FARLEY, Jack
| Service Number: | 69 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 January 1916, Inverell, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 33rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lisborn, Co Cavan, Ireland, 1889 |
| Home Town: | Inverell, Inverell, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Suicide, Roosevelt Hotel, Campbell Street, Sydney, NSW, 21 June 1921 |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemetery & Crematorium Zone C Anglican H 2898 |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Inverell & District Memorial Olympic Pool WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 69, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Inverell, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 69, 33rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 69, 33rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of J Farley, Cavin, Ireland
IN GREAT TROUBLE
At the City Coroner's Court today Mr. Jamieson returned a verdict of suicide in the Inquiry about the death of Jack Farley, 33 years of age, who, on June 21, was found with his throat cut in the lavatory of the Roosevelt Hotel, Campbell-street.
Evidence was given that the deceased was a native of Clare, Ireland, and was a returned soldier. He was a bootmaker, and had carried on business first at Mosman and later at Botany. Some days before his death he had been worried over a debt he owed the Repatriation Department, and had told a friend that an officer from there had been out to see him about it. He boarded at a house in Cooper-street, and his landlady said that when he returned home on the Saturday before his death his eyes were full of tears, and he said to her, "I am in great trouble."
"FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS"
"As We Forgive Our Debtors "
The City Coroner held an Inquiry on Tuesday into the death of Jack Farley, 33, a one-legged returned soldier, who was found with his throat cut in a city hotel on June 21. Blanche Reid Tull, deceased's landlady, stated he was absent from home on the Friday prior to his death, and when he came back, about mid-day, on the Saturday, he was greatly upset. His eyes were full of tears, and he said, 'I'm in great trouble." He explained that the Repatriation Department had been worrying him about a debt.
Gentlemen of the Repat.: His ghost salutes;
Gone is the one-legged mender of worn boots,
Your debtor whom (according to his say)
You dunned into his narrow house of clay.
(We do not charge this. On her oath one said,
This was alleged by Soldier Farley dead).
Her words:
"His eyes were filled with tears, his trouble great;
"Things had not gone too well with him, of late,
'"On Saturday he seemed to be upset,
"Repat. had worried him about a debt." . . :
About a debt! No doubt he owed the sum—
Of comfort let us hand you this small crumb —
And well within your right 'twas to pursue
Your debtor, to collect the balance due,
Against the debit set his small account:
ONE LEG (please price your own, and fix amount).
MUCH HOPE. (Life is a rather poor affair
For any man not altogether there).
SOME YOUTH. (The war sowed grey on many a dome
Thatched thick with black, before the boys left home).
Last entry on the bill: THE SOLDIER'S LIFE.
(He took the speediest way out of the strife)
On Saturday "in tears, and much upset";
On Tuesday Death "cut in" and squared the debt.
Rule off the page. You can't pursue a Shade;
His ghost salutes. The soldier's bill is paid.
-—JOHN DRAYTON.