Father Willie Doyle, S.J.
Illustration: CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY
Fr. Willie Doyle, S.J:
A Brave Soldier Who Was Merry In God.
Available on YouTube
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William Joseph Gabriel Doyle, MC (1873 – 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]
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 Saint Alphonsus’ book, “Instructions And Consideration On The Religious State”, he was inspired to enter the Priesthood; he initially studied at Clonliffe College before 1891, when he entered Saint Stanislaus Tullabeg College,[3] and was an Ordained Jesuit Priest in 1907.[4] He served for five years on The Mission Staff.
During The Battle of Loos, Doyle was caught in a German gas attack and for his conduct was Mentioned in Dispatches.[5]
A recommendation for a Military Cross was rejected as “he had not been long enough at The Front”.[5] 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.[6]
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]
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 favourite books.[7]
Irish folk singer Willie “Liam” Clancy was named after him due to his mother’s fondness for Doyle, although they never met.[8]
Irish folk singer Willie “Liam” Clancy was named after him due to his mother’s fondness for Doyle, although they never met.[8]
He was also posthumously recommended for both The Victoria Cross and The Distinguished Service Order,[9] 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.[10]
In January 2022, “The Supplex Libellus”, the formal petition, was presented to Bishop Thomas Deenihan.
Having consulted with the Irish Bishops’ Conference and The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Deenihan issued an edict on 27 October 2022 announcing the opening of a Cause.
The opening session was due to take place on 20 November 2022 at The Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, Ireland.
Please Note: Fr. Willie Doyle (see, above) is not to be confused with Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy (Anglican Priest), otherwise known as “Woodbine Willie” (see, below).
Image of Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy from
The Bookman Special Christmas Number.
Date: December 1918.
Source:
Author: Hodder & Stoughton.
(Wikimedia Commons)
An old pack of British Woodbine cigarettes,
photographed at the Musée Somme 1916, Albert, France.
This design is often regarded as a magnificent example of
Late-Victorian typographical design by aficionados.
Photo: 4 September 2013.
Source: Own work.
This File is made available under the
Author: Alf van Beem
(Wikimedia Commons)
Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy M.C. (1883 — 1929) was an English Anglican Priest and Poet. He was nicknamed “Woodbine Willie” during World War I for giving Woodbine cigarettes to the Soldiers he met, as well as Spiritual aid to injured and dying Soldiers.
Born in Leeds, England, on 27 June 1883, Studdert Kennedy was the seventh of nine children born to Jeanette Anketell and William Studdert Kennedy, Vicar of St Mary's, Quarry Hill in Leeds.
His father, William Studdert Kennedy, was born in Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland, in 1826. Geoffrey’s Paternal Grandfather, Robert Mitchell Kennedy, was Dean of Clonfert in County Galway, Ireland, from 1850 until his death in 1864.[1]
“Who Was Woodbine Willie ?”
Available on YouTube
One of Geoffrey’s brothers was Hugh A. Studdert Kennedy, a biographer of American Religious Leader Mary Baker Eddy.
Because of his Irish forefathers, Geoffrey always maintained he was an Irishman.[2]
Because of his Irish forefathers, Geoffrey always maintained he was an Irishman.[2]
He was educated at Leeds Grammar School and Trinity College, Dublin, where he gained a Degree in Classics and Divinity in 1904.[3]
After a year’s training at Ripon Clergy College,[4] he became a Curate at Saint Andrew’s Church, Rugby, and then, in 1914, the Vicar of Saint Paul’s, Worcester.[3]
In 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross (M.C.) at Messines Ridge after running into No-Man’s Land to help the wounded during an attack on the German frontline.[6][7]
Studdert Kennedy is Commemorated with a Feast Day (Commemoration) on the Liturgical Calendar of the Church of England on 8 March.[14][15]
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