The grandson of Patrick I was also to be called to parliamentary service. He started work at the Cunnamulla sheep station, as a drover, bullock driver and fencer becoming overseer . It was here he joined the union and became interested in the conditions of the working man. He learned to fly at the Warrego school.
Not long after he was a flight lieutenant and flew spitfires all over europe in the famous 452 squadron. He was shot down at 17,000 feet over France and spent nearly 4 years as a prisoner of war, in the infamous Stalag Luft III. He shared a ward with Douglas Bader, who had his artificial legs confiscated be the Germans, so Justin was Baders legs for quite some time.
He became politically involved after the war, and was elected as a Labor Senator for Tasmania in 1946. He was elevated to President of the Senate in 1974
A younger brother, also a grandson of Patrick I , who was a keen all round sportsman, and captained the NSW Australian Rules Football team in 1949. He saw service with the Royal Australian Navy during World War II, ending his tour as a Lieutenant-commander. Back in Launceston he took a keen interest in charity work, but it was his years in a wine and spirit business which saw his name assume a high profile.
When Justin was elected President of the Senate, Tom sent several celebration crates of champagne, but Canberra returned them on the grounds of security.
Carrying on the political banner was a great great grand daughter who was the Federal Member of Bass, Tasmania. She is a great, great grand daughter of Patrick I.
What in the hell am I doing here, up to my neck in ice covered water, with machine gun fire and whiz-bangs overhead. Bill (grandson of Thomas I), had fought with New Zealand expeditionary force through all the major battles of France in World War I (the war to end all wars). However this time he had been wounded twice within an hour, and provided the medics got to him it was the end of his war.
On his return he took off to Newcastle, in Aust. Did the mining thing, and learnt to be an electrician.
Returning to his hometown in Invercargill, NZ, he married Veronica Lyons, and raised a family of 3 boys and 1 girl. He had a great tenor voice, which was compared to Caruso, and many a fine afternoon, he serenaded the neighbour hood from his prized vegetable garden. Bill went on to be Chief Electrical Inspector for Southland.
Bill’s sisters May and Eileen were noted piano teachers, with May being decorated by the Queen. Sister Myrtle helped raise thousands of pounds for the WWII, by leading regular community sings, most of which were broadcast.
The trauma of being taken from your family at such young ages, imprisoned for three years about as far from their home as could be, was enough to break the toughest spirits. The last straw in Ireland was to have their youngest brother die in prison, before they were shipped to an unknown land.
Three more years in prison on Tasmania saw them at last being pardoned and able to start on a ‘normal’ life. Those next years would be challenging, but there was noway they would want to change, as they were all prospering, and their families were growing up in a healthy environment.
