Fr William Fitzmaurice SJ (1877-1945) went to France in November 1915 with the Royal Irish Regiment having been made a Military Chaplain in 1914. In July 1916, he was awarded the Military Cross for “conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty”. Under heavy fire he had assisted the medical officers in tending the wounded, and for twenty-four hours after the battalion had been withdrawn, he continued to rescue the wounded who were lying out. In June 1917, he was himself wounded by shell, but he was able to return to France after a few weeks’ convalescence in England. In the same year he received a Mention in Despatches. From March to November 1918, he was a prisoner of war first at Karlsruhe then Beeskow. In a letter home during his captivity he wrote:
“Still I cannot complain. I have lots to occupy me here: one is able to do a great deal to help in the social life of the camp, and make one’s comrades’ captivity less irksome, and there is also a fair amount of spiritual work to do.”
On being repatriated he spent the remainder of his time as chaplain on home service until his demobilisation in September 1919. In 1920 he was awarded the Croix de Guerre avec palme.
Originally published in the Jesuits of Britain
Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France) - Wikipedia
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