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John (Jack) was the oldest son born on the 15th September, 1914 in Broken Hill to James Patrick and Ellen Elizabeth Hoare. Locally known as The Hill, it is an isolated city in the outback, on the New South Wales and South Australian border, an area rich in minerals, especially silver, lead and zinc. James had been born at Carrieton in the Flinders Rangers of South Australia but had lived at The Hill since boyhood where he worked in the mines for many years before working on the land at Pooncarie Station. He then took over the Fowler's Gap Hotel for several years but returned to Broken Hill in early 1930. He and Elizabeth had eleven children, five boys and six girls. Sadly, in 1931, just days after John’s 17 birthday, his 54-year-old father died at home on the 27th September and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Broken Hill Cemetery.
As an eleven-year-old in ’26, John had gained a permit to attend Sacred Heart School from his current Convent school. However, John as the oldest son, then his brothers, followed in their father’s footsteps, working as farm hands who often were out droving with stock from nearby stations once they had left school and until the outbreak of WWII. At that time, an active campaign was instituted to encourage young men, particularly those from country areas, to enlist. With its large population, especially of single men, Broken Hill was an ideal recruiting ground. A report from the ‘Barrier Miner’ in November ’39 reported that ‘Recruiting reopened today, and in the morning session 10 men were accepted. None were objected to because of man power restrictions, and one man was rejected because he was under the required height—5ft. 6in.’
By July the following year, three of the Hoare brothers, 25-year-old John Nye, 24-year-old George Francis and 21-year-old Patrick, had enlisted of the seven local young men. Tellingly, the ‘Barrier Miner’ that month added that ‘A fourth and younger son who filled in his papers last night, could not obtain his parent's consent today. He was the fifth member of the Hoare family to apply for enlistment. Another brother made application to join the 2/8th Field Ambulance, but was rejected because he was medically unfit’. It becomes obvious that the fourth son, 20-year-old William Edward did manage to convince Ellen that he could enlist as by the 8th July the four brothers were on the train for Adelaide for their second medical before going into camp for training. The local Broken Hill Returned Soldiers’ League instituted a practice that the young recruits would be provided with a free breakfast at the Riverton railway refreshment rooms. On their trip down, the Hoare brothers made up half of the eight-man contingent.
Officially the brothers enlisted on the 10th July, 1940 at Wayville in South Australia and were allocated successive numbers, John SX8467, Patrick SX8468, William Howard SX8469, and George SX8470 and all were allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Following training in the bleak conditions of Woodside, by the end of the month young Patrick was back home in the Broken Hill hospital as part of his leave allocation, but being treated for pneumonia with three other fellow enlistees. He did recover and was soon back with his Battalion. John subsequently took an unofficial Leave Without Pay the day before his official pre-embarkation leave and his wages were affected.
A beautifully written piece was published in the ‘Barrier Miner’ at the end of October ’40: ‘Touching Scene "The, widow's son"--A phrase which at the very dawn of the Christian era evoked sympathy but how much more poignant the little scene at the railway station on Wednesday night when a widow said goodbye to four of her sons, who belong to the A.I.F. A fifth son had enlisted, but had been rejected. The mother was Mrs. J. Hoare, and her sons, Messrs.- Jack, George, Pat and Bill Hoare. While on leave a party was arranged in their honor by their aunt, Mrs. J. Howley, and about 40 other members of the fighting forces on leave in Broken Hill were also invited to the function, together with their relatives and friends. In all about 300 people attended Tait's Masonic Hall, which had been loaned by Mrs Dearlove. The hall was beflagged, and when the party broke up, resounded to the strains of "Auld Lang Syne."’
A further challenge to authority preceded the brothers’ departure on the ‘Stratheden’ with John again going absent and also challenging an order from his superior officer. For a lad who had no father in his teenage years, this clash was not unexpected but again it proved to be financially costly. John and his younger brothers finally heading for the Middle East, arriving on the 17th November ’40. Their fate in Tobruk and beyond was yet to be written. The brothers came to be known as the ‘Four musketeers from Broken Hill’ who wrote regularly to their mother, with their photo and a thank you published in the ‘Barrier Miner’ in March ’41 stating that ‘Word has been received from the four musketeers of Broken Hill George, Jack, Bill, and Joe Hoare who are overseas on service with the A.I.F. The Hoare brothers were members of a party of drovers who enlisted in a body at the local recruiting depot last year. Another brother also enlisted, but was rejected as medically unfit. In a letter to their parents they state they have been getting many gifts from the Comforts Fund, and cannot understand the criticism that has been levelled at this fund by returning men. They mention they have seen "Gidder" Castle, who has been sent from England, and Jack Toohey.’
Back home, any news of the men overseas was shared through the local newspapers. A letter from Pte. Cal Howely was published in June ’41 with the ‘Barrier Daily Truth’ reporting ‘his friends will be glad to know that he has been in action and in the best of health. Cal was one of the first local boys to enlist, and one of the first to go overseas. He was very happy to encounter the four Hoare boys, who are cousins of his, a few days before he wrote the letter, and he also wished to be remembered to his friends at home.’ Another local, Private Collin Campbell, also serving in the Middle East reported: 'Things are very tough out here in the desert. The dust storms are ten times worse than in Broken Hill and they blow for days and days at a time. The din of bombing and shell fire, and machine gun fire are terrific at times.’ This was Tobruk and the makings of the Rats of Tobruk.
The following month ‘The Barrier Daily Truth’ reported on a letter John had written to Cec Richards, an employee of Thorn's bakery regarding the recommendation to award Private Jack Huxtable the Military Medal. ‘It gives news of his brother, Joe Hoare, and Jack Huxtable. The letter states that with five other men, Huxtable was out on scouting duties when they came across a German patrol. The Australians armed with tommy guns wiped out the patrol before they were aware of the presence of diggers. John added that "Roughie" Huxtable had been doing some good work and had been recommended for the Military Medal. Joe Hoare is reported to have captured a German gun of great value. It has, according to the letter, been sent to London for a more careful study.’
John continued to ‘push the boundaries’ and have bouts of being absent without leave in April and May of ’42 while in the Middle East, but paid the price with a severe reduction in his pay. Five months later he learned of the death of his 22-year-old brother Patrick, killed on the 25th October, ’42 in Egypt in the fierce fighting undertaken by the Allieds to capture Trig 29. Charles Holman (SX13570), also from Broken Hill, who enlisted at a similar time, was killed in the same offensive. The 2/48th Battalion experienced a number of casualties. In his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’, John Glenn described that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone nine of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia. ’Patrols of both sides were active; a number of clashes occurred in No Man’s Land. In the early hours of the morning a strong enemy patrol, led by a German officer, approached the left flank of D Company; there they came under the fire of Pat Hoare’s Bren gun. The officer soon fell, whereupon the patrol withdrew, carrying their wounded.’
‘At last light on the same front some three hundred enemy troops attacked, and D Company area was swept by small arms fire. During the action Private Pat Hoare was killed and Lance-Corporal Henry Lohmann was so badly hit that he died soon after.’
It was a challenging time for the remaining three brothers.
The Barrier Miner on the 11th November ’42 carried the news of Patrick and Charles’s deaths. ‘PRIVATE Patrick Hoare (23), son of Mrs. J. Hoare, of Lane, and the late Mr. J. Hoare, has been reported killed in action in Egypt. Pte. Charles Holman; of Marks Street, has also been reported killed in action in Egypt. These casualties were announced today. Pte. Hoare is one of four brothers who enlisted together in Broken Hill and have been abroad for two years. The other brothers are Ptes. Jack, George and William Hoare. A fourth brother, Mr. J. W. Hoare, who is prominent in A.R.P. circles, was rejected by the A.I.F. Mrs. Hoare was notified in a telegram this morning. As the telegram delivery boy left her home she called to her daughter, "I have another cable; come and hear the news." She received a severe shock to read the tragic news. The four brothers, who have been together right through their A.I.F. service, have been in the habit of cabling once a week stating that they were well. Pte. Patrick Hoare was 23 years of age. He was born in Broken Hill. The four brothers in the A.I.F. had all been engaged on station work.’ The Barrier Daily Truth further explained that they had missed cabling home ‘owing to their being in action. It was a shock for the Hoare family to find that instead of a further cable from the boys, the telegram told of the death of one of them.
By February ’43 the boys’ mother, Ellen had received a cable that two of her boys were back in Australia after their service in the Middle East. The ‘Barrier Daily Truth’ recorded that Mrs. E. Hoare, of Lone Lane, who had word from her sons, Pte. Jack and Pte. Bill Hoare after two years and three months of active service. ‘Mrs. Hoare is still hopeful that she will have news of the return of her eldest son. Her four boys all served together overseas. One lost his life in action a few months ago, but the other three have been together until recently, to the best of her belief.’ In reality, John had already left the Middle East and arrived back in Melbourne on the 25th February. Unfortunately, he sustained a broken left ankle over the weekend in April so had an uncomfortable time for his much-anticipated leave back in Broken Hill.
However, it did not prevent him being caught up in a fight with his best friend ‘over a trifling matter’ in a laneway next to the Broken Hill Town Hall. His hot temper cost him and John O’Neil time in the Police Court with both pleading guilty to behaving in an offensive manner. The local constable reported ‘he found the defendants rolling about on the ground. They were exchanging blows. Two women were standing watching and telling them to "break it up." Both men had been drinking, Hoare appeared in court in khaki. He used one crutch and limped.’ In part of the evidence given, the local Constable stated that when he observed the fight, the soldier (John) was on top but both appeared to be sober. As neither man had any convictions a 10/- fine was imposed on both. As O’Neil did not have the money to pay the fine, John promptly lent this to him. An expensive and probably highly regretted action.
Preparation for service in a totally different war then followed with John training in Queensland before travelling from Cairns to serve in New Guinea. He arrived in Milne Bay in August ’43 and within three months was appointed as L/Corporal, then Acting Corporal by December. Inevitably, jungle conditions played havoc with the men’s health. John first contracted Dengue fever then Malaria, so was shipped back home and consequently spent over a week in the Broken Hill hospital in March ’44. Again, his and William’s return was shared by the ‘Barrier Daily Truth’ which announced “Ptes. Jack and Bill Hoare, AIF returned, have returned to their home in Lone Lane after service in New Guinea. They are two of the four Hoare brothers who were amongst Broken Hill's earliest volunteers. All four fought in the Middle East, where one was killed in action. Another (George) has been discharged from the Army since his return to Australia.’
Ill health continued to plague John for several months with pneumonia and an upper respiratory tract infection. This, however did not prevent him from rising to the rank of Corporal and returning to serve in Morotai in April ‘44. Back home, a pamphlet was sponsored by the Lady Mayoress, appealing for whole hearted support of the First Victory Loan. It contained messages from six local Broken Hill women all closely connected with the war effort who well appreciated the constant need for money to end the war as quickly as possible. Each woman was chosen because of her connection with some particular branch of war service. The ‘Barrier Daily Truth’ explained that ‘no-one has a closer link with the AIF than Mrs. E. E. Hoare. of 636 Lane Lane, Broken Hill is proud of her four sons who enlisted early in the war.’ She and the other five women were congratulated on their ‘stirring and personal method of approach to Broken Hill women…so that ‘ millions like them will live in a peaceful world once more.’
John’s service over so many years and against different enemies in totally different locations, plus the loss not only of his younger brother, but also close friends had a lasting effect on him. He was particularly devastated at the death of childhood friend, Roy Toohey SX14298 who enlisted in ’41 and was also allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. Roy had also been a station hand at Tibooburra, out of Broken Hill and served with the Hoare brothers in the Middle East then in New Guinea. He was killed in a brave counter-assault on a Japanese crew at Sykes. John and his family paid tribute to Roy in the local paper. ‘TOOHEY. —In loving memory of Private Roy Toohey, who died of wounds at Tarakan May 7, 1945. Ever remembered by Mrs. Hoare and family. TOOHEY. —In sad memory of my dear Pal (Private Roy Toohey, SX14293) died of wounds at Tarakan on May 7, 1945. Treasured memories linger ever of happy days spent together. Ever remembered by Jack Hoare.’
This death compounded the ill-effects and probably further contributed to John’s poor mental health, described as Anxiety Neurosis, now more accurately understood as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. In a cruel twist, he contracted a severe case of food poisoning in Queensland in February just prior to him finally being discharged in September ’45.
In November that year a large Armistice Celebration was held at the Broken Hill Soldiers’ Memorial. It was the first ceremony held at the Fallen Soldiers' clock to celebrate the first Armistice of World War ll. A huge number of returned servicemen from both wars attended with floral tributes from both public and private citizens being laid. The ‘Barrier Miner’ reported that there were wreaths ‘In memory of Pte. Pat Hoare, killed in action at El Alamein, October 25, 1943, ever remembered by his loving mother, sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers, and brothers-in-law; In memory of Pte. Roy Toohey, killed in action at Tarakan on May 6, 1945 ever remembered by Mrs. E. Hoare and family; In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. William O'Reilly, killed in action on Bougainville, July, 1945, ever remembered by his loving mother, father, sister and brothers; Loving memory of Pte. A. R. Wright, killed in action, Palestine, Nov. 6, 1917, and Pte. J. D. (Snowy) Wright (10th Batt.), died November 6, 1927, from loving sister and brother-in-law (Mrs. and Mr. R. Goudie).
As so many Broken Hill young men had enlisted to serve, Anzac Day celebrations were always a poignant tribute to the fallen of both World Wars. The ’47 Dawn service was described in the ‘Barrier Daily Truth’. ‘Just before dawn groups of men standing near the Soldiers Hostel formed up and marched to the war memorial; past the crowd of silent citizens where they gathered as 'Stand To' and then the 'Last Post' and 'Reveille' were played by Bugler J. Keenen, as the first streaks of dawn appeared in the eastern sky. The impressive short ceremony was pregnant with meaning and the spirit of Anzac as the long dead comrades and friends came to mind. No one but felt the deep solemnity of this occasion, the 32nd Anzac Day. By daylight the Memorial presented a beautiful sight bedecked with the numbers of wreaths from relatives and friends.’ Wreaths were laid for the two friends in the 2/48th Battalion, killed at the same time – John’s brother, Private Patrick Hoare and L/Cpl Charles Holman with each wreath being from their family and friends. They were not forgotten.
Two little boys were born in 1946. The first was to John’s sister Eileen Olds in April. She named her son Patrick John in honour of their young brother Patrick Henry who was killed in action and her older brother, John who had served with distinction. John and his wife Eileen also had a baby boy the same year in October and similarly named him Patrick. Their young brother certainly would continue to be remembered.
John died on the 14th March 1971 aged 56 and was buried in the Broken Hill Cemetery. Eileen applied for a plaque, commemorating his service during the war to also be a lasting tribute to his leadership and five years of fighting. Eileen Jean died on the 10th May 2012 and now rests with him.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.