John ‘Jack’ Patrick Conway

CONWAY, John -‘Jack’ Patrick- – – – SPC 1905

DoB:- 18 February 1896, Hamilton, VIC

Jack Conway was a boarder at St Patrick’s from Hamilton in western Victoria.

Service No:– –

Rank:– – Private

Unit:– – D Company, 10th Depot Battalion

Jack Conway enlisted for the first time on 20 July 1915 in Ballarat. His next of kin was his grandmother, Mrs E Conway who lived at 1206 Sturt Street, Ballarat. He gave his age as 21 years and five months old. He was five feet and seven inches tall, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and fair hair. He was initially assigned to D Company, 10th Depot Battalion.

When Private Conway underwent a full physical examination at the Camp established at the Melbourne Show Grounds, it was found that had a -hammer toe-. A hammer toe, or contracted toe, is a deformity that causes the toe to permanently bend or curl downward instead of pointing forward. Due to this affliction he was discharged from the AIF after about 90 days of service.

Jack attempted to enlist a second time on 29 December 1917 in Melbourne. On this occasion his true age was 21 years and ten months. In the intervening years, he had married and moved to 33 Edward Street, Brunswick with his wife, Florence. He was once again found to be medically unfit due to his hammer toe and prevented from enlisting.

The College has been unable to trace John Patrick Conway’s life since 1917.