KILDARE OBSERVER January 8 1916
“Limburg-a-Lahn, Germany.
“My dear L., – Yours of the 2nd inst. To hand, for which I am grateful, and, of course, the Kildare boys join in this expression of thanks to you and the good friends who do so much for them.
“I beg to subjoin a list of names of the Kildare men immediately under my care, and to say any parcels directed to me shall arrive safely. I would ask you to write on or inside each the name of the prisoner for whom the comforts are meant. This will save me a great deal of time, which is of greater value than any labour the distribution of goods can entail. I shall make it my business to find out the names of those who may be in other camps, and will let you have the list as soon as possible. The contents of parcels may suggest themselves to you, but I would mention that tea, sugar, milk, cocoa and bread are articles looked forward to with most longing by the boys. The letter to which you make reference is one of many which I wrote to other kind friends, who do not venture to put my communication into print: You may read that letter (mutatis nominibus) for your Association and assure them of our sincere gratitude for their kind thoughts of their exiled countrymen.
“In my report which I handed in to the Cardinal Nuntius at Munich a fortnight ago, I made special mention of the extraordinary sacrifices made by our friends in Ireland to supply the prisoners of war with food and clothing. His Eminence was pleased to read that item, and expressed his satisfaction by an invocation to the Most High to bless and reward our benefactors. He did not have to learn anything new from me about Ireland or her people. He was a guest of our Fathers for a month or more in Ireland. When General of the Dominican Order you had the privilege of meeting him on his visit to St. Thomas’s College, Newbridge, when our mutual friend was Prior, Fr. Michael Byrne, O.P., of whose death you have, I take it , already heard – R.I.P.
“In a letter which I addressed since my return from the capital of Bavaria to His Eminence, I prayed him to obtain for me and my flock, as well as for our dear generous friends in Ireland, the blessing of His Holiness Benedict XV., who by this time has a detailed account of my mission among the Irish prisoners of war.
“You and your friends will be pleased to hear we are doing well, and are in excellent spirits. Already we are devising means as to how we shall best celebrate the great feast of Xmas. We hope to have midnight Mass in the camp and General Communion. In the afternoon of the 25th we shall have some theatrical performances and some exhibitions of Irish dancing, etc. I don’t think there shall be any one of us unhappy, so you may assure our friends of our welfare, and beg them to accept from all here our very best wishes for a Happy Xmas. – Your affectionate cousin,
“J. T. CROTTY, O.P.”
LIST OF PRISONERS OF WAR
Private Patrick Tougher, 730, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare; Pte. John Doran, R.D.F.; Pte. Patrick McGrath, 682, do., Robertstown, Allenwood, Co. Kildare; Pte. Martin Brady, 11443, do., Blackrath, Curragh Camp; Pte. Andrew Berns, 8169, do., Hazelhatch, Co. Kildare; Pte. Thos. Connolly, 11505, do., Old Kilcullen, Co. Kildare; Pte. John Curry, 11324, do., Naas, Co. Kildare; Pte. Thos. Donoghue, 9744, do., Dawson Street, Newbridge; Pte. W. Doolan, 9452, do., Brownstown, Co. Kildare; Pte. John Doran, 8630, do., Coroban Street, Naas ; Pte. L. Downey, 7825 do., Ballintine, Kilmeague; Pte. P. Halloran, 9629, do., Abbey Street, Naas; Pte. W. Heffernan, 7150, do., Maynooth ; Pte. Thos. Higgins, 9602, do., Naas; Pte. Joseph Hickey, 11554, do., Naas; Pte. Patk. Kennedy, 10240, do., Naas (Barracks); Pte. Thos. Mackey, 5896, do., Ballytore, Co. Kildare; Pte. James Mahon, 11531, do., Temple Mills, Celbridge; Pte. Joseph McCann, 7991, do., Leixlip; Pte. Patk. McCann, 11501, do., Harbour View, Naas; Pte. P. Moorland, 11720, do., Maynooth; Pte. Jas Noone, 7396, do., Brannockstown; Pte. Peter O’Neill, 11285, do., Naas, Co. Kildare; Pte. M. O’Toole, 9658, do., Kilcullen; Pte. John Power, 8286, 18th Royal Irish, Newbridge; Pte. John Allen, 389, do., Naas; Pte. John Morris, 817, do., Naas; Pte. James Byrne, 10729, do., Kilcock; Pte. Patrick Connell, 665, Royal Irish Rifles, Celbridge; Corporal John Connolly, 11491, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Crotanstown, Newbridge. Several others will be sent later on full list.
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