Biographical information on Fr Doyle
- IE IJA J/2/1
- File
- 1873-1917
Part of Irish Jesuits
Biographical information on Fr Doyle including a copy of his birth certificate and memorial card.
Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-
Biographical information on Fr Doyle
Part of Irish Jesuits
Biographical information on Fr Doyle including a copy of his birth certificate and memorial card.
Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-
Part of Irish Jesuits
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-
License for Military Service ‘Royal Exchange Assurance
Part of Irish Jesuit chaplains
License for Military Service ‘Royal Exchange Assurance, Policy No. 80925 for £500 on the Life of Revd. W.J. Doyle.’ and copy of details from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (20 January 1999 & 27 November 2013).
Letters from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ
Part of Irish Jesuit chaplains
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
Letter of Fr Willie Doyle SJ, 8th Royal Irish Fusiliers, to a relative of a casualty
Part of Irish Jesuit chaplains
Letter from Fr Willie Doyle SJ, 8th Royal Irish Fusiliers, to a relative of a casualty. Donated to the Irish Province in 1968 by Miss Brigid Duffy, 237 Lisburn Road, Belfast.
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
Part of Irish Jesuit chaplains
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
Part of Irish Jesuit chaplains
Letter from the War Office to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ, enclosing the official certificate of death of Fr Doyle.
Servant of God Willie Doyle SJ
Part of Irish Jesuits
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
Article in 'The Messenger of the Sacred Heart'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'The Messenger of the Sacred Heart', containing an article on Fr Doyle (p.86-87).
Irish Messenger Office, 1888-
Booklet entitled “Fr. Willie”; part of the Irish Messenger series. Subtitled ‘His world-wide appeal and favours attributed to his intercession’. Contains a short reflection on his life and a list of reports from around the world of how Fr Doyle’s intercession, when invoked, benefited those who sought it.
Irish Messenger Office, 1888-
Booklet by Fr Hugh Kelly on 'Father William Doyle, S.J.'; part of the Irish Messenger series.
Kelly, Hugh, 1886-1974, Jesuit priest
Article in 'Revue d’Ascétique et de Mystique'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'Revue d’Ascétique et de Mystique' containing an article on Fr Doyle by Léonce de Grandmaison (p.128-146).
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Booklet 'Korte Levensschets van Pater William Doyle, S.J. 1873-1917'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Booklet 'Korte Levensschets van Pater William Doyle, S.J. 1873-1917' by Fr J. Van Rijckevorsel SJ.
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Article in 'Messager du Coeur de Jésus'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Article in 'Messager du Coeur de Jésus' containing an article on Fr. Doyle by Fr Wery-Lacouagne SJ (p.75-95).
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Part of Irish Jesuits
Article from The Commonweal entitled ‘Father William Doyle, S.J.’ by Henry Longan Stuart.
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Copy of 'La Vie Spirituelle. Ascétique et Mystique'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'La Vie Spirituelle. Ascétique et Mystique', Vol. XIX, No. 3 containing an article on Fr. Doyle by F. de Lanversin (p.323-341).
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Part of Irish Jesuits
Pamphlet “Fr. Willie” Father William Doyle, S.J. His World-wide Appeal and Favours Attributed to His Intercession, ‘Irish Messenger’ Series.
Irish Messenger Office, 1888-
'“ Snatched from the Brink” A True Story of Fr. William Doyle, S.J.’
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'The Irish Messenger of the Sacred Heart' containing an article entitled ‘ “Snatched from the Brink” A True Story of Fr. William Doyle, S.J.’ (p.364-367).
Irish Messenger Office, 1888-