Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 12 December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Willie Doyle

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Letter from Irish Jesuit Chaplain, Fr Willie Doyle SJ (1873-1917) to Father Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ (1867-1941) informing Nolan about his recent movements. Doyle writes that their accommodation is comfortable but cold, yet despite the ad weather they are keeping in good spirits. Doyle also comments that despite the battalion being nearly all Irish there are only five Catholics out of thirty-four men. Despite this Doyle believes there is a lot of good work to be done as overall he has 3,000 men to look after. 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. Fr. Thomas V Nolan was the Provincial of the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus (1912-1922) and was a member of the Distribution Committee which looked after the welfare and distribution of the the Belgian refugees who arrived in Ireland as a consequence of the First World War. During the Rising Nolan was based at St Francis Xavier’s, Upper Gardiner Street and, alongside Rector Fr John Fahy SJ, risked his life in aiding the wounded and supplying local areas with food and milk.

 Irish Jesuit Archives IE-IJA-CHP1-14-1 https://letters1916.ie/item/4474 English Willie Doyle 1915 Whitley Camp, Surrey, England Thomas V. Nolan Male 1917 Faith World War I (1914-1918)

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 CHPI/14(I) 8thR.I.F.49th BrigadeWhitley CampSurrey 12/12/'15. Dear F. Provincial, I shouldhave written to yourReverence before thisonly I had no verydefinite news to give.We came here fromWohing last Saturday and remain tillthe 22nd when we moveto Bordon Camp, Surreyto join the other threebattalions of the 49thBrigade and remainthere till we sail forFrance, which willnot be till Jan, Ibelieve. We are living inwooden huts, which arecomfortable enoughthough rather cold asthere is no means of heating them noratWohing. Inadditon it has beenraining almost in-cessantly for the pastfortnight which doesnot tend to makethings more pleasant,but for all that weare in the best ofspirits, the officers beinga very nice set offellows, practically allIrish, though onlyfive Catholics out of34. There is abundance of good work to be doneamong the men asmy companion, F. Kellyfrom Cashel, and myselfhave the best part of3,000 men to look after,but neither of us willbe sorry to go on tothe Front. Asking a remembrancein your Reverece's Name,Believe meYours obediently in W. Doyle. SJ Kindly give enclosednote to Fr Farley. Whitley Camp, Surrey, England Letter from Father Willie Doyle S.J. to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 12 December 1915 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