Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

LATE REV. WILLIAM CLOSE, P.P.
Rev. William Close, parish priest of Hamilton, who died on Saturday last at the age of 73, was one of the most popular and lovable priests of the Ballarat diocese. A native of County Limerick, Ireland, Fr. Close did his early ecclesiastical training at the Society of Jesus College, Mungret, and entered All Hallows Missionary College, Dublin, in 1895. On his ordination in June, 1902, he reached Victoria and was attached to the Ballarat diocese. He took up an appointment at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where he remained for nearly 18 years. During the First World War he was a chaplain and saw service in many theatres of operation. In August, 1919, he was transferred to the parish of Ararat. Later he w&s parish priest of Stawell for an extended period. A few years ago he was given the charge of the Hamilton parish. Fr. Close had been brilliant in his studies and was noted for his piety. Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul was celebrated at St. Mary's Church, Hamilton, on Tuesday, and the funeral took place at the local cemetery.

Advocate Thursday 22 December 1949 page 3

Ballarat & District in the Great War
· 20 May 2019 ·

'…I am once more in new quarters, this time close up to the line. The recent defeat of the Austrians by Russia and Italy may put her out of the ring, and if this should happen the end would come within a year from now.

I am in good health. The Australian boys have again distinguished themselves in arms. With bomb and bayonet they dug the Huns out of Pozieres, the strongest fort held by them on the Somme.
As I write the Light Horse are knocking Abdul about in the desert. The Australians hold pride of place amongst the British troops in France.

I am always glad to receive Ballarat news, and I am pleased to learn that St Alipius' choir has made such wonderful progress during my absence, and that their rendering of Gounod's "Messe Solennelle" on Easter Sunday last was 'something for the members of the choir to be proud of.'…'

Chaplain-Captain Bill Close was in the midst of the greatest spiritual trial of his life; he was a lifetime away from his family in Ireland, and his home in Ballarat East…

The son of James Close and Catherine Gillen, William Neison Close was born in Limerick, Ireland on 20 October 1877. It seems that their young son discovered his vocation early in life. He began his schooling at St Munchin’s College in Limerick. Under the auspices of the school and the Jesuit brothers, he entered into his initial ecclesiastical training in the seminary at Mungret College in Raheen on the outskirts of the city. Once the decision was made to commit his life fully to the Church, Bill graduated to All Hallow’s College, Dublin, in 1895.

In June 1901, Bill Close was ordained as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. He immediately set out for Australia. Along with three other newly ordained priests, Father Close sailed from London onboard the SS Cuzco…he arrived in Melbourne on 25 October 1901.

Father Close then began what was to be a long and close association with Ballarat when he was appointed to St Patrick's Cathedral, acting as parish priest at St Alipius in Victoria Street. During that time, he was involved in numerous community aspects of the church – he presided over meetings of the St Patrick’s branch of the League of the Cross, the St Alipius Club, the choir, celebrated weddings and conducted many funerals. He espoused the concept of temperance – abstaining from alcohol – and fought vigorously and publicly against the habit of “shouting”, which he believed led to drunkenness. He enjoyed that lighter functions of parish priest, too, acting as a judge for rowing events for St Patrick’s College, overseeing fundraising concerts, actively participating in events like the Federal Fair where his ability as a painter was put on display.

During the early stages of the war Father Close had had to deal with what he termed 'a great deal of misunderstanding regarding the attitude of the Catholics to the war.' His fervent defence of patriotic Catholics was well founded. Melbourne Archbishop Daniel Mannix had stirred considerable resentment with his anti-war stance, but Ballarat’s Catholic community had already provided a significant number of recruits, something Father Close was very aware of.

On 8 June 1915, Father Bill Close applied for a commission as a chaplain in the AIF. A substantial figure in the Ballarat community, he was also quite a bear of a man standing nearly 6-feet tall and weighing almost 13-stone. He was fit and strong both physically and spiritually and he now knew where he was needed most.

On 14 July a special send-off was held in the St Alipius Church Hall. Mr J. Hussey, who presided over the large gathering spoke of how they ‘had many popular priests in Ballarat East, but during the past twelve months he had heard many people, both Catholics and non-Catholics, express the opinion that Father Close was not only a Catholic priest, but he was a man amongst men.’

He went on to say that the secret of Father Close’s popularity was ‘…his simple and earnest character, ready and willing at all times to assist everybody, irrespective of country, creed, or colour, generous to a fault, approachable by all, and broad-minded enough to embrace everybody irrespective of religious beliefs…’ This drew a warm response from the many parishioners that gathered to say goodbye. He was presented with a group photo of the St Alipius choir of which he was such an integral part.

Just two days later, Chaplain Close sailed from Melbourne onboard HMAT Demosthenes.

The Irish priest quickly proved a popular figure amongst the men from Ballarat and he kept up a steady stream of letters “home”. On 21 January 1916, whilst stationed at the 21st General Hospital in Alexandria, he wrote the following to Mr Chris Carroll, of Ripon Street, Ballarat…

‘…This is mid-winter here in Egypt, but you cannot call it winter. A few days of wind and rain are followed by Iong spell of beautiful sunny weather. We have only had two rainy days yet. At night it gets quite cold, and you would need to put on an overcoat. Further inland it never rains. They are independent of the rainfall in Egypt. The Nile supplies all the water they want; the whole country is an irrigated area.

If the Turks and Germans attack the Suez Canal the Australians will give a good account of themselves. Nothing would please them more than another chance to have a slap at the 'Bosches.' I believe that the end will come as suddenly as a thunderclap. When the German line breaks it will smash into smithereens…’

On 26 March 1916, Chaplain Close embarked for France. He was granted Leave to visit his family in Ireland before returning to commence duty at the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot in Étaples.

One of his most important tasks was to let families know that their men were safe and well. He wrote the following letter to Mrs Maud Russ of Glazebrook Street, after he met up with her husband, Private Albert Russ. Albert, who was a member of Chaplain Close’s usual parish of St Alipius in Ballarat East, had enlisted on 26 April 1916.

'…I had the pleasure of meeting your husband during the week, and we had a long talk about Ballarat East.
I am at present in a big camp behind the lines, and all the Australian troops coming from England pass through, so I meet most of the Ballarat boys who have joined up. Your husband is looking fine, and I have no fear on his account. He will come through safely.
Nothing gives me more genuine pleasure than to meet someone I know from Ballarat. Of course, it makes me lonely, and wish to be home. Please God this war will soon be over. It cannot last much longer than the end of next summer, and then, when we get home, we will know how to value peace and comfort.
I am going up the line myself in a few weeks, and should I be anywhere near your husband I will look after him.
With best wishes for the happiness of yourself and the children…'

After the death of his younger brother Charles, a lieutenant with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, on 14 November 1916, Bill spent a sad and reflective ten-day furlough with his two sisters in Limerick. He returned to the Front once again and resumed his duties with a temporary attachment in the Field to the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column in January 1917. He wrote to his friend, Chris Carroll…

‘…You will be surprised to hear that I was home in Ireland from the 7th to the 17th of December. It was a sad trip. I lost my youngest brother, who was killed on the Somme on November, 14. He was the only boy living at home, arid when he died my two sisters lost everything. I am with the artillery, wading about in the mud. The boys are having a hard time. Last Saturday night, Paddy O'Leary (my orderly) and myself came under fire. I'll never forget it. The Germans shelled the place we were in at night. We lay for hours on the ground in the dark waiting for one to come over our way. However, we escaped, but we had a very bad time while it lasted…’

His letters continued, filled with the everyday items and information that needed to be conveyed to friends back home, but also intimating at the shocking conditions the troops were facing during the worst European winter in living memory.

‘..13 February 1917
Your letters are beginning to arrive regularly at last. The latest bears the date 9/12/16. By this time you have got my cable with the new address.

I like the brigade work. My new address is '2nd Battalion AIF, France.' Do not add another word to it or else the letter will not be delivered. Today I got a bundle of letters from different friends, nearly all addressed incorrectly.

I was delighted to hear that St Alipius' choir, Ballarat East, had made such marked progress during my absence.

We came out of the firing line yesterday (Sunday). We had a very disagreeable experience. It was nerve racking while it lasted. I thought my number was up. However, we escaped. To add to our trials we are enduring very severe cold nights; the temperature goes 20 degrees below freezing point. It is just as cold all day.

I am in good health. Give my kind regards to the members of the choir, the Altar Society, St Alipius' hall committee, and other friends…'

A steady correspondence to his many friends in Ballarat kept everyone up to date during his time away from the diocese. On one occasion (in all likelihood the incident mentioned in this last letter) Chaplain Close and his orderly were caught in the open by the enemy and were forced to lie on the ground, under fire, for some hours in the dark before making it back safely to their own lines.

Chaplain Close was eventually transferred from France to England, where he continued to perform the important task of ministering to those lying wounded in hospital. In December 1917 he requested a termination of his appointment with the AIF. The late Bishop of Ballarat, the Reverend Joseph Higgins, had granted Bill a two-year leave of absence and that time was now expired and he now needed to return to his parish once more. He returned to Ballarat in January 1918 as a part of the ship’s staff for the transport Argyllshire.

When he arrived back in Ballarat on 17 April, there were large gatherings waiting for him at the Ballarat City and West Railway Stations. The St Patrick’s hall that evening was ‘crowded to the doors,’ and, when Chaplain Close walked in, the vast audience rose as one to applaud his return. His response to their glowing tributes showed both how humble and humorous he was.

‘…I came back just as I went out. I have no decoration; I was neither extinguished nor distinguished…I have no pretensions to have been a soldier, but I hope that I have done what was expected and justified your opinion of me….’

The St Alipius Club went to great lengths to formally welcome home their parish priest at another Welcome Home celebration. The number of members who spoke in glowing terms of Bill Close made the genial Irishman blush. He responded by saying that ‘he took it that the picture painted of him was too good to be true. According to the picture he was too perfect to inhabit this world at all!’

He continued by saying, ‘when abroad his thoughts invariably turned toward, home, and by home he meant Ballarat East. It was only when the opportunity was given, to him to return to Australia, and when he neared the Southern Cross that he felt that he was home again. And now that he was back in Ballarat East he felt that he was home and (had) died…’

The next few months were busy ones for Father Close. During that time he took on a mostly administrative role, even acting as secretary to the incumbent Bishop of Ballarat, Reverend Daniel Foley.

In August 1919 it was announced that Father Close was to be transferred to Ararat at his own request. His health had been poor since his return from the Front and it was hoped that the slightly warmer climate in Ararat would effect a cure. News of his imminent departure was greeted with sadness. At a farewell gathering, Lieutenant-Colonel Julius Lazerus rose to farewell ‘one of the most popular and loveable citizens of Ballarat.’

For the ensuing years, Bill Close seemed to lead a more nomadic life as a clergyman, ministering to the people of Western Victoria. He spent time in Terang, Inglewood and then Stawell, before settling in the Hamilton diocese in 1942, where he became parish priest at St Mary’s.

During 1949, Father Close’s health began to decline. He died at Hamilton on 17 December 1949. As tributes began to flow, he was remembered for having been both brilliant in his studies and noted for his piety. A solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Mary’s Church on 20 December before he was laid to rest in the Hamilton Cemetery.