Church makes sainthood case for ‘WW1 hero’ priest

A courageous Irish priest who perished during World War One, while attempting to aid wounded and dying soldiers, is now moving closer to potential sainthood. Fr Willie Doyle, a British Army chaplain, served in some of the most brutal battles of the First World War, including the Somme, Messines, and Passchendaele. Known for his bravery in the face of danger, Doyle frequently ventured into No Man's Land to rescue wounded troops or offer comfort to those grievously injured.

On Sunday, the Catholic Church in Ireland will conduct a special service in Mullingar Cathedral to initiate the process of his canonisation. Doyle had enlisted as a military chaplain for the 16th (Irish) Division of the British Army just over a year prior to the outbreak of World War One. He remained with this division for nearly two years, performing his duties primarily in the trenches along the Western Front until his untimely demise at the Battle of Passchendaele on August 16, 1917.

Doyle was gunned down by shellfire while attempting to rescue two wounded Protestant soldiers, one being a young officer from Belfast – 2nd Lt Arthur Vivian Green. Consequently, the Catholic Church in Ireland regards Fr Doyle as an "ecumenical martyr of charity" who selflessly ministered to soldiers of various Christian denominations.