Michael Joseph Bergin : Short Biography

Fr. Michael Bergin was born at Fancroft Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, on 16th July 1879.  He was the youngest of five children, the son of Michael and Mary Bergin (née Hill).  His father Michael owned and ran the corn mill at Fancroft.  While the family was not well-off, they placed a high value on education.  The children were sent to Sacred Heart Convent in Roscrea. Michael was very close to his brother Jack.  Michael entered the Jesuit College in Mungret, Co. Limerick and remained there till he was 17.  

In 1897 Michael entered the Jesuit Noviceship in Tullbeg, Co. Carlow and was later sent to Syria where he studied for nine years in the University of Beyrouth.  He was asked to travel to England in 1908 and in 1909 he visited his sick father in Ireland.  His father died when he returned to England.  Michael was ordained on the 24th August 1910, after which he worked in England for a couple of years giving retreats and missions throughout the country.  He visited the Sacred Heart Convent in Cairo and heard of an Australian Regiment stationed there.  The soldiers had no Catholic clergymen with them so Fr. Michael accompanied them to Gallipoli.  He was unable to continue as their chaplain as a minister had not yet been chosen.  Fr. Michael then joined the regiment as a soldier Trooper Bergin.  He ministered to the men and carried out his duties as a soldier till the Australian authorities chose him as chaplain.  Fr. Michael was a frail man, but this did not deter him from carrying stretchers and digging graves as several men died in the terrible battles between the Australians and the Turks.  It was not an easy life and Fr. Michael wrote to his family telling them of the tragic experiences of war.  At time of death, he was part of 13th Australian Infantry Brigade, 50th Australian Infantry Battalion. He was injured from a shell close to Zonnebike, North East of Ypres on the 11th October 1917 and died the following day.  All official records indicate he died on the 12 October however correspondence by Jesuits in October 1917, indicate the 11th.  He was wounded on the 11th and died on the 12th.  He was 38.  He is buried near the church in Renninghelst. Following his death, the Australians in respect of his dedicated service awarded him their highest army recognition, "The Cross of Honour".   He carries the distinction of being the only Australian Soldier killed in action that had never set foot in Australia.  He always aimed to be where his men were in greatest danger, and having survived the Turkish campaign he was killed by a German shell on the Ypres salient in Flanders.  The citation for the Military Cross awarded posthumously (although based on recommendation prior to death), read: 'Padre Bergin is always to be found among his men, helping them when in trouble, and inspiring them with his noble example and never-failing cheerfulness.'

Compiled from the following main sources:

A Biographical Dictionary of Tipperary by Martin O'Dwyer

The Tipperary War Dead by Tom & Ruth Burnell

https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/person/89559#$story-311