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Born in Kimberley in 1878, and was educated at St. Aidan's College, Grahamstown. He entered the English Province S. J. in 1896. He taught for two years in Malta and for five at Stonyhurst. He was ordained at St. Beuno's in 1911. At the outbreak of war he was acting as Minister at the Novitiate, Manresa House, Roehampton. While there he found time to devote himself to the seryice of the Catholic soldiers encamped in Richmond Park close by, and with such success that the Provincial was requested to allow him to take up the regular work of Chaplain to the Forces. On getting his commission he went to France in November of last year, and was attached to the 2nd Leinsters. The following letter has been received from the Front - "Father Doyle was at work as usual on Saturday, August 19, in an advanced dressing-station of the Fourth Army. He had apparently finished his spiritual ministrations, and was engaged in getting the men their tea, when a shell burst close to him; it killed or wounded everybody in the vicinity, and poor Doyle had his leg completely blown off. He was taken to the rear; and a priest, Father B. Booker, gave him the Last Sacraments. He was conscious and cheerful to the last, and at one time made quite a hopeful rally. He died on the same day." The body was buried without a coffin, but wrapped in a Union Jack. The C.O. spoke in warm terms of Father Doyle's devotion. ref. South African Roll of Honour 1914-1918 |
