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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: XANDRA on Saturday 20 September 08 23:05 BST (UK)

Title: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: XANDRA on Saturday 20 September 08 23:05 BST (UK)
I  am researching a  History of  St. Nathy's College  in  Ballaghadereen co Roscommon Ireland for  the  bicentenary in 2010 . We had  two young  teacher  priests  who volunteered  to  become  Chaplains , in  the  first  world  war , Fr . Felix Burke and Fr. Michaels Louis Henry . Both  returned  and we have  found  our  that  Father Burke  was with  the  16th Division and  was  cited  in  reports  for  bravery . Any  information  about either  but  especially  Father  Henry  would  be wonderful .
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: forester on Sunday 21 September 08 11:10 BST (UK)
Hell Xandra,

I can find an index card for Fr Burke's Mention in Dispatches and it is cited in the London Gazette, Issue 29890, Page 251. It's only a one liner.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/home.aspx?geotype=London

I can't find a medal index card for either, so far. As officers, they would have to apply for their medals and may not have done so.

I haven't spotted their service records on the National Archives catalogue either.

Liverpool Annie is the Chaplain enthusiast  :D

Phil
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: fordy on Monday 22 September 08 07:33 BST (UK)
I  am researching a  History of  St. Nathy's College  in  Ballaghadereen co Roscommon Ireland for  the  bicentenary in 2010 . We had  two young  teacher  priests  who volunteered  to  become  Chaplains , in  the  first  world  war , Fr . Felix Burke and Fr. Michaels Louis Henry . Both  returned  and we have  found  our  that  Father Burke  was with  the  16th Division and  was  cited  in  reports  for  bravery . Any  information  about either  but  especially  Father  Henry  would  be wonderful .

From the Army Lists....

Temporary Chaplains to the Forces:

Roman Catholic:

Burke, Rev. F. 18 Nov 1915
Henry, Rev. L. 15 May 1916


Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: liverpool annie on Monday 22 September 08 14:21 BST (UK)


Well I found one MIC !!

Medal card of Burke, Rev F
Army Chaplain's Department
Temporary Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class
Date
1914-1920

http://www.rootschat.com/links/04cs/
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: forester on Monday 22 September 08 16:30 BST (UK)
Hello Annie  :),

That's the Mentioned in Dispatches card that is on A***y as well. There's absolutely no information on it other than the Gazette date and page.

Phil  :)
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: liverpool annie on Monday 22 September 08 16:38 BST (UK)


Hi Phil !

My Oracle on GWF says it is strange that there a no medal index cards - 

You'd have thought that these would exist even if the medals were never claimed by the 'officers' in question

I went through 648 MIC's for Temporary Chaplains .... theres about 2500 for "regular" Chaplains .... I'll go through them and see what I can find !!  ::) ::)

See yer in a week !!  :D

PS ........ I meant to say ... Nice find Fordy !!  :D :D
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: liverpool annie on Wednesday 24 September 08 14:40 BST (UK)


They really must be difficult to find .... ( if the one person I know who could find them - can't !! ) .........  ::) ::) apart from the Mentioned in Dispatches card for Burke - there doesn't appear to be medal cards or Service or Officers files for either and searching in the gazette is difficult also ! ..... but .......

Rev L Henry appears to have travelled to France 3.9.1917 and been demobilzed 25.2.1919

Rev F Burke appears to have travelled to Frnace 19.12.1915 and relinquished his commission 17.11.1918

(Information from Officer's Movement Records)
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: XANDRA on Thursday 25 September 08 19:11 BST (UK)
Hi Folks ,
 Greetings  and on  behalf  of  the  Principal  staff and  my  humble  self from  St. Nathy's  many many  thanks  for  the  information .

xandra
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: XANDRA on Thursday 25 September 08 19:15 BST (UK)
I have  come  across one  local  village  historian  who  reported  that Father  Henry  had  disciplinary action  taken  against  him ,  we  would  like  to  know  if  there  are  any  documents  to  prove  or  disprove  this  and  we  would  love  to  know  which regiments  that  he  served  with . thanking  you
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: forester on Thursday 25 September 08 21:40 BST (UK)
Hello Xandra,

If we could find his service record surviving at Kew, it would be in there, but I've drawn a blank with the catalogue so far. Many officers records were destroyed.
He may possibly have been court martialled, but  it's a subject I no absolutely nothing about. Once again any records are at Kew.

Is this Fr Henry?

Pray For The Soul Of Very Rev. Michael LOUIS HENRY D.D. D. Ph Parish
Priest Of Straide Who Died 30 Dec. 1947 R.I.P. NON NOBIS DOMINE NON
NOBIS SED NOMINI TUO DA GLORIAM Ps XCIII IX

 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~deesegenes/straide.htm (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~deesegenes/straide.htm)

Phil


Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: liverpool annie on Thursday 25 September 08 22:00 BST (UK)


Are you sure it was Army disciplinary action ... and not the church ?

Some Irish Catholic Chaplains got into trouble with their Archbishops after they came home ... because of the "Troubles" and all things to do with the British Army etc !!

When I was being taught History in school we were taught some about the Easter Rising the War of Independence and the Civil War but practically nothing of the contribution made by Irishmen North and South to the First World War .... tensions ran pretty high when soldiers in uniform came home ... ( which is  a whole other subject !!  :-\ :-\ )

Tell us what your  historian said exactly .......... some stories have an element of truth but are not always definitely right !!  :)

It's also possible he wasn't with a particular regiment ... he was a Roman Catholic priest with the British Army !

Nice find Phil !!  :)

PS This is a good site about Father Burke's 16th Division !!

http://freespace.virgin.net/sh.k/xvidiv.html
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: liverpool annie on Friday 26 September 08 02:12 BST (UK)


Just off topic for a bit .... I wonder if you were the one that bought this ..... ??  :D



http://www.rootschat.com/links/04ef/
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: XANDRA on Saturday 27 September 08 21:19 BST (UK)
Nice picture  Annie , my office  is  second  window  on  the  left  top  story . This  is  only  the  front  view ,  take  a  look  at  the  college  website we  have  posted  loads  of  old  photographs etc, and  i  get  a  mention  too .It is  really  impressive.  thanks  for  all  the  help  on  Father  Henry. i  think  from  what  the  man  said  he  was  court  marshalled.
Now  as  well as  that  we bought  in  the  1890s an  old  army  barracks , which  had  been  built in  1798/99 it  was  occupied  by  militia who left after  about  the  100 years... it was  then used  as  the  OLD college  until  the  new  bit  , in  the  photograph  was  built  in  1916 . I  wish I  could  trace  the  name   of  the  regiment... I  THINK  THE  Royal ????? the town  is Ballaghadereen  and  at  that  time  it  was  in  Co  MAYO and  became  part  of  Roscommon  in  1898 .
Title: Re: Irish Catholic Chaplains in W.W.I.
Post by: XANDRA on Saturday 27 September 08 21:27 BST (UK)
yes  Forester ,
 that  is  Father Henry , he  had  a  double  doctorate  from  Salamanca , and  that  is  why  he  had  the  nickname  DOC .wish I could  fill  the  gap ..I  am  hoping  to  do  a  section  in  my  book  on  the  two  world  wars and  very  few  people  had  ever  known  that  these  two  men  who lived  out  their  lives  quietly  in  a  parish ,  had  been  through  so  much . thank  you .