Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

After finishing school, Jack served as an auxiliary fireman at the Maryborough Fire Station, where his father, George Thomas, was fire chief. One of his brothers - Ted - served alongside him. Jack served in the CMF, which led to his deployment as part of the Wide Bay regiment. Jack was sent to Milne Bay and then on to Bougaineville then Goodenough Island. On his return to Maryborough, Jack first worked as a labourer and then took a position with Mobil Oil, which saw him travelling all over Queensland and also interstate. He finished his working life as a Supervisor for Mobil Oil. Jack married Margaret Jean Hurley on January 7, 1955, when Margaret was 22 and Jack was 40. They married at St Mary's in Maryborough and left immediately after their Wedding Breakfast for Jack's posting to Kingaroy with Mobil Oil. Jack worked in Kingaroy, Gladstone, Rockhampton, and then bought a family home in Mackay. Jack and Margaret had six children: Ann Elizabeth, born Kingaroy 18/11/56, died Brisbane 1/3/10; Paul John, born Gladstone, 23/4/58; John Edward, born Gladstone 13/7/59; Peter Francis, born Rockhampton 4/5/62; Catherine Maree, born Rockhampton 15/12/65; Anthony Gerard, born Mackay 6/12/66. Jack was involved in hockey all his life - as a player, as a selector for the Queensland Colts, as an administrator on the executive of the Mackay Hockey Association and Mackay Schools' Hockey Association, and, on retirement, as a volunteer groundsman and maintenance worker for the Mackay Hockey Fields. Jack was deeply affected by his war experiences and only once, late in life, openly reflected on these to his family. Jack was a quiet man, taking pleasure in simple things - family life, Sunday Mass, watching his children play hockey, saying the Rosary daily, and tending the hockey fields. Jack died from cancer on October 14, 2001, leaving a legacy of service, family commitment and deep faith. His wife, Margaret, still resides in Mackay, surrounded by a large family of grown children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.