Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Father Aloysius Nesbitt (Captain / Chaplain)

- John Kevin Nesbitt - Born 5th Deb 1902 Goulburn, NSW, died 26th June 1960.

Part of his life story held in the Nesbitt Family Records - Michael Nesbitt, formerly of Inverell, NSW.

At the outbreak of World War 2, Father Aloysius offered his services as a Military Chaplain, sailed for the Middle East and took part in the Syrian Campaign. Suddenly withdrawn from Syria, he was attached to a field casualty station and sailed for Mayala. A day short of Singapore they learned of the capitulation of this fortress and were re-routed to Australia. It was a very surprised community at St Paul's Retreat who saw Father Aloysius arrived unheralded in the refectory during the midday meal.
After regrouping, Father Aloysius sailed with the 9th Casualty Clearing Station for New Guinea and was with the Troops beleaguered at Milne Bay. During this campaign, he contracted some eye trouble and was relieved from field duty and was posted to various military hospitals in Q.L.D and N.S.W. He served out his time until demobilisation on the hospital ship "Wanganella".
Father Aloysius went to St Pauls Retreat as Vicar after his discharge from the Army, until he was elected to the position of Consultor. During his term of office, he combined also the duties of Provincial Econome and Secretary.
At the time of his death, Father Aloysius was Vicar of St Bridgets Retreat and Provincial Econome, duties particularly suited to his talents everywhere in the Congregation, he was very thoughtful and in a special way faithful to the duty of charity towards our sick in hospitals. No one could say that he had suffered any neglect from Father Aloysius. Perhaps this charity was rewarded by his being surrounded on his own deathbed by many of his fellow religious ad his only sister, Mother M. Carmella, Sister of Mercy.