We have no more reports from Fr Willie until August 5th, and we shall take up his narrative once again on that date. What we do know about these days is that Fr Willie and his men had a few days rest before facing the trauma of battle once again. This might be an appropriate place to give the following excerpt from O’Rahilly’s biography which includes an excerpt of a …
WWI
August 2, 2022
We continue today with Fr Willie’s narrative of events in the days leading up to his death. Today’s account is somewhat shorter than that of other days. Even if the events of this day are less dramatic than what is to come, we can still glimpse some of the suffering Fr Willie and the men had to endure, as well as the cheerful spirit with which he accepted it. Morning …
August 1, 2022
My poor orderly has nearly emptied the well, of course leaving the six dead Germans behind, in his efforts to make enough tea. COMMENT: Fr Willie suffered many inconveniences because of his orderly in the trenches. On this occasion, he is suggesting that the orderly made tea from water in which 6 dead Germans were to be found. He may have been exaggerating a little, but perhaps not too much. …
July 31, 2022
We continue Fr Willie’s account of July 31, 1917 directly after he left off yesterday. Again what is most noticeable is his good humour and cheerfulness, even in the midst of this awful war. It was 1.30 a.m. when our first halting place was reached, and as we march again at three, little time was wasted getting to sleep. It was the morning of July 31st, the Feast of St. …
July 31, 2022
Fr Willie describes the events of July 30, 1917: For the past week we have been moving steadily up to the Front once more to face the hardships and horrors of another big push, which report says is to be the biggest effort since the War began. The blood-stained Ypres battle field is to be the centre of the fight, with our left wing running down to the Belgian coast …
July 30, 2022
On August 12 1917 Fr Willie sent his last “budget” home to his father. It was a long account of his involvement in the early stages of the Battle of Passchendaele. 4 days later he was hit by a German shell while rescuing 2 wounded soldiers and was killed instantly. His account of the battle commences on July 30 and we shall follow his account in his own words each …
July 29, 2022
In today’s fifth post Fr Willie recounts a touching scene in which a soldier shows him his gratitude. One of my men, belonging to the Irish Rifles, of which I have charge also, passed by. We chatted for a few minutes and then he went on, but came back shortly with a steaming bowl of coffee which he had bought for me. ‘ I am not one of your flock, …
July 25, 2022
In today’s 4th post Fr Willie presents a “typical” scene to his father. It is unclear if this is an historical record of a specific incident or an amalgamation of several different events to present his father with an insight into his typical activities. A poor wounded fellow lies on a stretcher with death already stamped on his face. The bearers lay their burden gently down—these rough men have the …
July 25, 2022
The reformation of one’s life must be the work of every day. I should take each rule and duty, think how Jesus acted, or would have done, and contrast my conduct with His. COMMENT: Fr Doyle’s words today are direct and relevant for us all. The daily reformation Fr Willie recommends must be practical in nature. We do not reform our lives in the abstract by imagining great things we …
July 17, 2022
Fr Willie gave his last homily 104 years ago today. Here is Alfred O’Rahilly’s account of this last sermon, complete with valuable first hand testimony from the famous Fr Frank Browne SJ: The 48th Brigade was at rest or rather down for a rifle shooting course near St. Omer. The 2nd and 8th Dublins were in and around the little village of St. Martin au Laert about a mile and …
July 15, 2022