Willie Doyle

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Father Willie Doyle MC (1873 - August 16, 1917) was a native of Dalkey, Ireland and the youngest of seven children. He was an ordained Jesuit priest who served in the Army Chaplains' Department of the British Army during World War I. He was killed in action.

[edit] Service in 1914 - 1918 war

Fr Doyle enlisted as a chaplain shortly after the outbreak of the First World War and served in:

• 8th Royal Irish Fusiliers
• Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
• 9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers
• 6th Royal Irish Rifles
• 7th Royal Irish Rifles

He participated in the Battles of the Somme, Battle of Messines and Battle of Ypres.

[edit] Bravery commended

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

He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery during the assault on the village of Ginchy. He was recommended for a posthumous Victoria Cross the day he was killed at Ypres alongside the 16th Division and the 36th Ulster Division who suffered heavy losses. Fr Doyle's body was never recovered.

[edit] External links

• The British Army in the Great War: The Battles of the Somme, 1916
• The Battle of Messines
• Battles: The Third Battle of Ypres, 1917
• In Flanders Fields museum - Ypres