“A call from the dead.”
YESTERDAY morning [ 8 February 1917 ], at Holy Trinity Church, South Brisbane, a memorial Eucharist was held for Corporal Lionel Doolan [ Lionel Stuart Doolan ], who was killed in action in France, on January 5.
The holding of the Eucharist was preceded by the reading of appropriate portions of the burial office, including special collects, epistle and Gospel for the dead.
The celebrant was Chaplain Lieutenant-Colonel Garland [ David John Garland ], formerly rector of Holy Trinity, and he was assisted by Chaplain Captain Collins [ David Jonathan Collins ], who had been in the N.C.O. School with the late Corporal Doolan.
There was a large attendance, including Mr. and Mrs. W.J Doolan (parents) [ William John Doolan and Florence Mercy Doolan, nee Porter ], and Misses Doolan [ Ina Doolan ] and M. Doolan [ Marie Florence Doolan ] (sisters).
For many years, and up till the time of his enlistment, the late Corporal Doolan had been one of the servers at Holy Trinity.
Speaking at the women’s recruiting meeting at the Exhibition last Saturday [ 3 February 1917 ], Chaplain Lieutenant-Colonel Garland referred to the death of Corporal Doolan, and read the latest letter received by his mother, just prior to his entering the trenches.
He emphasised the following passage:—
“Well, mother darling,
“I miss the good old feeds, the lovely soft bed all the other comforts which you used to give me. “But sooner this than be a stay-at-home, or a conscript.
“Things look black again us lately, so we want a good many more men to be able to give old Fritz a hiding.
“Don't you worry about me.
“I will be all right when things are over.
“You can bet your life on that.”
Canon Garland said that this was a voice from the grave, saying, “We want a great many more men.”
If those about the streets would not heed a voice from the grave, neither would they listen if one rose from the dead.
He referred to Corporal Doolan’s life and character, and told bow, when he (the speaker) was priest at Holy Trinity, Corporal Doolan had regularly served at the altar, continuing that office into manhood.
When he entered camp a volunteer was called for at church parade to take over the same duties, and Corporal Doolan immediately stepped forward.
On the transport he had acted in a similar capacity.
He had never been ashamed or afraid to confess his religion in the midst of his comrades. (Applause.)
He was a boy of beautiful character, showing a tender and patient devotion to the sick brother who had previously deceased him.
He (the speaker) wondered whether we were worthy of such sacrifices; we would not
prove worthy if we left them to be offered up in vain.
He wondered whether we would be worthy, when the war was over, to have those who had gone forth come back into our midst again.
He had seen the boy’s mother and sisters only that morning, and their only regret at the loss of then sole surviving son and brother was that there were still so many eligible men who would not go to the Front.
— from page 9 of “The Brisbane Courier” of 9 February 1917.
A voice from the grave.
YESTERDAY morning [ 8 February 1917 ] at Holy Trinity Church, South Brisbane, a memorial Eucharist was held for Corporal Lional Doolan [ sic, Lionel Stuart Doolan ], who was killed in action in France on January 5.
The holding of the Eucharist was preceded by the reading of appropriate portions of the burial office, including special collects, epistle and gospel for the dead, authorised for use on such occasions.
The celebrant was Canon Garland [ David John Garland ], formerly rector of Holy Trinity.
He was assisted by Chaplain-Captain Collins [ David Jonathan Collins ], who had been in the N.C.O. School with Corporal Doolan.
There was a large attendance, including Mr. and Mr. W.J. Doolan (parents) [ William John Doolan and Florence Mercy Doolan, nee Porter ], and Miss Doolan and Miss M. Doolan (sisters).
Corporal Doolan had for many years and up till the time of his enlistment, been one of the servers at Holy Trinity.
Speaking at the women’s recruiting meeting at the Exhibition, on Saturday last [ 3 February 1917 ], Canon Garland referred to the death of Corporal Doolan, and read the last letter received by his mother prior to his entering the trenches.
He emphasised the following passage:
“Well, Mother Darling,—
“I miss the good old feeds, the lovely soft bed and all the other comforts which you used to give me. But sooner this than be a stay-at-home or a conscript.
“Things look black against us lately.
“So we want a good many more men to be able to give old Fritz a hiding
“Don't you worry about me. I will be all right when things are over.
“You can bet your life on that.”
Canon Garland said this was a voice from the grave, saying: “We want more men. If those about the streets would not heed a voice from the grave, neither would they listen if one rose from the dead.”
— from page 8 of “The Daily Mail” (Brisbane) of 9 February 1917.
FOOTNOTE:
Lionel Stuart Doolan was born on 27 October 1892 at Brisbane, to parents, William John Doolan and Florence Mercy Doolan (née Porter).
Acting Corporal Doolan [ No. 6341 ] enlisted at Brisbane on 3 January 1916, and was posted on 24 August that year to the Enoggera-based 9th Infantry Battalion’s 20th Reinforcements.
Formerly a commercial traveller who resided at Rose Street, Annerley, Lionel received his schooling at Dutton Park State School.
He embarked on troopship, HMAT A46 “Clan MacGillivray,” from Brisbane on 7 September 1916, arriving at Plymouth, England, on 2 November 1916.
A/CPL. Doolan, 24, joined his unit on the Western Front in France on New Year’s Day 1917. He was killed in action during the Battle of Flers four days later.
He has no known grave, but his name appears on Panel No. 55 of the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, a village about 15km east of Amiens.
Dr Richard Walding, a Research Fellow, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, writes in his masterful page, dedicated to the history of Yeronga Memorial Park, that “Lionel's task was to help lay cable from various posts to Battalion HQ at Fleurs, France.”
He continues: “On the 5th January 1917, at about 5pm, the day was drawing to a close. The (A-Coy.) men had finished laying cable for the day and were walking single-file along a trench making their way back to their billets. They were about 150 yards away from HQ. A German shell landed in the trench and killed four men and wounded three. Lionel Doolan was killed 'on the spot' [as the War Diary records] along with his friends George Stenhouse (6317), Herbert Ball (6222), and Harry Bradshaw (6223). Other friends came to bury Lionel and the other men. The four men were buried that night alongside one another at a rough grave about 20-30 yards from where they fell. It became consecrated ground and a small wooden cross was placed in the graves by one of their mates ‒ Pte Arthur McNab (6336).”
Sydney-born Chaplain Captain, the Reverend David Jonathan Collins's connection to PTE. Doolan [ No. 6341 ] began while both men were stationed at Enoggera Training Camp, being readied for deployment overseas. A month shy of his 26th birthday, Collins [ No. 6337 ] enlisted at Enoggera on 24 August 1916 and was in the same Corporals' School intake as PTE. Doolan at the 11th Depot Battalion, but was elevated to the rank of Provisional Sergeant.
While both men felt at home assisting with the Church Parades at “Rifle Range” Camp, SGT. Collins – in his previous civilian life a Church of England clergyman – took his calling to the next level by handing his Commanding Officer, Major Charles Edwin Deacon, a letter of resignation the following month, stating “I beg to apply for my discharge from A.I.F., with a view to embarking for the Front as a Chaplain.”
His request was eventually acceded to and Chaplain 4th Class Collins re-enlisted at Sydney on 24 April 1917 and embarked for England on the troopship “Marathon” from Sydney on 10 May 1917. He served in the Chaplains' Department at 4th Divisional Headquarters, and was allocated to the 4th Pioneer Battalion for a period, before returning to Australia in July 1920.
On 9 February 1917, Ina Doolan wrote to Canon Garland to thank him for the kind words about Lionel.
“Woodlands”
Rose Street,
Annerley,
Sth B'bane.
9.2.17.
My dear Canon,
You cannot imagine how pleased we were to notice in this morning's 'Courier' the paragraph about our dear Lionel, and how very thoughtful it was of you. Father has enclosed a small donation for the Prayer Book Fund: or to use at your discretion. We all join in sending our love & best wishes to yourself and Mrs. Garland.
I am,
Your sincere friend
[signed] Ina Doolan.
Canon David John Garland papers. (1915). https://collections.slq.qld.gov.au/guide/om71-51/details.
State Library of Queensland Collection
