Francis Patrick Darcy

DARCY, Francis Patrick- – – – SPC 1913

DoB:- – 1896, Lauriston (near Kyneton), VIC

Father:– – Patrick James Darcy, a gold miner

Mother:– – Jessie, nee Christie

Frank Darcy was a boarder at St Patrick’s. In 1913 he sat and passed the Junior Public examinations in the following subjects: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, English, French, History, Latin and Greek. In all these subjects except Geometry he gained Distinctions.

Service No:– 3344

Rank:– – Private

Unit:– – 29th Battalion, later 32nd Battalion

Frank Darcy enlisted on 2 August 1915, aged 19 years and three months. He was five feet two and a quarter inches tall, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. He gave his occupation as a bender in the Clifton Wheel Co.

Private Darcy embarked from Australia on 4 July 1916 after undergoing training at the army camp at Broadmeadows. He proceeded overseas to France from Codford, England, on 12 November 1916, and in January 1917 was attached to the 8th Infantry Training Company in France.

In March 1918, he was reprimanded -“ -‘When on active duty neglect to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he neglected to clean his rifle’.

He returned to Australia on 8 May 1919, and was discharged from the AIF on 7 August of that year.

After returning to civilian life in Australia, Frank Darcy moved around Victoria undertaking various types of seasonal work. He worked as a labourer in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and from 1936 to 1954 was a cook at the Electricity Commission Camp at Yallourn in Gippsland.

Frank Darcy died on 24 October 1966, aged 70 years. It is likely that he lived alone, as his death certificate shows that it was the Coroner at Melbourne who ordered the burial of his body, without inquest.

He was buried at the New Cheltenham Cemetery, Victoria. He was not married.