Family life and career Albert Facey

1 family life , career

1.1 marriage
1.2 loss of son
1.3 retirement
1.4 memoirs , fame

family life , career
marriage

while recuperating war injuries, facey met evelyn mary gibson (1897–1976), whom married @ bunbury on 24 august 1916. happily married 60 years before evelyn died on 3 august 1976. mourned rest of life. couple had 7 children, born between 1919 , 1939.

facey became active public campaigner improved conditions australian returned servicemen. family lived @ victoria park, before returned children farming @ wickepin, 1922 1934.

after returned war, facey obtained employment tram driver (1916–1922) , after return wickepin, trolley bus driver (1934–1946) in perth. spent rest of working life successful self-employed poultry , pig farmer , businessman (1947–1958) in areas such tuart hill, wanneroo, gosnells , mount helena near mundaring.

facey active in public life , known in community 1920s until retired in late 1950s. president of perth tramways union 5 years , later elected member of local government , of perth roads board on 20 years. justice of peace.

loss of son

facey s eldest son, named albert barnett facey , known barney, 1919–1942, joined second aif during second world war , served 2/4th machine gun battalion. fell in bombing raid on 15 march 1942, during fierce battle of singapore fought against japanese army. while family aware missing in action, death not confirmed until may 1945. facey stated in memoirs although , wife had assumed eldest son had been killed, had never given hope. after wait of on 3 years confirmation, wife s health deteriorated such extent suffered major stroke. 2 other sons, joseph , george, served in australian army in world war ii, both seeing action in new guinea. returned home safely @ end of 1945.

retirement

albert facey suffered many health issues throughout life, due war-related injuries received @ gallipoli. these included old bullet wounds, heart problems , ruptured spleen. after suffering major heart attack when 64 in 1958, retired business life continued active in other ways.

memoirs , fame

facey began making notes on life, , @ urging of wife , children, had notes printed book. completed memoirs on 83rd birthday, in 1977. 2 years later, @ 85, learnt autobiography, fortunate life, had been approved publication. published in 1981, 9 months before death.

although facey delighted life story appreciated on such grand scale, health rapidly declining , losing eyesight. needed use wheelchair due broken hip. book became bestseller , won prestigious nsw premier s literary award non-fiction , national book council prize. during final 6 months of life, albert facey became national celebrity , nominated australian of year award in 1981.