Vernon Garth Facey (1885 - 1951)

Born 1 Mar 1885 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Clara Everlena Evelina Jecks — married 1941 in Guildford, Western Australia, Australia

Died 23 Feb 1951 at age 65 in Maida Vale, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS.-Two brothers, Verne Facey and Joseph Facey, were brought up at the City Police Court, yesterday, charged, the former with stealing some straps and the latter with stealing some bottles. These brothers were the captains of the "push" referred to in the WEST AUSTRALIAN yesterday. Verne, the younger brother, was ordered to be kept at Rottnest till he was 15 years old, and Joseph till he was 17 years old.
- The West Australian (Perth, WA) Sat 6 Aug 1898

Kalgoorlie Police Court. (Before Mr J. M. Finnerty, R.M.)
Cutting and Stealing Green Timber.
Charles Worsley and. Vernon Facey, two lads, were proceeded against on a charge of cutting down trees on the race course. Mr. Hale prosecuted on behalf of the trustees, in whom the ground is vested. He stated that the destruction of growing timber was a menace to the beauty and utility of the ground. It was a practice which should be stopped. He did not press for any heavy penalty, but wished the case to be a warning to others. The Bench inflicted a fine of 5s on each defendant, and costs.
- The Evening Star (Boulder, WA) Fri 31 Jan 1902

He served in WWI with the 1st Pioneer Battalion. S/N 1840.

A FIGHTING FAMILY.
One of the best known families in Devon and Cornwall, and who have been noted as always having had a representative in every big or little scrap which Britain has engaged in during the last 200 years, is the Faceys. To the men of the Navy no name is better known, as the first hotel they meet on paying off at Devonport is the Royal, and the last they see before going aboard is the same Facey 's Royal Hotel, in the Fire Street.
The Facey's were primarily a naval family, as is right and proper for a family of the country of Drake, Hawkins and Frobisher. In the present war representatives of this family have not been wanting in the great fight on sea and land, as both branches of the service have the name in their list. The West Australian contingents have had a branch of the family represented in the Australian Navy, in Vern Facey, now on his way to the front. Sad to say, two have lost their lives at Gallipoli —Joseph Facey in the famous Tenth Light Horse (being shot, and received seven bayonet wounds on September 14th). He saw service also in South Africa in the 6th Westralian Contingent, and was wounded there (being first man wounded of the 6th contingent) on 7th May, 1901. Another brother, Roy Barker Facey, of A Company of 11th Batallion, was killed on June 28th, being blown to pieces by the explosion of a shell on the Peninsula.
The fourth brother, Albert Barnet Facey, of D Company 11th Battallion, is now an inmate of No. 8 General Hospital, where he is slowly recovering from the effects of injuries received from being buried under a quantity of sand bags, displaced by a shell, and later from the effects of a bomb which was thrown by a Turkish Infantryman at close quarters.
The Facey family have done their bit, and more than a bit.
- Camp Chronicle (Midland Junction, WA ) Thu 27 Apr 1916

Research Notes

In the novel written by his brother, A B Facey relates (chap 58) that Vern was serving on HMAS Sydney at the time of the sinking of the Emden and caused a furore within the Navy when he criticised the Captain for unnecessarily positioning too close to the Emden when the Sydney could have stood off further and stayed in range but out of the range of the Emden's guns, resulting, according to Vern, the unnecessary loss of lives on the Sydney.

Vernon allegedly was taken off the Sydney and put on the Australia.

If anyone can find any records of Vernon's service in the Navy, please add details.

Sources

• VIC BDM and online death records
• Find A Grave: Memorial #142718991
• Billion Graves
• A Fortunate Life. Vernon is frequently referenced in the novel by his younger brother A. B. Facey.