Jack Critchley

Who was Jack Critchley?

John Owen "Jack" Critchley was an Australian politician. Born in Callington, South Australia. Jack was the son of a miner, Patrick and his wife Julia and was the eldest of three boys, the other two being Mick and Harry. He was educated at state schools before becoming an apprentice wheelwright at Murray Bridge and then worked for Harrisons in Maitland, from where he enlisted. Jack served in the First AIF and fought and was wounded on the Western Front. When he arrived in France he had asked to see his brothers and was told that Mick had been killed and that Harry was at the front. He was blown up in no-man's land near Hill 60 and when he awoke he found himself in hospital in Salisbury, England. Invalided home he obtained a position in the railways at Peterborough. While at Gumbowie he had reported for work at the railways when he heard the morse code message coming over the line informing them that his brother Harry had been killed. Jack asked the Station Master, Mr Snigg, to hold the message until he had time to find the Parish priest Father Ed Ryan and together they took the news to his parents. It was at Peterborough that he met Alice Caroline Cave who was selling raffle tickets at the Catholic Bazaar. Jack was so taken by Alice that he bought the entire book of raffle tickets and donated the prize to the Convent. Jack and Alice married in 1919 and had three daughters, Mary, Pat and Joyce.