Fr. Francis P. Duffy

Priest of the @NY_Arch, Chaplain of the #Fighting69th during #WW1. Info from my autobiography & contemporary newspapers. Account managed by @ArchNYArchives

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

Follow along on my journey as I recount my experiences as a chaplain for the #Fighting69th during #WWI. #FrDuffysStory

[Kevin C. Fitzpatrick @k72ndst]

Look for me and the #EastCoastDoughboys in #WWI kit leading parade with #Fighting69th 🌈 Irish regiment ☘️🇺🇸🇨🇮 @WW1CC @ww1nyc

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

#Christmas on the Rhine! We used the church in the local village and even though attendance was voluntary, I think the whole #regiment marched to the service. #WW1 #chaplain

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

For the past week, we have been dwelling in the most pleasant and excellent town of Remagen. #Germany #WW1

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

Back home, the Ladies Auxiliary of the #Fighting69th are hosting a #Christmas party for the children of our soldiers. Toys, books, and games were distributed to the children from a real-life Santa Claus. #WW1

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

Wrote a letter to the mother of Private John Haspel after he was #killed at the post of duty. I wanted her to know how brave her son was. #chaplain #WW1 #FrDuffysStory

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

We have been marching throughout the past week through mountainous areas. The #German people have been surprisingly cordial and peaceful towards us. #WW1 #Germany #Fighting69th #chaplain

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

Today, we accomplished what we had set out to do all along - make our #invasion into #Germany #WW1 #Fighting69th

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

We have stayed in #Luxembourg for the past week until arrangements had been made for us to cross the #German border. We have begun marching. #WW1 #Fighting69th

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

Today, President #Wilson received a letter signed by over 1,000 priests in the @NY_Arch stating that the self-determination of #Ireland must be delivered in the forthcoming peace talks. #WW1

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

#Thanksgiving came around today and we made the most of it. There is a fair amount of food here, although one has to pay high prices for it. #WW1 #chaplain #inflation

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

Back in May, two of our men, Joseph Brown and Charles Knowlton, got lost in the dark coming in from the front, and wandered into the #German lines
where they were made prisoners. Now that the #armistice has been signed, they have rejoined us! #WW1

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

My mailbox is full these days, as many wounded men in hospitals and camps are clamoring to return to the regiment. I went to Colonel Hughes, the Divisional Chief of Stadd, to see if some arrangement could be made to return all men in combat divisions who had been evacuated. #WW1

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

We passed through the border of #Luxembourg today, without much fanfare. The locals have been civil and pleasant towards us. #WW1 #Fighting69th

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

After several days on the road, we crossed the #Belgian frontier today in the village of Fagny, being greeted by the village band. #WW1 #Fighting69th

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

Back home today, all of the churches across New York are marking the end of the war through the celebration of peace services. #WW1 #armistice100

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

Today we took to the road again, happy at the thought that the Rainbow Division had received the honor of being chosen as part of the Army of #Occupation. At the end of the first day's march our Headquarters were at #Baalon. #France #WW1

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

The great bulk of the old regiment is in hospitals, convalescent and casual camps; some of them promoted, some transferred, hundreds of them invalided home, a great many, alas! buried on #battlefields or in hospital #cemeteries. #chaplain #WW1 #armistice100

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

In accordance with Division orders, a formal muster was held today. We have 55 officers and 1,637 men with 8 officers and 43 men attached, which is 1,300 less than what we came here with. #WW1 #Fighting69th #armistice100

[Fr. Francis P. Duffy @ChaplainDuffy]

As the men celebrated, I went to the battlefield to pay my last duties to the dead, to record and in a rough way to beautify their lonely graves, for I knew that soon we would leave this place that their presence hallows, and never look upon it again. #chaplain #WW1 #armistice100

[Kevin C. Fitzpatrick @k72ndst]

We took over Duffy Square to honor @ChaplainDuffy on #ArmisticeDay100 #VeteransDay. 110 of us marched in #WWI uniforms and friends joined us. A truly memorable day @ww1nyc @WW1CC @NY_Arch