Lieutenant-Colonel M. J. Whitty, class '81
In Memoriam
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Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Joseph Whitty, M.D., R.A.M.C, who died on Wednesday, 28th March, at his residence, Percy Street, Liverpool, was a native of Co. Waterford, and was educated at Castleknock College. Taking his M.D. at Queen's College, Cork, he joined the R.A.M.C. at the age of twenty-three, putting in service in Ireland, Cape Town, Hong Kong, and Egypt. Since the war began he acted as medical inspector of recruits in the Western Command. He had been a number of years stationed in Liverpool, and was a familiar figure at the Old Haymarket Recruiting Depot. His name recently appeared in the Gazette among those who had done valuable service during the war for which he was awarded the DSO.
He was of a quiet and unassuming disposition, and came of an old Irish stock, hailing from a part of Ireland which has given many brilliant men to the Army. He had five sons, four of whom have been in the present war, the eldest three of whom were with us at SVC. One, Capt. John Whitty, who belonged to the Royal Flying Corps, was killed in action in July, 1916. Another, Capt. Patrick Joseph is attached to the Machine Gun Section of the Royal Irish Regiment. He has seen much stiff service in the Salonika campaign. A third son just reached Liverpool from the Somme three hours before his father's death.
The College offers its sincerest sympathy to his widow and sons as well as to his brother, Rev. Thomas Whitty.
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A CHRISTMAS WISH-
SPIRIT of the Christmas-tide, I hail thee,
Prophet of God's peace, t'wards men goodwill,
Angels sang the message that God gave thee.
Do the Angel-voices linger still?
Yes, upon the pure air of true friendship
Still is throbbing sweet that message clear,
As the Shepherds heard it sweetly throbbing
On the star-lit, midnight, Beth'lem air.
Angels then, dear friend, glad tidings bear thee,
Bring thee God's own peace, all men's good-will,
And for long, long years may Time still spare thee
God's Own Hand thy cup of blessing fill-
Michael J. Whitty, Dec 1910
He lies buried in Liverpool (Yew Tree) RC Cemetery and also commemorated at the Liverpool Medical Institute.