Willie Doyle

Willie Doyle
Willie Doyle
Born	3 March 1873; Dalkey, Dublin, Ireland
Died	16 August 1917 (aged 44); Langemarck, Belgium
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1915–1917
Rank	Military chaplain
Unit	8th Royal Irish Fusiliers
Battles/wars	First World War Battle of Loos (WIA); Battle of the Somme Battle of Ginchy; ; Battle of Messines; Battle of Passchendaele Battle of Langemarck †; ;
Awards	Military Cross; Mentioned in Despatches

William Joseph Gabriel Doyle, MC (3 March 1873 – 16 August 1917), better known as Willie Doyle, was an Irish Roman Catholic priest who was killed in action while serving as a military chaplain to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during the First World War.[1]

Early life

Doyle was born in Dalkey, Ireland, the youngest of seven children of Hugh and Christine Doyle (née Byrne).[1] He was educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicester.[2] After reading St. Alphonsus' book Instructions and Consideration on the Religious State he was inspired to enter the priesthood and was an ordained Jesuit priest in 1907.[3] He served for five years on the mission staff.

First World War

Doyle served in the Royal Army Chaplains' Department of the British Army during the First World War, appointed as a chaplain to the 48th Brigade of the 16th Irish Division.[3] During the Battle of Loos Doyle was caught in a German gas attack and for his conduct was mentioned in despatches.[4] A recommendation for a Military Cross was rejected as "he had not been long enough at the front".[4] Doyle was presented with the "parchment of merit" of the 49th (Irish) Brigade instead. He was killed in the Battle of Langemarck, on 16 August 1917.[5]

Legacy

General William Hickie, the commander-in-chief of the 16th (Irish) Division, described Father Doyle as "one of the bravest men who fought or served out here."[4]

Father Doyle's body was never recovered but he is commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial.[1]

Father Doyle was proposed for canonisation in 1938, but this was not followed through.[2] His papers can be found in the Jesuit archives, Leeson Street, Dublin.[2]

A stained glass window dedicated to his memory is present in St Finnian's Church, Dromin, County Louth, Ireland.

Despite his troubled relationship with the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, Irish author and playwright Brendan Behan is known to have always felt a great admiration for Father William Doyle. He praised Father Doyle in his 1958 memoir Borstal Boy. Also, Alfred O'Rahilly's biography of the fallen chaplain is known to have been one of Behan's favorite books.[6]

Irish folk singer Willie 'Liam' Clancy was named after him due to his mother's fondness for Doyle, although they never met.[7]

Decorations

Doyle was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery during the assault on the village of Ginchy during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.[1][4] He was also posthumously recommended for both the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Service Order,[8] but was awarded neither.[2] According to Patrick Kenny, anti-Catholicism may have played a role in the British Army's decision not to grant Father Doyle both awards.[9]

Published pamphlets

Retreats for working men: why not in Ireland? (1909)
Vocations (1913)
Shall I be a priest? (1915)

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References

Unknown. "Father William Doyle". Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
Murphy, David. "Doyle, William Joseph Gabriel". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge University Press. Missing or empty |url= (help)
Unknown. "Fr Doyle's Life". Remembering Fr William Doyle SJ. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
Unknown. "Fr. William 'Willie' Doyle S.J., M.C." The Awen. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
Kenny, Mary (18 May 2014). "How Irish priests brought comfort to the battlefield". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
Kenny (2017), page 32.
Mountain of the Women: Memoir of an Irish Troubadour, page 8
McCarrick, Susan. "Memorial for Rev W Doyle SJ". Europeana 1914–1918. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
Patrick Kenny (2017), To Raise the Fallen: A Selection of the War Letters, Prayers, and Spiritual Writings of Fr. Willie Doyle, S.J., Ignatius Press. Page 26.