Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 10 December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Willie Doyle

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Letter from Irish Jesuit Chaplain, Fr Willie Doyle SJ (1873-1917) to his father, Hugh Doyle, regarding his activities before being sent to the front. Fr Doyle describes his surroundings in Witley Camp for his father and laments over the constant trouble with mud in the camp. Doyle informs his father of the officer's rich diet at the camp, causing the officers to look forward to their dispatch to the real front so they can stop gaining weight. Doyle notes that he has a good number attending daily Holy Communion and also hosts confession and the rosary. Before signing off Doyle writes about his future movements and their expected dispatch to France. Fr Willie Doyle served as a military chaplain with the 8th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, 16th Irish Division. In April 1916 he was recommended for the Military Cross (MC) for helping to dig wounded men out of a collapsed shelter under fire. He moved to the 8th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers around Christmas, 1916. He was killed during the third battle of Ypres while going to the aid of a wounded man near Frezenberg and his body was never recovered. His name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.

 Irish Jesuit Archives IE-IJA-J2-83-6 https://letters1916.ie/item/3877 English Willie Doyle 1915-12-10 Witley Camp, Surrey, England Hugh Doyle Melrose, Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland Male 1917 World War I (1914-1918) Faith World War I (1914-1918)

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 J2183 (6) Many thanks forthe notes. 8th R. I. Fusiliers,Witley Camp,Surrey. 10/12/'15. My dear Father, Your welcomeletter came like a rayof sunshine remindingme of old times atRatcliffe when the arrivalof home news was aregular read letter day.The fact is I had almostcome to the conclusionthat I was living inCanada or Norway! Our 2 camp is built in themiddle of a vast pineforest, in the centre ofwhich a clearing hasbeen made for thehuts, parade ground etc. We are surrounded bytrees on every side; areal case of Pines, pineseverywhere and never adrop to drink. (I fear Iam getting mixedsomewhat). A few mainroads connect the differentsections of the campwhich extends for milesthrough the forest, but 3 the rest is clay or sand,which under the gentleinfluence of steady,almost unceasing rainfor the past fortnighthas reached a state ofmudpilism which bafflesdescription. I know nowthe exact meaning ofstuck in the mud, alamentable state ofthings which happensto one at least ascore of times each day. For all that we are ajolly, good humoured setof officers, and I amdaily feeling more and 4 more at home thoughthe work is fearfullyhard. To begin with,breakfast is a seriousundertaking consisting ofporridge, fish, bacon &eggs, toast and jam,with tea & coffee to Faugha Ballagh. Lunch atone means hot meator cold joint and potatoeswith a choice of sweets. By a tremendous effortwe are able to keepbody & soul together tilltea and cake at four,and a seven o' clockdinner, consisting ofsoup, fish, meat, sweets,fruit and coffee brings 5 J2/83 (7)an arduous day's workto a close. We all weara Sam Brown belt (usuallyknown as Buster Brown) —the addition of the adjectiveis obvious, no wonder weare all praying to getto the real Front soonto avoid catastrophy, asanother front is dailybecoming more visible. It is not very easy forme to get at the menbut I have Mass eachmorning at seven, agood number attendingwith a varying numberfor Holy Communion daily. 6 Between four and dinnertime I hear confessions,winding up with therosary which the menlike, judging by thecrowds who come. One of the soldiers whoserves at Mass is a Dalkeyman living at St. Patrick'scottages, named Duff; heknows you very well, &I suppose on that accounttakes good care thatI have all I want attable. We are to remain heretill the 22nd when wemove to Bordon Camp, 7 Hants, to join theother three battalions ofthe 49th Brigade. In oneway it is no harm tospend the most part ofthe winter at home,for we shall certainlyget as much roughingas we wish next Jan;The 47th and 48th Brigade,both part of the 16th Div,are sailing for Franceon the 15th so it is possiblewe may get orders soonerthan we expect. On the whole I mustsay my present life 8 in a most acceptablecharge & rest fromthe busy time of thepast few years. I amfeeling all the betterfor it but somewhatanxious about theBuster Brown Belt. You might send onany letters to the RevCharles for I find that escaped my correspondants. With much lovefrom your affectionate sonWillie. The address on the letterwas quite correct Witley Camp, Surrey, England Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 10 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 31 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 30 December 1915 Melrose, Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 20 July 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 23 September 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 1 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 10 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 17 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 24 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 29 April 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 19 June 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 26 October 1916 Willie Doyle Letter from Father Willie Doyle to Hugh Doyle, 10 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 20 July 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 23 September 1916Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Provincial Thomas Nolan, 13 May 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 25 January 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 25 February 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 1 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 10 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 31 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 30 December 1915Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 15 January 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Mai, 22 January 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 25 January 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 4 February 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 10 February 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Mai, 11 February 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 17 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 24 March 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 29 April 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 19 June 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 26 October 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J., 16 April 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 12 December 1915Postcard from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Sister M. Anthony, 7 April 1916