Mass at 6:30 - Many attend these weekday Masses voluntarily in vestry of Anglican Church. Some receive Communion.
Contacted many regarding Easter Duty.
In 1939, at the outbreak of WWII and seven years after having been ordained to the priesthood, Rev. Michael Joseph Dalton (May 5, 1902 - April 6, 2009) volunteered to join the Essex Scottish Regiment of the Canadian Army.Although he could have avoided front line service due to his age and position, he insisted that it was his duty to serve. Father Mike saw active duty in England, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany.
Father Mike was known to work on the front lines of military combat and often marched with his men, carrying their weapons when they grew fatigued. He was known to drive his jeep, often against orders, to the front lines of combat in order to hear confessions
Saying Mass until his death - just one month shy of his 107th birthday - Father Mike was believed to have been the oldest Catholic priest in Canada and Canada's oldest surviving serviceman from World War II. Father Mike kept a war diary documenting his service during the years 1939-1946. In 1979 he donated it to the National Archives of Canada.
Please join me as I transcribe his writings online.
March 2, 1942
Mass at 6:30 for men - Helped gardener at Grosvenor Gardens, St. Leonards.
Billeted in summer hotel - Grosvenor House Hostel, Roaring of Channel waves rocks us to sleep nightly. One mile away is Hastings where William the Conqueror in 1066 made a successful invasion. This was the last time, and it will be the last due to presence of the Flower of Canada’s gallant manhood.
March 1, 1942
Mass in vestry of Anglican Church for Essex Scottish. Sweet strains of pipe organ at Protestant service assists our devotion.
Second Mass at St. Thomas Church - St. Leonards, for rally of all Catholics RHLI. Two priests hear confessions during Mass. Sermon on Prodigal son bears fruit. RCAF also attend. Tea and cakes served by ladies. Dinner in men’s kitchen. RHLI after giving smokes to Transport Section.
Benediction at “Chapel of Ease” - March comes in like a lamb - Weather mild - No bombs; no runs, no hits, no errors.
Canadian mail and parcels arrive today.
Second Mass at St. Thomas Church - St. Leonards, for rally of all Catholics RHLI. Two priests hear confessions during Mass. Sermon on Prodigal son bears fruit. RCAF also attend. Tea and cakes served by ladies. Dinner in men’s kitchen. RHLI after giving smokes to Transport Section.
Benediction at “Chapel of Ease” - March comes in like a lamb - Weather mild - No bombs; no runs, no hits, no errors.
Canadian mail and parcels arrive today.
Total War
September 1939 -- till now, too busy making history to write about it. This was during Battle of Britain and Battle of Atlantic.
Locations Since Enlistment
- Wrote to Bishop Kidd to enlist
- Commissioned as Captain of spiritual. Called up dad to notify of my new field of labour. My first funeral mass after ordination was mother in 1932. My first funeral mass in uniform was Father R.I.P.
- Moved into East Windsor Barracks after Dad’s funeral, remained at St. Alphonsus Rectory previously.
- To Camp Borden tents
- Appointed Chaplain of 4th Brigade, including Essex Scottish, Royal Regiment of Canada Hamilton Light Infantry
- Embarked on S.S. “Empress of Austrailia”
- To Clyde, near Glasgow
- Brighton
- Back to Aldershot
- To Rye, Sussex
- Mountfield
- Camberley
- Suningdale near Ascot - Home of Count John McCormack, who sang for us often.
- Back to Rye, Sussex
- St. Leondard’s adjoining Hastings, scene of last enemy invasion of William Conqueror in 1066
- Uckfield
- Horam, in tents, cold
- Ashington near Horsham
- Isle of Wright - for special training in A.L.C. (Assault Landing Craft) - we found out later to perpare for Dieppe
- Fishbourne
- Fort Victoria at Yarmouth (Queen Victoria died here)
- Savoy amp near Fredwater, summer home of Tennyson. Billeted in home of donator of Harmsworth Trophy.
- Back to Ashington
- Middleton at Bognor Regis, S. Sussex, Horsham, E. Grinstead, Billingshurst, Tillmanstone near Dover.
- Commissioned as Captain of spiritual. Called up dad to notify of my new field of labour. My first funeral mass after ordination was mother in 1932. My first funeral mass in uniform was Father R.I.P.
- Moved into East Windsor Barracks after Dad’s funeral, remained at St. Alphonsus Rectory previously.
- To Camp Borden tents
- Appointed Chaplain of 4th Brigade, including Essex Scottish, Royal Regiment of Canada Hamilton Light Infantry
- Embarked on S.S. “Empress of Austrailia”
- To Clyde, near Glasgow
- Brighton
- Back to Aldershot
- To Rye, Sussex
- Mountfield
- Camberley
- Suningdale near Ascot - Home of Count John McCormack, who sang for us often.
- Back to Rye, Sussex
- St. Leondard’s adjoining Hastings, scene of last enemy invasion of William Conqueror in 1066
- Uckfield
- Horam, in tents, cold
- Ashington near Horsham
- Isle of Wright - for special training in A.L.C. (Assault Landing Craft) - we found out later to perpare for Dieppe
- Fishbourne
- Fort Victoria at Yarmouth (Queen Victoria died here)
- Savoy amp near Fredwater, summer home of Tennyson. Billeted in home of donator of Harmsworth Trophy.
- Back to Ashington
- Middleton at Bognor Regis, S. Sussex, Horsham, E. Grinstead, Billingshurst, Tillmanstone near Dover.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
I bind to myself today
The Power of God to guide me
The Wisdom of God to each me
The Eye of God to watch over me
The Ear of God to hear me
The Word of God to give me speech
The Hand of God to protect me
The Way of God to lie before me
The Shield of God to shelter me
the Host of God to defend me
Christ be with me, Christ in the front
Christ in the rear, Christ within me
Christ below me, Christ above me
Christ at my right hand
Christ at my left hand
Christ in the front
Christ in the chariot seat Christ at the helm
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
The Power of God to guide me
The Wisdom of God to each me
The Eye of God to watch over me
The Ear of God to hear me
The Word of God to give me speech
The Hand of God to protect me
The Way of God to lie before me
The Shield of God to shelter me
the Host of God to defend me
Christ be with me, Christ in the front
Christ in the rear, Christ within me
Christ below me, Christ above me
Christ at my right hand
Christ at my left hand
Christ in the front
Christ in the chariot seat Christ at the helm
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me
Christ in every eye that sees me
Christ in every ear that hears me
Page 1 - Beginning of Diary
Major Michael Joseph Dalton, B.A, M.B.E
R.C. Chaplain to
4th Canadian Infantry Brigade - Comprising
4th Brigade Headquarters
Essex Scottish Infantry
Royal Regiment of Canada
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry
2nd Field Company Engineers R.C.E.
“B” Company Toronto Scots (Machine Gunners)
4th Brigade Workshop R.C.O.C.
No. 3 Laundry & Mobile Bath
11th Field Ambulance
No. 3 F. O. S.
Attached Troops
And Troops in Area
R.C. Chaplain to
4th Canadian Infantry Brigade - Comprising
4th Brigade Headquarters
Essex Scottish Infantry
Royal Regiment of Canada
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry
2nd Field Company Engineers R.C.E.
“B” Company Toronto Scots (Machine Gunners)
4th Brigade Workshop R.C.O.C.
No. 3 Laundry & Mobile Bath
11th Field Ambulance
No. 3 F. O. S.
Attached Troops
And Troops in Area
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