Patrick Hill Condon

Patrick HIll Condon was born on the 25 June 1885 at Albion Park, the sixth child and second son of Patrick Condon and his wife Margaret Clancy. By the time of his enlistment Patrick’s family had moved to the Gilmore Estate at the Crossroads, Wollongong. Their home was named ‘Wilga’ and was on the corner of what is now Crown Street and Fisher Street.

Patrick enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Kiama on the 17 October 1916 and was assigned to the 13th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcements. He embarked on the Beltana on the 25 November 1916, arriving at Devonport on the 29 January 1917. After training in England he proceeded to France on the 22 May 1917 and was taken on strength with the with the 23rd Reinforcements of the 13th Battalion on the 10 June 1917. After just three months at the front Patrick was killed in action. The official records give his death date as 24 September 1917 but in a letter to Patrick’s mother by his mate Bert McInnes the date of his death was 23 September 1917.

The highest number of enlistments of Illawarra men in a single battalion was in the 13th Battalion. A total of 154 Illawarra men enlisted in the 13th Battalion and 31% these volunteers died. For more information on Illawarra enlistments see Illawarra at War.

Patrick Hill Condon left a remarkable legacy of letters to his family. The Condon family, as were thousands of other families, devastated by the loss of their son. They kept all his letters, some of which are below.