Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Hugh Doyle, 10 February 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 they have finally received their marching orders and that the regiment will join up with the rest of the 16th Division on the following Saturday in France. As a result of their change to active service Doyle and his fellow officers were warned of the consequences of desertion. While swearing off the act himself Doyle acknowledges that there was many a poor fellow who was seeking an end to it all. Doyle writes that the number of Catholics has increased to 3,500 and that many are anxious to swear their accounts with God. In a postscript on the first pages he notes that three soldiers have asked to become Catholics. 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-J2-83-24 https://letters1916.ie/item/3888 English Willie Doyle 1916-02-10 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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 I am instructingthree soldiers whohave asked tobecome Catholics. Bordon CampHants. 10/2/'16. My dear Father, At long last Ican say I am nearly agonner, as we have justgot marching orders forWed; next the 15th. It willtake two or three days to getthe whole Brigade away,our artillery alone, when onthe march, reaching in anunbroken line for at leastthree miles! I shall remainhere till the last so as toget as many to confessionas possible, but at latestthe last regiment will go 2. on Friday night, board shipat Southampton and bein France on Saturday. Itis an open secret that weare going there to joinup with the rest of the16th Division. The imparting this littlebit of news entailed apleasant ceremony. OurColonel informed us officiallythat as we were now underorders for active service anyofficer who attempted todesert would be arrested &at once shot. Made agood resolution not todesert, at least till I wastired of life. Of coursethere is not the smallestpossibility of any of us 3. trying for do so, but I amnot far wrong in sayingthat in his heart of heartsmany a poor fellow iswishing himself well outof it all. As for this child,like the Scriptural war-horsehe scents the battle fromafar and snorts, at thesame time (figurativelyat least) waggeth of histail from joy. I could easily get leave ofabsence to run across andsee you before we leave, butI know you would farsooner I should stay withmy men who duringthe last couple of dayshave been coming witha rush to square theiraccounts with God. Thenew drafts have brought our 4. number of R. Cs to 3,500,not including the artilleryand South Africans who arealso here, so I am notexactly eating the breadof idleness just now. I shall write as often as I canfrom the Front, but you mustnot mind if you do nothear from me for someweeks. When a big battleis on, lasting perhaps afortnight or more, the doctorsand chaplains are workingday & night, snatching anhour's sleep when best theycan. After Friday yourletters should be addressedas enclosed. Once more au revoir.' I amleaving behind me close ona ton of miraculous medalsetc sent by pious nuns as Ithink our Blessed Lord, Whom Ishall carry with me day & nightto give Viaticum to the dying,will be protection enough. Will. 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