ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO TODAY

Distance Marker on Monument at
Newfoundland Memorial Park, Beaumont Hamel

Pte E J Murphy

During WWI, the Newfoundland Regiment served bravely and with distinction in Turkey, Egypt, France, Belgium, Greece, Germany and Great Britain.   Despite its many courageous battles, it is Beaumont Hamel and the first day of the Battle of the Somme that was the most devastating for the Regiment and for Newfoundland.   

Pte F P Woodford

The Battle of the Somme lasted an horrific 141 days, from July to November 1916.  The Somme offensive, which began one hundred years ago today, on 1^st July 1916, was a terrible failure.  By the time it ended in November, about 400,000 lives had been lost and the Allies had succeeded in moving the front line just 10 kilometres or about 6 miles.

Lieut R Shortall

As they left their trenches on July 1st, the Allied Forces were mowed down by a barrage of enemy fire.  Of the approximately 800 Newfoundlanders who went into battle on the morning of July 1st, only 68 answered roll call the next day.  More than 700 were dead, wounded or missing.  It has been said that, as they walked into the hell of No Man’s Land that morning, the Newfoundlanders tucked their chins in, as if they were walking into the teeth of a blizzard back home in Newfoundland, and marched on!  The courage of the Newfoundlanders did

Pte J Breen

not go unnoticed on the front lines.  The Divisional Commander, Major General Beauvoir de Lisle, said of their sacrifice, “It was a magnificent display of trained and disciplined valour, and its assault only failed of success because dead men can advance no further.”  

 

Plaque from St Patrick's Convent School, 
Deanery Ave & portrait of Padre Nangle

Pte M F Kennedy

Among those who died that July 1^st, or from wounds sustained that day, were many young men of St Patrick’s Parish.  In 1921, a new St Patrick’s Convent School opened on Deanery Avenue.  This School was erected as a memorial to the men and boys of St Patrick’s Parish who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War I.  The school has long gone but, thanks to Fr Wayne Dohey, the plaque which once adorned the front entrance of the school has been preserved.  Alongside a portrait of WWI Chaplain, Padre Thomas Nangle, it is proudly displayed on the wall of St Patrick’s Church.  Thank you, Fr Dohey, for saving this important part of our School and Parish History.

Pte F J Galgay

We have the names of some of our gallant parishioners but if you know of one who lost his life as a consequence of the Battle of July 1^st 1916, please send the information to us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com and we will gladly add it to this post. 

Forget-Me-Nots

We remember and pay grateful tribute to all who gave their lives in WWI but we pay special tribute to these members of St Patrick’s Parish:

PTE JOHN BREEN, AGE

PTE LEO MICHAEL BURKE, AGE 18

PTE JOHN JOSEPH CAREW, AGE 26

PTE LAURENCE JOSEPH CORCORAN, AGE 33

PTE FRANCIS JOSEPH GALGAY, AGE 19

PTE JOSEPH HOLLAHAN, AGE 26

PTE BERT JACKMAN, AGE 27

SGT MICHAEL FRANCIS KELLY, AGE 26

PTE MICHAEL FRANCIS KENNEDY, AGE 22

PTE RICHARD JOSEPH MADDIGAN, AGE 19

PTE JOSEPH MARTRET, AGE 20

PTE THOMAS MELEE, AGE 19

PTE EDWARD JOSEPH MURPHY, AGE 24

CPL WILLIAM JOSEPH RYAN, AGE 25

LIEUT RICHARD A SHORTALL, AGE 25

PTE FRANCIS PATRICK WOODFORD, AGE 24

Beaumont Hamel at night

"BETTER THAN THE BEST"

MISS MURPHY'S LAST CLASS, JUNE 1964

Mary Elaine (Walsh) Barrett attended St Patrick’s from September 1963 to June 1972, Grades 1-9.  School life began for Mary Elaine in September 1963 at St Patrick’s on Deanery Avenue where she did Grade 1 and Grade 2.  Grade 3 brought a move to the newer building on Patrick Street and, having completed Grade 9, Mary Elaine graduated from St Patrick’s in June 1972.  

This treasure of a photo comes courtesy of Mary Elaine and I think it will awaken some memories for a lot of people.  The picture is of the legendary Miss Margaret Murphy and her last Grade 1 Class at St Patrick’s.  It was taken at the June Concert in 1964.

The Legendary Miss Margaret Murphy with her  Last Class,
June 1964

Mary Elaine has identified most of the girls in the photo. 

LEFT SIDE:

FRONT ROW: ?, Sharon Downey,  ?,  ?,  ?.

2ND ROW: Cathy Auchinleck, ?, Ann Marie Galway, Michelle Squires, ?, Ann Marie Fitzpatrick, Michelle Evans.

3RD ROW: Mary Ann Dawe, Janie Simms, Beverly Holden, Janet Jardine, Suzanne Power, Linda Curtis.

RIGHT SIDE: 

FRONT ROW : ?, Gina Kielly, ?, ?, Regina Power, Madonna Bruce.

2nd row: Mary Elaine Walsh, Yvonne Hamlyn, Sheila Handrigan, Susan Holloway, ?, ?, ?, Janet Lawlor.

3RD ROW: Lorraine Taylor, Brenda Shapter, Elaine OBrien, ?, Sharon Fitzpatrick.

 

Mary Elaine said; “I think the first girl in the front row on the left is Debbie Crotty, also the 4th girl in the back row on the left may be Corrine Murphy”.

****I would like to add another name to the list. A comment from 'Anonymous' identifies the 4th girl in the front row on the right as Carol Ann Thomas. Thanks for your help 'Anonymous'.

The sash which Miss Murphy is wearing around her neck has the names of all the girls in the class.  The sash and flowers were presented to Miss Murphy by Michelle Evans and Mary Elaine Walsh on behalf of the class.  Does anyone know where that wonderful sash is now?

Mary Elaine has sent a copy of the concert program too.  I am sorry I can't reproduce it any better.  I hope you can read it because it is another gem from the past.

 

The Concert Program

 

Mary Elaine, I have certainly enjoyed this jaunt down Memory Lane and I am very grateful to you for sharing your photographs and memories with us.  I think a lot of others out there will feel the same.  Thank you so very much!

"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

In 1921, the new St Patrick's Convent School opened on Deanery Avenue.  The school was dedicated to the memory of the men and boys of St Patrick's Parish who had lost their lives in WWI.  Today, as Remembrance Day dawns once again, we dedicate this post to all those who have paid the supreme sacrifice, not only in WWI, but in all the wars and conflicts that have cursed the earth ever since. 

 

 

The Plaque from  the Deanery Avenue School

 

 

This little newspaper clipping found in a very old scrapbook tells of one parishioner of St Patrick's who gave his young life in WWI. 



From a 1918 newspaper

 

Private Jack Pynn was the son of Daniel and Margaret Pynn of 329 Water Street West. Private Pynn was only 17 years old when he died of wounds on 31st October 1918, just eleven days before the Armistice was signed.  Far from his home in the shadow of St Patrick's, young Private Jack Pynn rests in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France.

 

"They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun

and in the morning
We will remember them."

(Robert Laurence Binyon)

DRAWN FROM MEMORY

This post will bring back some memories for a lot of people.  I am posting a  sketch of St Patrick's Convent School, Deanery Avenue.  Many of us were pupils at this school, which was built as a memorial to the boys and men of St Patrick's Parish who gave their lives in WWI.     This beautiful drawing was done, from memory,  by a former pupil of St Patrick's, Kay Simms McCormack .

One of eleven children, Kay Simms was born in 1932 to Bill and Louise Simms, prominent and well respected members of St Patrick's Parish.  Many will recall the concerts at which the dancers and singers were accompanied on the piano by Mrs  Simms.  In the 1930s and 1940s Kay and her three sisters, Dot, Betty and Jennie, all attended St Patrick's Convent School.  One of Kay's brothers, Ray, also attended St Patrick's where he took Commercial.  It seems the norm that friendships forged as children at St Patrick's last a lifetime. Kay is no exception as she still cherishes the friendships and keeps in contact with some of her school friends. 

A SKETCH OF THE DEANERY AVENUE SCHOOL,
DONE FROM MEMORY BY KAY McCORMACK

Kay loves to sketch but her niece, Betty Simms,  tells me that she is also a very talented painter.  For this lovely additiion to our School Blog I am very grateful to my good friend Betty Simms and to her amazing Aunt, Kay Simms McCormack.  Long may you continue to paint and sketch, Kay, and we would be delighted to see more of your work.  Thanks very much and may God bless you.

THE RUBBER BAG, PART 2

Last post I promised that I would post any comments or memories from those of you who were able to identify the “curious object” pictured there and below.   As expected, all of you recognised it as a rubber bag or a gaiter bag.  The following are some of the comments received on said “curious object”!

THE FAMOUS 'RUBBER BAG'

 

Anonymous 

“Oh, the gator bag....I haven't thought of one of these in years. When you think about it these things made a lot of sense.”

 
 

c984d1d2-a786-11e2-8167-000bcdcb8a73          

“God help you if in Sister Immaculata's class, your rubbers were thrown outside the door, which she watched everyday! Some of us called it a rubber bag.”

 

Carmelita Hearn

“I remember it well....and I remember running back home as fast as I could because I forgot my 'rubber bag'.....it was just as bad to be late. Sister Immaculata would stand by the front entrance of the school on Patrick's St. and check if you had your bag, you could be sent home to get it if you forgot. I also remember mopping the second floor corridors outside our Grade six classroom when we were in her class, anyone else remember that? She was a real 'sergeant major' but we sure learned to do as we were told.”

 
 

Frances Noseworthy “That is a gaiter bag.....in winter you wore your boots to school, carried your shoes in this bag, changed in the front porch and carried your gaiters to the classroom in your gaiter bag. I'd say most moms made these for the kiddies, I know mine did.”
 

 

Catherine Altini “The dreaded boot bags. All the Moms had to make them for the girls. Carrying book bags, then boot bags, traipsing thru the snow, and then walking home uphill or downhill. No wonder we turned out strong as bulls.”

 

MARY KENNEDY   “Of course, I was in Sister Immaculata's class!!”

 

CARMEN CATTLES “Who could forget Sister Immaculata at the front door of the school making sure your boots never touched that floor.”
 

 

CAROL DUGGAN  “Someday I'm going to walk on that floor with my wet boots on in her memory---- and in memory of "rubber bags" as they were called.”

 

JACINTA DOYLE “She (Sr Immaculata) had eyes like a hawk....watching the back door and the front door at the same time...all the while doing her crocheting.....like Madame defarge.”

 

GABRIELLE PAFF   “I'm not a St. Patrick's girl but we had those bags at Mercy Convent also - they were called shoe bags. Same difference.”

 

DOREEN (McALLISTER) HEFFERNAN “ In the late 40s and early 50s I was a pupil at St Patrick’s on Convent Square, the real ‘old school’.  The entrance was on Convent Square, the doors by the auditorium.  Even way back then, dear Sr Immaculata stood at the top of the stairs waiting to see if you had your rubbers/gaiters in your rubber bag and NOT in the sleeve of your coat!  Occasionally pupils would forget their rubber bag and try to sneak their rubbers into school in the sleeves of their coats.  When Sr Immaculata asked where their rubber bag was some would pretend that they hadn’t worn any rubbers and had walked to school in their shoes.  Of course with the snow possibly up to your knees and dry shoes, Sr Immaculata certainly didn’t fall for that one!  She would know immediately that the rubbers were stuffed into the sleeves of their coats and she would say, “Let me see your coat” and then check to see if the gaiters were in the sleeves.  If they were, you got punished for lying AND sent home to get the forgotten rubber bag!”

 

Well everyone, this has been a fun post for me and I hope it has been for you too.  I certainly remember the famous (infamous?) rubber bag days.  Like most of you, I remember Sr Immaculata doing sentry duty at the ‘new school’ on Patrick St.  I know that all that you have said in your comments is fact because I too remember attempting to smuggle rubbers in coat sleeves, being sent home to get a forgotten one, and being told to leave the ‘bagless’ rubbers outside the front door.  Gabrielle, I am very pleased to learn that you girls at Mercy had to suffer the rubber bag ordeal too.  It is great to hear Doreen’s story of her days in the old school on Convent Square.  It just goes to show that, as the saying goes, “There is nothing new under the sun”.  Thanks everyone!”

THE PRESENTATION SISTERS COME TO RIVERHEAD

“Ah! Must –Designer Infinite! –

Ah! Must Thou char the wood

ere Thou canst limn with it?"

(The Hound of Heaven,

by Francis Thompson)

After their arrival in St John’s in 1833, the Presentation Sisters immediately and wholeheartedly began their work among the poor Irish Catholics of the port.

The “Designer Infinite” did indeed “char the wood” for, despite the solicitous care of Bishop Fleming, the Sisters’ early years in St John’s were beset with difficulties. Nevertheless, their efforts on behalf of the people were blessed and the girls of the town flocked to their school.

The four founding Sisters, Sr Bernard Kirwan, Sr Magdalen O’Shaughnessy, Sr Xaverius Lynch and Sr Xavier Maloney, were joined in 1843 by two Postulants from Ireland. That year, on the Feast of the Assumption, Bishop Fleming received Catherine Phelan (Sr M Ignatius Aloysius) and Amelia Shanley (Sr M Antonio Magdalen) into the Presentation Congregation in St John’s. In his excellent book, “Fire Upon the Earth”, Brother J B Darcy tells us that a lay Sister was also received that day but, unfortunately, he does not give her name.

It was becoming increasingly difficult for just six Sisters to cope with the more than 1,000 pupils who daily came to the school. Accordingly, the good Bishop once again appealed to the Galway Presentation Convent for more Sisters. In 1846, having received the consent of Bishop O’Donnell of Galway, Sr M Josephine French and Sr M DeSales Lovelock accompanied Bishop Fleming to their new home in St John’s. True to the spirit of Nano Nagle, and in the full knowledge of the tragic fire that had just reduced St John’s to a pile of blackened rubble, these selfless and courageous ladies generously volunteered to forsake their home, family and friends.

Gradually the Presentation Community grew as the Sisters were joined by recruits from Ireland and Newfoundland and the Sisters began to establish new Convents in the Colony. Their first new House was opened in Harbour Grace in July 1851. By 1855 there were five Presentation Convents in Newfoundland.

The Old St Patrick's Convent
(Click on the picture to enlarge it)

On 10th January 1856, four Presentation Sisters came from the Community at Cathedral Square to establish a Convent at Riverhead, in the West End of St John’s. Sr M Clare Waldron was appointed Superior. The next day, Fr Kieran Walsh celebrated Mass in the Convent Chapel. This house was cold and damp so in March 1880 the Foundation Stone was laid for a new building to better serve the needs of the Sisters and their charges. On the Feast of Corpus Christi 1882, Bishop Thomas Joseph Power solemnly blessed the new St Patrick’s Convent and celebrated the first Mass in its Chapel.



In the beginning, the Sisters taught both boys and girls in their school. However, St Patrick’s eventually became an all girls’ school. The enrolment increased steadily and, 65 years after the Sisters opened their first school, a new school was opened. In 1921 a new St Patrick’s Convent School, erected as a Memorial to the men of the Parish who died in WWI, opened on Deanery Avenue.

By the 1950s, it was realized that the current buildings were unable to adequately meet increasing educational needs. On 2nd October 1953, His Grace Most Reverend Patrick James Skinner blessed the cornerstone of the new St Patrick’s School on Patrick St. On 4th January 1954 Archbishop Skinner celebrated Mass on the main corridor of the new school and blessed the building.

Sadly, St Patrick’s Convent School is no more. In 1999 St Patrick’s closed its doors for the last time. The building is now a private school. Fortunately, the Presentation Sisters remain a presence in St Patrick’s Parish and the oft renovated and improved Convent which was opened in 1882 is still their home.

LINKS TO THIS POST:
THE LADY WITH THE LANTERN
FIRST PRESENTATION CONVENT OUTSIDE IRELAND