less ago. He has to walk over an old battlefield to get to our trenches; but I cannot say where we are. Please give my kindest regards to all. I believe the "Declaration" if any is for the kings birthday list. The last declaration would be the permanent possession if a blackcoat! Hoping all will soon be quiet again, Believe me dear Rev Father. Yours by H.V. Gill Henry V Gill Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 24 June 1916Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ to Father Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ, 11 July 1916Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 3 May 1916 St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin Letter from Fr Francis M Browne SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 21 August 1916Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ to Father Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ, 11 July 1916Letter from Fr Patrick Morris SJ to Father Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ, 24 September 1916Letter from Fr Jerome O'Mahony SJ to his Father Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ, 25 May 1916Letter from Fr Daniel Roche SJ to his Father Provincial, Thomas V Nolan SJ,, May 1916Letter from Fr Joseph Wrafter SJ to his Father Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ, 6 July 1916Letter from Mr Henry A. Johnston SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 17 February 1916Letter from Fr Nicholas J Tomkin SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 7 June 1916Letter from Fr James Brennan SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 21 August 1916Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 3 May 1916 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, British Expeditionary Force, France Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 24 June 1916Letter from Fr Henry Gill SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 3 May 1916