By Fr Hugh Harkin SMA
Throughout the summer and autumn of 2025, commemorations have been taking place in many parts of the world to mark the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War Two (WW2). VE Day (Victory in Europe) was 8th May 1945, and the global end in Asia, Japan and USA was 2 September 1945.
In the early 1940s, as the World War intensified there was a request made to SMA Superiors and Bishops by the British Forces and the West African Forces for Catholic Chaplains. In response several priests volunteered most serving with the West African Brigade or the British Air Force.
We should not forget the role played by members of the Irish Province of the SMA who volunteered to serve as Military Chaplains during these war years.
Fr Thomas Donoghue from Terryglass, Borrisokane, Co Tipperary volunteered at the beginning of the war as a chaplain and served with the British Forces in the Middle East. He served with the 8th Army of the Egyptian and North African campaigns. Later, after the war, he was to become the Head Chaplain in the Middle East, a post which brought him to the troubled centers of Palestine, Iran, Lebanon and Jordan. Subsequently he served as chaplain in Northern Ireland, Germany and England. He died in Cork on 16 October 1980, aged 82.
Fr Patrick Dorr from Foxford Co Mayo volunteered for the West African Brigade in early 1942 serving in Nigeria, Burma and India. Demobilised in 1946 he returned to Nigeria in 1947. He died in Belfast 19 August 1971, aged 64.
Fr Joseph Hilliard born in Kilcullen, Co Kildare and later resided in Fermoy, Co Cork joined the West African Force in July 1942. He served in Zaria, Nigeria and Ibadan, Nigeria for a year before accompanying the 81st West African Division to India for three months and to Burma for eight months where he participated in two campaigns in the Arakan Province. He was the Senior Chaplain with the 81st Division in India and Burma. Demobilised in June 1946 he returned to Benin City Diocese to resume his missionary work. He died in the Mater Hospital, Dublin on 24 June 1971, aged 57.
Fr Louis Kinnane from Belfast responded to the Bishop’s request for volunteers. In 1943 he became a Chaplain with the Royal Air Force. First serving in the UK and then in the Far East until 1947. He died in Cork on 6 November 1985, aged 74.
Fr John Lupton from Newry was a missionary in Cairo, Egypt. He also served as Officiating Chaplain visiting the Military Hospitals and ministered to the wounded and dead in Cairo. Fr John also served as an Army Chaplain during World War I in the Near East. He died in Cork on 23 April 1969, aged 81.
Fr Patrick McAnally from St Patrick’s Parish, Belfast served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) from February 1944 to June 1949. During that time, he served in Singapore, Batavia, Burma and England. After being demobilised he returned to his Nigerian mission. He died in Manchester on 29 June 2001, aged 92.
Fr John O’Doherty from Castleknock, Co Derry responded to Archbishop Taylor request for volunteers to the West African Division in May 1943. He served in Nigeria for a year and was then posted to Northern Ireland. Six months later he was assigned to Sierra Leone and later to the Gold Coast (Ghana) and then back to Nigeria again. After demobilization and a rest at home he returned to his Nigerian mission. He died in Cork on 22 March 1970, aged 70.
Fr Edward Rice from St Colmcille’s Parish, Belfast volunteered and became Chaplain with the Royal Air Force serving in England from 1942 to 1949. He returned to Nigeria then. He died in Bangor, Co Down on 5 August 1972, aged 61.
Fr Henry Russell from Belfast volunteered and became a Chaplain in the Royal Air Force serving in England and Ireland until 1944. He resumed his mission in Nigeria. He died in Albuquerque, USA on 30 March 1992, aged 79.