Handwritten dairy with details and military campaigns, life at the Front, deaths of soldiers.

Handwritten diary of events of World War I, written while Gleeson was based at Bethune, France. It contains details of his ministry, as well as details of military events and life at the Front.

Handwritten list of Non-Commissioned Officers and men of ‘B’ Company, 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, killed and missing. Details include their number, rank, name, remarks, religion and platoon.

Handwritten Brigade Roll, mainly of Roman Catholic members of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, British Expeditionary Forces, France.

Handwritten diary with details of life at the Front, military campaigns, soldiers Fr. Gleeson met and much more. Newspaper cutting in diary regarding activities in Neuve Chapelle.

Handwritten Brigade Roll, mainly of Roman Catholics fighting with the British Expeditionary Forces, France. It contains the number, platoon, and company details. It also states Fr. Gleeson’s home address as ‘c/o Mrs. Kavanagh, Holywood, Belgrave road, Monkstown, Dublin’.

Handwritten lists of soldiers, with their numbers, rank, name and address. There is a section for comments.

Handwritten list of men killed in June 1917, including Platoon number and Company Letter, name, address and next of kin, in some instances.

Handwritten Brigade Roll, mainly of Roman Catholics, fighting with the British Expeditionary Forces, France. It gives names and company details. Also contains some diary entries dated from January to April 1915.

Typescript and handwritten page entitled ‘Nominal Roll of Casualties (killed) from 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers'.

Handwritten page from a diary of Fr. Gleeson, noting the death of Barsby, ‘who died a very holy death’ (p1). It also discusses the purchase of crosses for graves and the making of coffins.

Handwritten pages from a dairy.

Handwritten lists of men, addresses, battalion and number.

Handwritten notice of Fr. Gleeson, referring to the celebration of mass in a Nyssen hut, marking the Feast of the Presentation.

A collection of papers belonging to Fr. Francis A. Gleeson relating to his time as Catholic Military Chaplain to the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers during World War I. The papers include diaries detailing life at the front and religious activities, Brigade Rolls listing mainly Roman Catholic soldiers, and correspondence from the families of men missing or killed in action.

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from Mary McEvoy, 12 South View, Chester Street, Durham, England. Her mother was happy to know that Private (T. or J.?) McEvoy received communion before he went missing in action. The McEvoy family have learned of the death of another brother, who was also at war. They are hopeful that McEvoy is alive.

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from James Byrne, Rathleague, Maryborough [Portlaoise], Queen’s County [Laois]. His brother, Private Byrne, 6182, is missing in action and all enquiries to date have been fruitless. He thanks Fr. Gleeson for his work.

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from Thomas Casey, Ballyshane, Doneraile, County Cork. Nothing has been heard from Sergeant Casey, 6906, but they are still hopeful.

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from Mary King, 1 Drummy’s Lawn, Shandon Street, Cork, thanking him for his letter regarding her son, Christopher. No one has heard from him or about him.

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from Margaret Maughan, Greenhills, Garryowen, County Limerick, thanking him for the information relating to the death of her son James. She is grateful that he died a happy death. She pays tribute to Fr. Gleeson for all his work.

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from Patrick O’Connor, 12 Queen’s Street, Queenstown, [Cobh], Cork. His son, Private Patrick O’Connor, 7093, is a prisoner in Germany. He thanks Fr. Gleeson for his work stating ‘it is a consolation for those at home to know their dear ones are not lacking in spiritual advice’ (p2).

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from Ellen MacDonagh, Chapel Road, Ennistymon, County Clare, regarding her son, Joachim, who is a prisoner in Germany since 22 December. Her son was helping another wounded soldier when they were surrounded and captured at the Battle of Ypres. She states that Fr. Gleeson is so well known and respected in Ennistymon and he may as well be one of the local priests.

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from Mary Hawley, 4 Davies Place, Moyderwell, Tralee, County Kerry, thanking him for his interest in her son, Private W. Hawley, 6463, who is a prisoner in Germany.

Letter to Fr. Gleeson from H. Dawes, 2 Hawley’s Quay, Limerick, thanking him for his letter. He is hopeful his son, Frank, will be found alive.