Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 25 January 1916 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. Doyle informs his father that their deployment date has been delayed due to an outbreak of sickness. However, Doyle believes this may be for the best as soldiers from the 16th are being sent back from France for more training. Doyle writes about spending several days in London and convincing Fr Bernard Vaughan to come to the camp to give a talk. 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-J2-83-20 https://letters1916.ie/item/3886 English Willie Doyle 1916-01-25 Bordon Camp, Hampshire, England Hugh Doyle Melrose, Dalkey, Dublin, Ireland Male 1917 World War I (1914-1918) Faith World War I (1914-1918)

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 J2/83 (20) Borden Camp. 25/1/'16. ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS8th (SERVICE) BATTALION. My dear Father, L'hommepropose but the Lordknocks the skittles down —another version of the oldproverb. Everything wasarranged for us to leavefor the Front on Mon:31st when some sicknessbroke out in Camp & 2.now we do not knowwhen we are going. Perhapsafter all it does notmake much differenceas the War Office hasat last discovered thatsoldiers, officers especiallycannot be made in aday and that otherthings besides braverycount at the Front.The result is that alarge number of thenew troops, includingthe 16th Division, havebeen sent back tothe base in France 3.to do more training, sothat though we areall a bit put outthrough so many falsestarts and disappoint—ments we are jollyglad to remain hereinstead of beingstuck in a Frenchcamp away from allthe fun (?). I have been away in Londonfor three days, a welcomebreak from the deadlymonotony of camp life.I had some little businessto do which I combined 4.with a generous measureof pleasure and sightseeing. While at Farm StI asked Fr Bernard Vaughanif he could manage tocome down & give mymen a talk; he verykindly promised to doso and gave us amost amusing and in—teresting talk last Sunday,quite a distinguishedgathering being present,including the General,who was very gratifiedby the honour done hisBrigade. J2/83 (21) 5. ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS8th (SERVICE) BATTALION. Your welcome letter hasjust reached me; forwhich many thanks. I must congratulateyou on being made anS.J. — I presume Generalof the Irish Province —That being so I shall bedeeply grateful if youwill see that all future£5 find their way inthis direction and arenot mopped up by theRev Limerick shark! 6.I am sorry I mustcut this letter shortas I am called awayand may not have achance of writing forsome time. If anynews comes of our departureI shall let you knowin good time. Au revoir. Excuse hasteEver your lovingWill. Bordon Camp, Hampshire, England Letter 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 1916 Melrose, Dalkey, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Father Willie Doyle to Hugh Doyle, 10 March 1916Letter 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 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 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