Letter from Dr Thomas Carr, D.D., Archbishop of Melbourne, St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne to Fr John Ryan SJ (Superior of the Mission) asking Fr Ryan to spare a priest to become a chaplain for the expeditionary forces.

Letter from Mary Sydes (sister of Fr Edward J. Sydes SJ) c/o Fr Robert J. Little SJ, Manresa, Kensington Terrace, Brisbane to Irish Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ concerning the death of her brother while serving as a military chaplain. Asks Fr Nolan if the Society of Jesus would waive their right to a military pension on behalf of Fr Sydes so that she could claim it.
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Copy letter from Lt. Col. A.J. Bennett, O.C. Troops, H. T. 'Anchises' at sea to Fr William Gwynn SJ thanking him for his service as a military chaplain and praising his work with the troops.

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Letter from Fr James E. Magan SJ, RMS "Orsova" to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning the voyage to Australia.

Letter from Fr Francis X. O'Brien SJ, RMS "Indarra" to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning the voyage to Australia.

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.

In the late 1940s, Fr Leonard Sheil SJ (1897-1968) travelled to Britain in an effort to serve Irish emigrants. Fr Sheil was a familiar sight on his motorbike visiting building sites, construction camps, mines, steel works, oil refineries and industrial hostels. Frs Matthew Meade (1912-1992) and Kevin Laheen (1919-2019) also provided missions.

General papers on Irish Jesuit missions;

• Letters to the Provincial from Irish Jesuit missioners which give their opinions and impression of mission work in England (1960-1961);
• Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants Easter conferences (1960-1977) which concerns the attendance of the Jesuit Provincial (1960-1972) and reports of proceedings, minutes and addresses (1962; 1977);
• Working Party on the Irish Emigrant Missions in England and Wales (1973);
• Mission reports and statistics (1966-1975) including Jesuit missions (1966-1970) and Irish Catholic missions in England and Wales (1968; 1974-1975);
• Jesuit Chaplains in Westminster and Birmingham Archdioceses (1966-1969);
• Irish Chaplaincy Scheme (1971-1979) including conference reports (1978-1979), details of chaplains and services (1971; 1976-1977) and Jesuit appointments (1974-1979);
• Irish Centre Advisory Service, Liverpool (1976) and
• Lillie Road Centre London (1978).

Jesuit involvement as chaplains in VEC (Vocational Educational Committee) Colleges, Dublin can be traced to the early 1940’s when a number of Irish Jesuits taught religion in technical schools in Dublin. From 1951, when Fr John McAvoy SJ (1908-1983) was appointed Spiritual Director of the Centre of Technology in Bolton Street, Jesuits have worked as chaplains at the College of Commerce, Rathmines and at the Colleges of Technology, Bolton Street and Kevin Street.

The material consists of documents which outline the establishment of the College of Technology at Bolton Street; attempts to establish a student centre (1965); chaplains’ correspondence with Fr Provincial on the status and role of chaplains: problems and issues (1965-1973), ‘John Austin House’, 135 North Circular Road (1974) and a proposal to set up Jesuit house in Dominick Street (1976); Fr Provincial’s nominations for chaplains (1968-1976); Archbishop of Dublin’s Planning Commission for V.E.C. Colleges (1971-1972); Role of college chaplains ([ ]; 1973); reports (1973-1978); The V.E.C. and chaplains (1973; 1975).

Twenty-one Irish Jesuit chaplains served as chaplains in the Second World War in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Fr John Hayes SJ, who died of typhus on 28th December 1944, was the single casualty to the Irish Jesuit Province.

The papers of the Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the Second World War consist mainly of letters and telegrams from individual chaplains to the Irish Jesuit Provincial - Fr Laurence J. Kieran SJ was the Irish Provincial at the outbreak of the War and on 8 September 1941, Fr John R MacMahon SJ became Provincial. Also includes letters to Irish Father Provincial Laurence J. Kieran SJ from various Jesuits volunteering to become military chaplains (1 September 1939-7 April 1941); letters and telegrams from Monsignor John M. Coghlan (Principal Chaplain (R.C.) and Vicar General, British Army, War Office) seeking chaplains to serve in the forces and thanking Father Provincial for those he has offered (1941-1944); memoranda and lists (1942); volunteers’ letters (April 1941-July 1942); correspondence with the Royal Air Force (1941-1945); letters from newly appointed chaplains (1941); miscellaneous letters to Provincial (1941-1945).

1st four left Dublin, 26 May 1941: Richard Kennedy (Tertian); Michael Morrison (Tertian); Conor Naughton (Tertian); Cyril Perrott.
2nd batch, left 1 September 1941: John Burden; Leo Donnelly; John Hayes; Sydney Lennon; Conal Murphy.
9 September 1941: Fr Gerard Guinane.
29 December 1941: Fr Maurice Dowling.

Michael O’Mahoney (1905-1981), County Tipperary, part of the Australian province of the Society of Jesus, served as chaplain in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

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.

Invitation card, order of service and hymn sheet for the service of remembrance at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Remembrance Sunday, Armistice Day, 11 November 1928 (perhaps an Irish Jesuit attended the service).

Identification tag (dog tag) for Rev. John Hayes C.F. RC, 199879.

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.

Letter from Fr William Gwynn SJ, St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney to Fr Tom [ ] concerning his appointment as a military chaplain.

Field diary of one of the chaplains (not known which one).

Booklet by Fr Hugh Kelly on 'Father William Doyle, S.J.'; part of the Irish Messenger series.

Draft obituary of Fr Patrick Tighe SJ.

Documents relating to Fr Richard Kennedy SJ as a Japanese prisoner of war in Taiwan. Includes:
– cutting from The Times listing Fr Richard Kennedy SJ as a POW (1 December 1942, 1p.);
– postcard from Fr Richard Kennedy SJ in a POW camp in Taiwan to Fr Provincial (1943);
– letters from Fr Kennedy’s brother, Denis P. Kennedy SJ to Irish Fr Provincial, informing him of letters received by Fr Kennedy’s family (13 July, 30 September 1944, 2 items).

Documents relating to Fr Michael Pelly's time as a chaplain. Includes Fr Pelly's ‘British Military Identity Document’ with photograph (December 1943, 1 item) and photocopy from a newspaper [Irish Independent?] of an article on the ‘Mass of Reparation said in Monte Cassino Ruins’ by Fr Pelly (1944, 1p).

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).

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).

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).

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).

Documents relating to ‘The Archbishop’s Planning Commission for Third Level Colleges under the City of Dublin Vocational Education Authority’, which was established to investigate the ‘religious, educational, emotional and intellectual needs of the students’ and to ‘determine the policy to be pursued and the measures to be taken for the adequate religious education of Catholic students attending Third Level Courses in the Colleges of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Group’. Includes a report of the Commission (4 May 1971, 11 pages).

Documents and letters relating to Fr John Hayes’ career before becoming a military chaplain. Includes:

• Letter of John Hayes to the Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ in reply to Fr Fahy’s instructions that Mr Hayes goes to Tullabeg (Novitiate), County Offaly on 1st September (Fr Hayes entered the Society on 1 September 1925) (5 August 1925, 1p);
• John Hayes’ confidential medical report, prepared by Dr M.S. McGrath for the Provincial (25 June 1925, 1p)
• ‘Informatio de Candidato’ – reports on John Hayes by five Jesuits for the Provincial (n.d., 5 items);
• Letter from Mr John Hayes SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ regarding his application to go on the Mission in Alaska (6 August 1932, 1p) and
• Copy letter to Mr John Hayes SJ from the Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ relating to ‘two faults…(that)…have been mentioned in the Informationes taken recently concerning you to which I must call your attention’ (26 July 1936, 1p);
• letter to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ from Fr Louis Lachal SJ, Loyola, Watsonia, Victoria, Australia (20 February 1945, 2pp) enclosing 'a letter for Frank Hayes, John's brother'...'The news of John's death was a big knock to those of us out here who knew him well'. Mentions Fr Victor Turner SJ in POW camp, Tokyo.
  See also CHP2/35 (43);CHP2/35 (44) and CHP2/31
• Dog collar identification for Rev. John Hayes C.F. RC, 199879. See CHP2/18

Document entitled ‘What is your function, Father?’, produced by the Chaplains’ Office, Kevin Street College of Technology. Explores the roles of chaplains in the Colleges of Technology.

Document entitled ‘Notes on Third Level Chaplains presently appointed to the Technological Colleges of the Dublin Vocational Education Committee’. Gives details of chaplains in various V.E.C. institutions, including Bolton Street and Kevin Street.

Cutting from 'The Universe' of an article entitled 'Jesuit's Charm Opened up the Prison Gates' (the priest in question was Fr Edward Bourke SJ.

Correspondence with Dr John Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin (mostly holograph letters from the Archbishop and copies of Fr. Provincial’s replies) on various matters. Includes letters concerning:

• the purchase of additional land from Mr Bewley adjoining Milltown Park, on which to build a secondary school (See also 1940s correspondence with Archbishop McQuaid);
• the question of the payment of workers for work on parochial and ecclesiastical buildings on Holy Days of Obligation;
• the Statement issued on behalf of the Hierarchy with regard to ‘the raising of military forces and the waging of war’ (persuading ‘young men not to join the new I.R.A. and kindred groups, or if they have joined, to disassociate themselves from such groups’);
• the proposed acquisition of new buildings on Eglinton Road (now the Province Curia, No. 87 Eglinton Road) for the Society to ‘relieve a certain congestion we are experiencing at present in our Dublin Houses’;
• the appointment of Jesuits to various ecclesiastical offices;
• the Commission considering the question of Licensing Laws;
• Jesuit Missions to the Irish in Britain (see also ADMN/3/62);
• the Technical Schools – ‘It is not in any sense an exaggeration to say that the assistance of the Society has made possible the establishment of a firm system of Religious Instruction, for the first time, in the Vocational and Technical Schools’ (letter of Archbishop McQuaid to Fr Provincial, 8 June 1959, 1p.) (see also ADMN/3/61);
• the formation of a committee to select candidates for beatification among the Irish martyrs (see also ADMN/3/24; 43; 48 and 49);
• the publication of spiritual books in Irish by the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary attached to Gardiner Street Church (see also ADMN/3/59 and 65);
• the appointment of Jesuit lecturers in University College Dublin;
• the proposal to establish a federation of the Sodalities of Our Lady in the Dublin Diocese.
  Also includes covering letter and copy of the minutes of the General Meeting of the Irish Actors’ Equity Association held on 27 April 1958.

File of correspondence relating to the nominating of Jesuit priests as priest-teachers in the Vocational Schools (Bolton Street and Kevin Street). Includes letters from Monsignor John O'Regan (on behalf of the Archbishops of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid and Dermot Ryan) to the Irish Fr Provincials (Brendan Barry and Cecil McGarry), asking the latter to forward the names of their nominees, as well as the Provincials’ replies. These replies, as well as containing the names of nominees, often refer to the problems encountered by the priest-teachers in the Colleges in relations to their work-load, professional development, status within the Colleges etc. Also includes a letter from the Archbishop’s House to Irish Provincial Fr Patrick Doyle SJ, in relation to his nominations (22 June 1976, 1 page).

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.

Correspondence between the Air Ministry and Chaplains Branch,R.A.F. H.Q., Northern Ireland, mainly from Monsignor H. Beauchamp, (Principal Chaplain (R.C.) R.A.F.) and the Irish Fr Provincial (Laurence J. Kieran SJ, then from 8 September 1941, John MacMahon SJ) concerning the R.A.F.’s request for Catholic chaplains; Fr Tony MacSeumais’ acceptance of a post with the R.A.F. in July 1943 and Fr Joseph McSweeney’s acceptance in 1945. Includes;

• Letter from Mgr. Beauchamp to Fr MacMahon: ‘You are probably aware that I am very short of chaplains in the Royal Air Force. At many Stations there are as many as 300 young airmen who…have no chaplain to prepare them for their great ordeals…You probably know as well as I do the temptations that young Priests in the Services, particularly in the Royal Air Force come up against, hence you will know the special type of man that is wanted’ (12 March 1942, 1p.)
• Letter from G.J. Corboy, Senior Chaplain (R.C.), R.A.F. H.Q., Northern Ireland to Fr MacMahon: ‘I met Father Sweeney (sic) last week, when I was down, and I am very grateful to you for the offer of his services, as a R.A.F. Chaplain’ (30 April 1945, 1p.).

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).

Copy of birth certificate and photocopy of obituary of Fr John FitzGibbon SJ, M.C., from 'The Freeman’s Journal', and copy of details Commonwealth War Graves Commission (20 January 1999 & 27 November 2013).

Chronology of Fr Edward Sydes’ life.

A file relating to an urgent request for chaplains for Australian troops fighting in the war. Includes letter from Dr Thomas Carr, D.D., Archbishop of Melbourne, St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne to Fr John Ryan SJ (Superior of the Mission) asking Fr Ryan to spare a priest to become a chaplain; telegrams and application by Fr Patrick Tighe SJ to serve.

Certificate appointing Fr Joseph Wrafter SJ as Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Land Forces (Temporary) from 20 November 1915.

Carte postale with portrait photograph of Fr James Magan SJ in chaplain military uniform on one side and written note to Fr Farley on the other, ‘I have said the 15 masses for which I sent you the two P. Orders…any news always welcome’.

Booklet 'Korte Levensschets van Pater William Doyle, S.J. 1873-1917' by Fr J. Van Rijckevorsel SJ.

Booklet entitled ‘Father Francis Woodlock S.J. 1871 - 1940’, published by Manresa Press, Roehampton, England.

Biographical information on Fr Joseph Wrafter SJ, M.C., from the Catalogus personarum primus.

Memorial card and obituary for Fr Joseph Flinn SJ.

Biographical information by Fr John Hayes SJ from the 1942 ‘Catalogus personum primus.’

Biographical information on Fr John Delaney SJ, M.C. Includes memorial card and obituary.

Biographical information on Fr Hugh Mulhall SJ from the Catalogus personarum primus.

Biographical information on Fr Henry Potter SJ from the Catalogus personarum primus.

Biographical information on Fr Francis M. Browne SJ, M.C., Belgian Croix de Guerre.

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

Biographical information on Fr Daniel Roche SJ from the Catalogus personarum primus and newspaper obituary.

Biographical information and obituary on Fr Stanislaus McLoughlin SJ.

Biographical information and obituary of Fr John MacSheahan SJ, M.C.

Partial biographical information from the Catalogus personarum and newspaper obituary of Fr James McCann SJ.

Biographical information, obituaries and memorial card of Fr Cyril Perrott SJ (4 items). Military file 3601/CH(RC) which contains various documents belonging to Fr Cyril Perrott taken from Irish Provincialate (2010). Includes:

• 6 black and white photographs of unknown people (perhaps niece and brother who lived in Western Australia, and brother who was a Jesuit in Western Australia);
• details of his successful application for rate of pay increase;
• release certificate;
• details of medical prescription;
• receipt for demand for civilian clothing;
• document outlining principles and priestly duties;
• tax requests;
• request and reply for contingency allowance;
• documents outlining ration cards and national registration on return to the United Kingdom and instructions to personnel released or invalided during release period to Eire who are granted leave with pay and who are eligible for medical attendance etc, under army regulations (1945/46);
• claim for award of 1939/45 Star/Burma Star/Defence Medal;
• obituary (1952);
• card to be shown by celebret whenever a Chaplain wishes to say Mass;
• officers’ kit insurance;
• copy of gospel in funeral Mass and
• letters from Captain George P. Grossmith.

British Royal Army Chaplains Department - K.C unit cap badge, bronzed metal, 2 fold over flat prong fitting, mint; shoulder and breast buttons; pips; metal chaplain badges.

Copy of 'The Messenger of the Sacred Heart', containing an article on Fr Doyle (p.86-87).

Article from The Commonweal entitled ‘Father William Doyle, S.J.’ by Henry Longan Stuart.

Copy of 'Revue d’Ascétique et de Mystique' containing an article on Fr Doyle by Léonce de Grandmaison (p.128-146).

Article in 'Messager du Coeur de Jésus' containing an article on Fr. Doyle by Fr Wery-Lacouagne SJ (p.75-95).

Article by Fr Bernard Page SJ entitled ‘Army Chaplain, S.J., in Russia’ from 'Letters and Notices'.

Appreciation of war time service issued by Winston Churchill for Fr Patrick O'Mara SJ.

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

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).