1 8thRoyal Irish Fusiliers 49 thBrigade
16 thDivision
Woking
Surrey 1 December 1915 My dear Father, This must
only be a short note
as I am in a state
of transition at present.
I am writing from
the Head Chaplain's
home (Fr Mason) where
I slept last night,
and this morning
2 2
reported myself to the
Commanding Officer of
the 49 th Brigade, General
Longe, who was extremely
kind and gave me a
really warm welcome.
He nominated me to
the 8 th R.I. Fusiliers -
the famous "Faugh - a -
Ballagh" regiment, so I
hope soon "to clear the
way" for God's grace
when I get among them.
I have charge of two
Battalions, nearly 1,000
strong each, of whom 3 3 I hear, there are some
500 Dubliners, including
many old friends, I
am sure. I am
going over now to
report to Colonel Brown
who lives in Morehampton
Road, a regular fire
eater of the old school,
and get my quarters
in the Barrack. This
will only be for a
few days as we under
orders to march to a
new camp, Wakely,
Surrey. The prospect
at present is most 4 4 cheery; rain is falling
in sheets and blankets
too! I believe there
were roads here once but
they have long since
vanished beneath mud
and water — however we
are well fortified and
rather revel in slush &
wet. I am very lucky in
having as companion
chaplain in the Brigade
a splendid Tipperary
priest, Fr Kelly, with a
heart as big as himself
and he is huge. I
believe he is bringing
an elephant to the Front 5 5 as all the horses struck
when they saw him. We
are fast friends already
and as he has been
here some months he
has given me many
useful hints. We are bound for
France, which I think
will please you, but
we do not sail till
January. At present
we are under marching
orders for another camp
and leave this in a
(Excuse repetition.) 6 6 few days, our des-
tination being Witely,
Surrey. I heard in London
yesterday that some time
ago Lord Kitchener asked
the Provincial for 25
more chaplains: I can't
quite understand you
Jesuits, he said; a man
comes in, listens to his
orders in silence and
carries them out exactly
without a word of
complaint, no matter
how unpleasant the
duty may be. You 7 7 must be either a fine
body of men or very
deep! which shows that
even the great Kitchener
is afraid of the cunning
S.J. The Queen is coming down
to Aldershot tomorrow to
review the 16th Division
so I shall have an
opportunity for the
first time of seeing
an army on parade,
not to speak of a
view of her gracious
Majesty. I suppose 8 8 I am safe in
giving her your love.
I shall write as often
as I can but do
not write to me till
I send you my new
address. As regards
myself I am as fit
as a fiddle, as happy
as a sky-lark and
still going strong. Love to all and
sunday souls. Ever your loving son
Will. My proper address is
Rev William Doyle, C.7.