First World War (1914-1918)

Taxonomy

Code

Scope note(s)

Source note(s)

Display note(s)

Hierarchical terms

First World War (1914-1918)

First World War (1914-1918)

Equivalent terms

First World War (1914-1918)

  • UF World War One
  • UF WW1
  • UF The Great War
  • UF 1914-1918 war
  • UF First World War

Associated terms

First World War (1914-1918)

186 Collection results for First World War (1914-1918)

186 results directly related Exclude narrower terms

Belgian refugees in Ireland

Letters, telegrams, memoranda and notes relating to Belgian refugees in Ireland. Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ was a member of the Distribution Committee ‘appointed by the Local Government Board to look after the welfare and distribution of the Belgian Refugees arriving in Dublin’. Most of the letters comprise offers to house refugees or concern schemes to aid them, both physically and spiritually. Includes:
– letter from Dr Bernard Coyne, Bishop of Elphin (1913-1926) to Lady Moloney seeking her assistance in the securement of a disused barracks in order to provide shelter for Belgian refugee families (21 Oct. 1914, 1p.);
– bills from drapers and household stores for items purchased for the refugees;
– letters relating to troubles between Protestants and the Catholic refugees in Portadown;
– letters to Fr Nolan from refugees and members of the Belgian Refugees Committee;
– lists of names and locations of refugees in Ireland and names and addresses of people who housed refugees.

On 17 October 1914, the Father Provincial of the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus, Thomas V. Nolan, received a letter from the Local Government Board to go down to the North Wall at 7.30am on the 18th and meet the 100 Belgian refugees ‘and one hundred each of the following days’. This was due to ‘a few of your Order, who speak Flemish’. Subsequently, the Irish Provincial became a member of the Distribution Committee which looked after the welfare and distribution of refugees arriving in Ireland. The Irish Jesuits received offers to house the refugees and organised schemes to aid them, both physically and spiritually.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial and printed pamphlets relating to the First World War

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial and printed pamphlets relating to the War. Includes: circular sent to the Irish Fr Provincial from the Irish Volunteers protesting against the proposal to introduce conscription in Ireland;
– letter from the Irish National Aid and Volunteer Dependants’ Fund seeking contributions towards their ‘Gift Sale’ in order to raise funds [for the administration of the campaign against the introduction of conscription];
– circular and printed matter from the Irish War Savings Committee seeking support for their ‘Thrift campaign’;
– letter from the Lord Lieutenant’s Private Secretary regarding a proposal to establish a fund ‘to be devoted to the purchase of literature suited to be despatched to Irish Regiments at the front’, also includes copy of Irish Fr Provincial’s reply;
– copy letter from Andrew Bonar Law (Treasury Chambers, Whitehall) to the Irish Fr Provincial seeking a subscription to ‘the new War Loan’.
Also includes printed matter on ‘Catholicism and War’; ‘Voluntary Women Patrols’ and an ‘Address From the French Catholic Association for Young People. To the young Catholics – Allies and Neutrals’.

Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the First World War

Thirty-two Jesuit chaplains of the Irish Province served in the First World War. They served on the battlefields of France, Belgium, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Four Jesuits were killed: Frs John Gwynn (12 October 1915), William Doyle (17 August 1917), Michael Bergin (12 October 1917) and John Fitzgibbon (18 September 1918). Two Jesuits died from illness: Frs Austin Hartigan (16 July 1916) and Edward Sydes (15 November 1918).

Approximately eleven Irish-born Jesuit chaplains of the English Province served in in the First World War. They included Frs Timothy Carey (Cork) and Walter Montagu (Cromore, Portstewart, County Derry) who both died on active service. Fr William Keary SJ (Woodford, Galway) initially joined the Irish Province but transferred to the English Province.

The majority of letters are from individual chaplains to the Irish Jesuit Provincial Fr Thomas V. Nolan SJ, (1914-1919). There are some postcards, photographs and medals. Some are rich in details (Fr Daniel Roche SJ, 43 items) others have but an obituary. Includes letters to the Irish Jesuit Provincial from Archbishop’s House, Westminster, England concerning the nomination of various Irish Jesuits as chaplains to the forces and their demobilisation, letters on wages and expenditures of chaplains and the appeal for chaplains. Six Jesuits served with the Australian army.

Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ mainly from Archbishop’s House, Westminster

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ mainly from Archbishop’s House, Westminster, London, England concerning the nomination of various Irish Jesuits as chaplains to the forces. Includes letters concerning Fr Joseph Wrafter’s nomination as chaplain to prisoners of war in Holland, a move contested by the Provincial who saw it in effect, as ‘putting him (Fr Wrafter) on the shelf’ (26 December 1917 – 15 January 1918, 3 items).

McClement, Fr Kerr

Letters from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Willie Doyle SJ written during his time as a chaplain attached to the 8th Brigade Irish Fusiliers, 49th Brigade, and the 8th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, B.E.F., France. Missing original letter 31 December 1915, but have photocopy.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ following Fr Willie Doyle’s death

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ following Fr Willie Doyle’s death in action on 17 August 1917, from Fr Kerr McClement, Archbishop’s House, Westminster, Fr William Feran SJ, English Province, Farm Street, London and Fr M. O'Connell, Senior Chaplain (R.C.), H.Q., 16th Division, B.E.F..

Feran, William, 1869-1942, Jesuit priest

Letters and postcards to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr John Elliott SJ

Letters and postcards to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr John Elliott SJ, written during his time serving as a military chaplain in Catterick Camp, Yorkshire and at the Officer's Hospital, Burley on the Hill, Oakham, Rutland, England.

Postcard of Burley on the Hill, Oakham, Rutlandshire - ‘This is a gorgeous place inside + outside. It is the finest house I have ever seen. Charles and I stayed here when it belonged to the Duke of Buckingham’, (28 October 1918) where Fr Elliott convalesced from a bout of double pneumonia (‘I am only 8st 7lbs with my clothes on’).

Elliott, John J, 1857-1942, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Various memoranda sent to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ

Various memoranda sent to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ. Includes lists of Irish Jesuit chaplains and their addresses; estimates for chaplain’s uniform; memoranda concerning the appeal for military chaplains serving at home and abroad and their origins and ‘Memorial to the Irish Hierarchy re Shortage of Catholic Chaplains.’ Includes:

  • remembrance card for the 2nd Battalion of Irish Guards, attending mission in Cologne, January 1919;
  • name card (O.H.M.S) for wounded man's kit, belonging to Lieut Sheil, No 2. Squadron, R.A.F. (Frac. skull);
  • carte postale depicting Fr Frank Browne and Irish soldiers at Loudres, France, 30 October 1918;
  • carte postale depicting Fr Jerome O'Mahony's altar, 23 September 1918;

Documents relating to Fr John FitzGibbon SJ during his time serving as a chaplain

Documents relating to Fr John FitzGibbon SJ during his time serving as a chaplain attached to 23rd and 16th Field Ambulance, B.E.F., France. Includes letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr FitzGibbon (14 March 1916 – [April 1918], 19 items) and documents relating to Fr FitzGibbon’s death in action on 18 September 1918, including official letters from General Headquarters, British Armies in France, solicitors’ letters and official certificate of death (20 September 1918 – 25 May 1919, 16 items).

FitzGibbon, John, 1882-1918, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Documents relating to Fr Joseph Flinn’s during his time serving as a chaplain

Documents relating to Fr Joseph Flinn’s time as a chaplain attached to VI Corps Rest Station North, 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Munster Fusiliers, the 60th and 88th Brigade, R.G.A., B.E.F., France. Includes: certificate appointing Fr Flinn Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Land Forces (Temporary) (22 March 1917, 1p.);
– letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Flinn written from the Front (31 January 1917 – 10 October 1918, 21 items).

Flinn, Daniel Joseph, 1877-1943, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to Fr Henry Gill SJ from Mary Maura Ostyn, O.S.B., Prioress of Ypres

Letters to Fr Henry Gill SJ from Mary Maura Ostyn, O.S.B., Prioress of Ypres, 11 Harwood Avenue, London, England asking Fr Gill to salvage the contents of the Benedictine abbey at Ypres. Contains details of all the convent’s treasures and where they have been hidden. Includes letter from Baron H. Kervyn de Letterrhov[e] concerning the destroyed treasures.

Ostyn, Mary Maura, 1868-1940, Benedictine sister

Second draft of unpublished manuscript by Fr Henry Gill SJ recording his time as a chaplain

Unpublished manuscript by Fr Henry Gill SJ recording his time as a chaplain, entitled ‘1914 – 1918 As seen by a Chaplain with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles’. Completed in 1933. Includes newspaper and journal articles and fifteen pages of original photographs. Manuscript appears to be an amended version of CHP1/27.

Gill, Henry V, 1872-1945, Jesuit priest, scientist and chaplain

Photocopies of obituary of Fr John Gwynn SJ

Photocopies of obituary from the Sunday Freeman of Fr John Gwynn SJ and a photograph of him as published in a supplement given away with the Weekly Freeman. Includes photographs of Fr Gwynn’s Memorial Tablet and a transcript of the inscription and document relating to his death (obituaries and appreciation by Lord Desmond Fitzgerald).

Miscellaneous letters and notes to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ

Miscellaneous letters and notes to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ. Includes rough notes of wages and expenditure of various Jesuit chaplains (n.d., 3pp),and replies from the Senior Chaplain, Australian Imperial Force on transport to Australia for acting chaplain. Includes a note from Fr William Feran SJ, that he has commissioned him (Fr Henry Gill SJ) to discover and exterminate the influenza microbe' (18 December 1918).

Feran, William, 1869-1942, Jesuit priest

Documents relating to Fr John Gwynn's service as a chaplain

Documents relating to Fr John Gwynn's service as a chaplain attached to the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards, B.E.F., France. Includes:

  • letters written by Fr John Gwynn volunteering to be a chaplain (23 August – 8 November 1914, 2 items);
  • documentation dealing with Fr Gwynn's appointment as a military chaplain (9 November 1914 - 16 March 1915, 9 items) including the certificate appointing him chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Land Forces, (Temporary) (16 March 1915, 1p.);
  • certificate of safe conduct with attached photo of Fr Gwynn (4 July 1915, 1p.);
  • letters and notes sent to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ (n.d., 3 items);
  • official letters sent to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ following Fr Gwynn’s death in action on 12 October 1915 (11 October 1915 – 19 September 1921, 23 items);
  • pamphlet 'A Great Irish Chaplain: Father John Gwynn SJ' by John Bithrey SJ (n.d., 20pp);
  • material on centenary of Fr Gwynn's death - the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton celebrated Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, Caterham, Surrey, England where the Irish Guards have erected a tablet in Fr Gwynn’s memory (11 October 2015).

Gwynn, John, 1866-1915, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Documents relating to Fr Austin Hartigan's service as military chaplain

Documents relating to Fr Austin Hartigan's service as military chaplain. Includes:
– certificate appointing Fr Hartigan chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Land Forces (Temporary) (12 January 1916, 1p.);
– letters written to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ by Fr Hartigan while serving in Mesopotamia with the Connaught Rangers (20 March 1916 – n.d., 5 items);
– documents relating to Fr Hartigan's death in Amara on 16 July 1916 (from jaundice) (27 July 1916 - 15 August 1918, 12 items).

Hartigan, Jeremiah Austin, 1882-1916, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letter and postcard to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Joseph Hearn SJ

Letter and postcard to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Joseph Hearn SJ, written during his time serving as chaplain attached to the Australian Expeditionary Force, Dardanelles and the 7th Infantry Battalion, II Infantry Brigade, A.I.F., Mediterranean.

Hearn, Joseph, 1854-1941, Jesuit priest

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr James McCann SJ written during his time as chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr James McCann SJ written during his time as chaplain to the 4th Reserve Battery, R.G.A., Winchester and Sialkot C.F.A. 4th Cavalry Division, Supply Column, B.E.F., France. Also includes items relating to the ill health (The Prince of Wales', Hospital for Officers), renewal of Fr McCann’s contract as chaplain and his demobilisation. (See also CHP1/10/1 which is a letter from Fr McCann to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ 12 June [1917]).

McCann, James, 1875-1951, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Stanislaus MacLoughlin SJ written while serving as a chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Stanislaus McLoughlin SJ written while serving as a chaplain attached 12th (2nd Reserve) Battalion and the 58th T.R. Battalion, The Welsh Regiment, Rhyl and 53rd S.W.B., Rhyl.

MacLoughlin, Stanislaus, 1863-1956, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Patrick Morris SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial written while serving as chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Patrick Morris SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written while serving as chaplain to 2/8 Battalion, L.F., Sobraon Barracks, Colchester and also in France, before being sent back to England in November 1917 with ‘clinical dysentery.’

Morris, Patrick J, 1882-1966, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Hugh Mulhall SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial written during his time as a chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Hugh Mulhall SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written during his time as a chaplain to the 3/1st East Lancashire Division, Codford, Wiltshire and 5th East Lancashire Regiment, Witley Camp, Surrey and in Park Hall Camp, Oswestry.

Mulhall, Hugh, 1871-1948, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Francis X O'Brien SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written while a chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Francis X O'Brien SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written while a chaplain attached to the No. 5 Prisoners of War Company, B.E.F., France and the 30th General Hospital, B.E.F., France.

O'Brien, Francis X, 1881-1974, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters from Fr Jerome O'Mahony SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters from Fr Jerome O'Mahony SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written during his time as a chaplain in the 5th Canadian General Hospital Salonika, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, the 43rd General Hospital Salonika, H.M.H.S. “Egypt,” the 78th General Hospital Alexandra and P.L. of C., Haifa, Palestine, E.E.F.

O'Mahony, Jerome C, 1869-1930, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Bernard Page SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Bernard Page SJ written during his time as a chaplain with the No. 2 Cavalry Field Ambulance, B.E.F., France. Includes letter of complaint to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ (12 April 1917, 6pp) re Fr Page and Fr Page’s replies (22 – 30 April 1917, 3 items).

Page, Bernard F, 1877-1948, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Francis M Shaw SJ while serving as chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Francis M Shaw SJ written while serving as chaplain in France, India and Mesopotamia (3rd General Hospital, B.E.F., France; No. 37 and No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station, B.E.F., France; 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, B.E.F., France; 11th Field Ambulance, B.E.F., France; No. 16 Casualty Clearing Station, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force).

Shaw, Frank M, 1881-1924, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning Fr Sydes’ death in London on 15 November 1918

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from the Senior Chaplain (R.C.), Australian Imperial Force, [Fr Thomas King] and Frs William Feran and John H Wright, Farm Street, London concerning Fr Sydes’ death in London on 15 November 1918 as a result of bronchitis and thrombosis.

Feran, William, 1869-1942, Jesuit priest

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Patrick Tighe SJ while serving as chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Patrick Tighe SJ written while serving as chaplain with the 15th Battalion, A.I.F., B.E.F. and on his way to Australia. Named places have been cut out of a letter (24 January 1917).

Tighe, Patrick, 1866-1920, Jesuit, priest, chaplain and missionary

Correspondence between Thomas V. Nolan SJ, the War Office and T. Stratton, Staff Officer to Principal Chaplain

Correspondence between the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ, the War Office and T. Stratton, Staff Officer to Principal Chaplain (R.C.), concerning the demobilisation of various Irish Jesuits and the need for chaplains for transport ships to Australia.

Nolan, Thomas V, 1867-1941, Jesuit priest

Scrapbook belonging to Rev. Major Henry Gill SJ

Scrapbook belonging to Rev. Major Henry Gill SJ. Includes letters from the War Office and memorabilia relating to his tasks as chaplain to the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles.

Gill, Henry V, 1872-1945, Jesuit priest, scientist and chaplain

Obituaries of Frs Edward Sydes SJ

Obituary of Fr Edward Sydes SJ, who died 15 November 1918, taken from 'Letters and Notices', Vol.35, January 1919 and Fr Bernard Page SJ, born in India, raised in Australia.

Letters and Notices, 1863-

Obituary of Fr Walter Montagu SJ

Obituary of Fr Walter Montagu SJ (English Province) who was killed 31 October 1918, taken from 'Letters and Notices', Vol.35, January 1919, pp28 - 30.

Letters and Notices, 1863-

Obituaries of Irishmen who joined the English Province and served as chaplains in the First World War

Obituaries from 'Letters and Notices' of Irishmen who joined the English Province and served as chaplains. Obituaries collected are highlighted in bold (Fr Bernard Page SJ, born in India, but Australian has an obituary, see CHP1/71). This list in not exhaustive (consult document British Jesuit Chaplains in World War I). See CHP1/72 for the obituary of Fr Walter Montagu SJ (English Province) who was killed 31 October 1918, taken from Letters and Notices, Vol. 35., pp28 - 30,

Carey, Timothy, Letters and Notices 35 (1919)
Duffy, John, Letters and Notices 66 (1961)
Fleming, Francis (1876-1939), no entry in Letters and Notices
Gallagher, George, Our Dead, III (1944-45)
Gallagher, James, Letters and Notices 66 (1961)
Irwin, Francis, Letters and Notices 52 (1957), 53 (1938)
Keary, William, Letters and Notices 63 (1958)
Wolfe, Patrick, Our Dead, II (1941-43)
Woodlock, Francis, Our Dead, I (1939-40); BH/4*
Woodlock, Joseph, Letters and Notices 57 (1949)

Letters and Notices, 1863-

Obituary for Fr Frederick Peal SJ

Obituary for Fr Frederick Peal SJ taken from 'Letters and Notices'. Fr Frederick Peal SJ (sometimes spelt, Peel). Born in India, 1864, he belonged to the Belgian Province and later worked and died in India, 1934...he was in the Irish Catalogue in 1917, 1st Connaught Rangers, Lahore Div. He wrote 3 books called 'War Jottings' published in 1916 by the Catholic Orphan Press Calcutta. Book 3 is Mesopotamia.

Letters and Notices, 1863-

Pamphlets issued by the War Office

Pamphlets issued by the War Office on ‘The Abolition of flies in camps, billets and hospital. Circular Memorandum No.8.’, 24 June 1916, (7pp) and ‘Roman Catholic Chaplains. Information and Hints. British Armies in France. January 1917’, (21pp), possibly in the possession of Fr Henry Gill SJ. A section of ‘Roman Catholic Chaplains’ is underlined, where the chaplain should live, p.11, ‘with the Transport when the Battalion is in the trenches, unless by arrangement with the Senior Chaplain, it is decided that he shall be in the trenches’. Material hand in by Margaret Doyle, Archivist, Clongowes Wood College, 9 January 2017.

Letters and postcards from Fr Frank Browne SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ

Letters and postcards to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Francis M. Browne SJ, written during his time serving as a chaplain to the forces – 1st and 2nd Battalions, Irish Guards, British Expeditionary Force, France and 2nd Battalions, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 16th Division.

Browne, Francis M, 1880-1960, Jesuit priest, photographer and chaplain

Prayer leaflet entitled ‘League of Prayer’, from St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin

Prayer leaflet entitled ‘League of Prayer’, from St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin: ‘Thousands of our fellow-countrymen, thousands of our co-religionists in France and Belgium, thousands who, though they do not profess our Faith, are united to us by ties of friendship and interest, are exposed to every danger, and hardship, and suffering, that must attend the present war’.

Letters from Fr Patrick O'Mara SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning his commission to join an Irish regiment as a chaplain in the war

Letters from Fr Patrick O'Mara SJ, Leighlinbridge, County Carlow to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ concerning the taking of a retreat provided he can have a rest beforehand and his commission to join an Irish regiment as a chaplain in World War One.

O'Mara, Patrick, 1875-1969, Jesuit priest, chaplain and missioner

Letters from Fr James Brennan SJ, Superior, Rathfarnham Castle to Irish Fr Provincial concerning life at Rathfarnham Castle

A file of letters from Fr James Brennan SJ, (Superior), Rathfarnham Castle, Rathfarnham, County Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ concerning the move of the community to Rathfarnham, the running of the house, bills and finances and the care of the Juniors. Includes:

  • a letter concerning the various work being carried out in preparation for the community occupying the Castle. Remarks 'This is the first letter written by a Jesuit from the above address.' (6 August 1913, 4pp);
  • a letter referring to the ceiling paintings in the refectory. Remarks 'I think it would be wise not to put up the pictures in the refectory until we get the complete set.' (18 April 1914, 3pp);
  • a letter referring to a consultation at which it was remarked that the Juniors are not as well fed as they should be. Remarks that the lunch needs to be improved. (20 September 1914, 4pp);
  • a letter referring to workmen needed to clean out the pond and work on the farm. Refers to injuries sustained by Fr John Gwynn as a military chaplain. Asks Irish Fr Provincial to ask the newly appointed Fr General to bless the Irish Juniorate (14 February 1915, 4pp);
  • a letter referring to the success of the Juniors in the University exams. (30 June 1915, 2pp);
  • a letter referring to the scholarships won by the Juniors (amounting to £1,000). Remarks 'it would argue want of taste to suggest any limit to Provincial generosity in this matter, but we have fallen on evil days, when retrenchment is in the air and I venture to suggest that if your Reverence returned me the very smallest of the four cheques it would furnish means for an "outing" - fresh air and food - in harmony with the lean years through which we are passing.' (6 November 1915, 2pp);
  • a letter concerning the possibility of Fr Brennan being assigned another task. Remarks '...not only should I feel not hurt but I would regard such a change as a very great relief.' (29 July 1916, 1p);
  • a number of letters concerning a trip by the Juniors to Jersey and the concern he feels for them travelling during the war. (7 August 1916 - 26 August 1916, 3 items).

Brennan, James, 1854-1941, Jesuit priest

Letters from Fr Willie Doyle SJ, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ

A file of letters from Fr Willie Doyle SJ, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ. Includes a letter remarking 'May the Lord reward you for getting us this place; it is like a paradise to come back to after the bustle and rush of the missions' (13 January [1914], 1p). Includes letters volunteering to serve as a war chaplain (4 - 26 November 1914, 3 items).

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Correspondence relating to Fr Aubrey Gwynn’s life-long friend Fr Thomas J. Fullerton

Correspondence relating to Fr Aubrey Gwynn’s life-long friend Fr Thomas J. Fullerton. Includes:
– letters from Fr Fullerton to Fr Gwynn (17 September 1971 – 1975, 3 items);
– note to Fr Gwynn from Gearoid Cr[ookes], Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2, following Fr Fullerton’s death in 1976, enclosing four letters Fr Gwynn wrote to Fr Fullerton from 1916 and 1932. Includes references to Fr Gwynn’s brother Edward Lucius’ departure for Australia, his brother Denis (a soldier who had just been gazetted to the 5th Munsters at the Curragh) (18 November 1916, 4pp), political and social events at home and academic life in U.C.D. (16 April 1932, 2pp).

Gwynn, Aubrey, 1892-1983, Jesuit priest and academic

Servant of God Willie Doyle SJ

William Joseph Gabriel Doyle was born (1873) at Melrose, Dalkey Avenue, Dalkey, county Dublin. Known as Willie, Billie or Sloper (a comic book hero of the time), he was the youngest of seven children of Hugh Doyle, registrar of the insolvency court, and Christine Doyle (née Byrne). Growing up, Willie was devout, caring and cheerful. Educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, in 1891 Willie followed his older brother Charles into the Jesuits. After two years as a novice, he taught at Clongowes Wood College, where he produced The Mikado and founded the school magazine, The Clongownian. His Jesuit formation included periods in Belgium and England, and further teaching at Clongowes and Belvedere Colleges. After ordination at Milltown Park on 28th July 1907, Willie began work as an urban missionary and retreat giver in Ireland. His positive attitude made him a great success, and he travelled all around the British Isles. He was also the author of best-selling pamphlets on retreats and vocations.

Volunteering as a military chaplain in First World War, Fr Doyle was sent to France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in early 1916. Within days of his arrival at the Front, he showed himself outstanding in the work of a chaplain. Lt Col HR Stirke noted that Fr Doyle was ‘one of the finest fellows that I ever met, utterly fearless, always with a cheery word on his lips and ever ready to go out and attend the wounded and the dying under the heaviest fire’. Present at the battles of the Somme and Messines, Fr Doyle was killed during the third battle of Ypres on 16th August 1917, while going to the aid of a wounded man near Frezenberg. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium. Fr Doyle was awarded the Military Cross, and he was put forward for the Victoria Cross posthumously but did not receive it. Writing to Willie’s father, Hugh, in December 1917, Major General WB Hickie remarks that: ‘I could not say too much about your son. He was loved and reverenced by us all. His gallantry, self sacrifice and devotion to duty were all so well known and recognized. I think that his was the most wonderful character that I have ever known.’

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Biographical information on Fr Doyle

Biographical information on Fr Doyle including a copy of his birth certificate and memorial card.

Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-

‘Dublin, and Proud of It!’

Copy of 'The Irish Messenger of the Sacred Heart' containing an article entitled ‘Dublin, and Proud of It!’ on Fr. Doyle (p.65-67).

Irish Messenger Office, 1888-

Extracts commenting on Prof O'Rahilly’s book

Handwritten extracts from various journals and periodicals commenting on Prof Alfred O'Rahilly’s book.

O'Rahilly, Alfred, 1884-1969, former Jesuit scholastic, President of University College Cork

Notes made on Fr Willie Doyle’s early career

Notes made by [Fr Frank Browne SJ] on Fr Doyle's early career (n.d., 8pp), ‘missionary’ career from 1910 to 1915 (n.d., 17pp) and ‘military career’ (n.d., 11pp) and notes, including extracts from the book (n.d., 9pp).

Browne, Francis M, 1880-1960, Jesuit priest, photographer and chaplain

Photographs and postcards by the Imperial War Museum, London, England

Photographs and postcards sent to Prof. Alfred O’Rahilly by the Imperial War Museum, London, England, for use in his book on Fr Willie Doyle SJ. Includes a note ‘Don’t mix these with the others. Return these to me. These are photos which I bought but decided not to use.’ All photographs are dated and described on back. Photos are mostly of the ruins of Ypres, Guillemont, Loos etc. Sizes: 21 1/2cm x 16 1/2cm; 14cm x 9cm and 27 1/2cm x 9cm.

O'Rahilly, Alfred, 1884-1969, former Jesuit scholastic, President of University College Cork

Results 1 to 100 of 186