Cards and Letters of Michael Doyle
Letter card to friend
Photo of HMS Formidable
Newspaper cutting
2 photos (from centre, from right)
Letter to Katie
Photo to daughter
Michael Doyle was a reserve senior attendent on the HMS Formidable which was torpedoed on the 1st of January 1915 in the English Channel. He was one of the casualties.
CONTRIBUTOR
Olivia Doherty
DATE
1914-09-07 - 1914-12-28
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
23
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
Discover Similar Stories
Michael Doyle
44 Items
Mother with son Postcards + album to family Photos of family + 20 CCS Medals Glass beaker, French art Letter opener. French art made by German POW || Royal Army Medical Core. Enlisted in 1914, promoted in 1920.
Picture of Thomas and Michael Murray
1 Item
This is of Thomas (left, in uniform) and his brother Michael (right). Michael married Thomas's wife's (Louisa) sister Theresa!
Memorial of Fr WJ Doyle
1 Item
This memorial to Fr Doyle, a piece of his uniform, commemorates a much loved padre who died at Ypres. Because they worked so close to the fighting, many chaplains died in the line of duty: in total, 172 British Army chaplains were killed or later died from their wounds in the war. Father William Doyle SJ, from Dublin, was ordained in 1907 and was appointed chaplain to the 16th (Irish) Division in November 1915. Fr Doyle spent much of his time at the front lines, frequently going ‘over the top’ to help injured and dying men. His bravery was a source of inspiration to many and his good humour and generosity made him an extremely popular figure. Fr Doyle was killed in shell-fire while tending to wounded men during the Third Battle of Ypres on 16 August 1917. After his death, many of William Doyle’s wartime letters were published in a biography by Alfred O’Rahilly. Fr Doyle’s letters paint a bleak picture of life in the trenches and give us an insight into the many roles – and challenges – of the army chaplain. Despite his reputation for seeming fearless, Fr Doyle in his letters admits to feelings of terror behind the brave front he presented to the men.