John Patrick Fay

FAY, John Patrick- – – – SPC 1893-1894

DoB:– – 17 June 1891, Buangor (near Ararat), VIC

Father:- – James Fay

Mother:- – Julia, nee O’Shea

This boy was known as Patrick while at St Patrick’s, and was a -‘Foundation’ student at the College.

Service No:- 4415

Rank:– – Private

Unit:- – 21st Battalion

Patrick Fay enlisted on 18 January 1916 at 36 years of age. His occupation was Grocer, and he was five feet, eight and a quarter inches tall. He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark grey hair.

Private Fay left Australia on 29 March 1916 for England. From there, he proceeded to Etaples, France at the beginning of September, and later that month to Belgium. He suffered from severe trench feet and was admitted initially to hospital at Rouen on 11 November, and later transferred to England for treatment on 22 November 1916.

By June 1916 he was considered well enough to march out again from England, and he rejoined the 21st Battalion in France. On 6 October 1917 he was wounded in action in Belgium, suffering a sword fracture to his right thigh. He was hospitalised in Boulogne and later transferred to England on 30 October 1917 for further treatment.

He did not return to active duty, and returned to Australia on 8 April 1918 aboard the Dunluce Castle, for discharge due to the compound fracture of his right femur.

He settled back into farming life close to where he grew up, near the town of Ararat in Western Victoria. The electoral rolls up till 1954 have him in that area.

John Patrick Fay died on 21st October 1962 of arteriosclerotic heart disease and pulmonary oedema. He died while resident in the Hospital for Mental Hygiene in Kew. He was 82 years old, and had never married.

He was buried at the Buangor Cemetery, in Victoria.