Documents found among the papers of Fr Willie Doyle SJ (with whom Fr Browne briefly served as chaplain), collated by Fr Charles Doyle SJ, concerning Fr Frank Browne SJ. Includes telegrams to Robert Browne, Bishop of Cloyne (14 March & 25 August 1919) concerning Fr Browne & circular letter from the War Office to Fr Browne, St Francis Xavier’s, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, informing him of his appointment as an Honorary Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class ‘as from 1st Sept. 1921 on which date your commission as a temporary Chaplain to the Forces ceased to have effect.’ (14 September 1921).

Original and copies of appreciations of Fr Willie Doyle SJ including letters from General Sir William Bernard Hickie, 16th Division, B.E.F.to Hugh Doyle Esq., Melrose, Dalkey, Dublin (15 December 1917) and to Fr Charles Doyle SJ (14 October 1924); Private M. Murphy, France, (Fr Willie Doyle's orderly) (22 August 1917).

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.

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

Photocopy of article in the 'Irish Independent' concerning the Requiem Mass for the war dead of Clongowes Wood College SJ and St Stanislaus College SJ, Tullabeg, County Offaly at St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

[Copy of] letter from Col. M. O'Grady, Assistant Military Secretary at the War Office in Whitehall, London to Hugh Doyle, father of Fr Willie Doyle SJ. Informs him that Fr Doyle was mentioned in Despatches from General Sir Douglas Haig, which were published in the London Gazette.

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 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).

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).

From Easter Week to Flanders Field: the diaries and letters of John Delaney SJ, 1916-1919.

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).

Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the First World War

Leaflet relating to the league of prayer, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, in relation to the First World War.

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.
.

Letter from Rev. Robert Kane SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin to Sergeant Robert H. Kane (his nephew and godson) 19th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers D. Company, British Expedition Force, France concerning news from home and family members. Refers to the war and remarks ‘From what I hear from many different sources, I am convinced that the end will come before the end of the summer with a big smashing up of the Germans.’. Concludes ‘I know that you have all the Kane grit, but don’t run any foolish risks.’ The envelope is marked ‘Killed in Action’.

CWGC
Private Robert Kane
Service Number: 12873
Royal Irish Fusiliers
6th Bn.
Date of Death
Died 15 August 1915
Buried or commemorated at
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 179 to 182.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)

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).

Letters from Fr John M. Bampton SJ, Mount Street, London to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V Nolan SJ.

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.

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).

Holograph letters and one typewritten letter by Willie Doyle: as a schoolboy in Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, England to his brother Bob and mother (30 May 1886 - 9 April 1887); as a Jesuit novice at St Stanislaus, Tullabeg, County Offaly to his mother and father, and sisters Mai and Lena (8 August 1891 - 9 July 1892); as a scholastic at Milltown Park, Dublin to his father and brother Bob (31 May - Christmas 1893) and to Brother Cahill on finishing his noviceship (8 June 1893) and at Clongowes Wood College, County Kildare to his mother and father, and brothers Bob and Charles (3 September 1894 - 23 August 1896).

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’.

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).

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).

File of photographs of First World War scenes (Military convoy, 30 July 1916 and the Menin Road), Rathfarnham Castle and Dalkey. Includes copies of images of St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly and Kemmel Hill and Zonnebeke, Belgium and small handwritten sketch maps of Ypres (11 February 1935).

File of copies photographs of Fr Willie Doyle SJ including: newspaper photograph announcing death (1917); mounted photograph of Willie and his brother, when both young; copies of portrait photographs of Fr Willie Doyle SJ used in publications, Fr Doyle in military uniform and with his parents and in group photograph with other Jesuits. Includes:

• Postcard from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Rosario Nesbitt, 12 May 1912;
• Photograph of Milltown Park villa group, 1905, outside Carysfort, Kilcoole, County Wicklow.

Postcard from Fr Willie Doyle SJ, Guadaloupe Barracks, Bordon, Hampshire to his father, Hugh Doyle Esq., Dalkey, Dublin in which he gives his new address.

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’.

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.’

Signed portrait postcard addressed to Fr Hugh Mulhall SJ, from Mar Ivanos, India, a visitor to Rathfarnham Castle during the Eucharistic Congress of 1932.