It is sometimes difficult to have news of people living far away, especially if they are elderly and do not use social networks ... But it is never too late to pay tribute. IN LOVING MEMORY OF SISTER CLAUDIA (Kathleen Josephine) GEARING. This is one of the most moving story of Fromelles. Private Patrick GEARING, 3501, was born in Boorowa, NSW, Australia in 1887, son of Edward and Ellen GEARING a Roman Catholic Family. Patrick was a blacksmith, he was married with Mary (Kelly) Gearing. They lived, 78 Lamb Street, Lilyfield, New South Wales. On 19 October 1915, Patrick enlisted in the army, in Holsworthy, NSW, Australia, with the rank of Private, in the 18th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement (AWM Embarkation Roll number, 23/35/2)His unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas on 20 December 1915. During his training period in Egypt, he was transfered in the 54th Battalion and later in the 53rd Battalion, 14th Brigade, 5th Division AIF. Patrick disembarked at Marseilles, France on 28 June 1916. His Battalion was transfered in a quiet sector of Northern France between Armentieres and Fleurbaix, the Nursery Sector some days before the battle of Fromelles...During the attack on the Rouges Bancs Patrick was Killed in Action on 19 July 1916, his wife was advised that he was wounded in action !!! Patrick was declared Killed in Action only on 2 September 1917 after an court of enquiry of the Australian Red Cross, but his wife had no idea where he was killed (She believed that he was killed at Pozieres). In August 1916 a friend of Patrick wrote her, that in fact Patrick was killed at Fromelles, but officials had no idea where he was buried. Some British and Australian soldiers killed on 19/20 July 1916 at Fromelles was buried in the Fournes en Weppes (near Fromelles) German Cemetery. One of these men was Private Patrick Gearing. His body was recovered after the war, German forgot to take his identity discs, and he was identified by the Imperial War Grave Commission. Patrick was reburied in the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery (Plot XV, Row H, Grave No. 30), Souchez, France But the most tragic in this story is that Paticks wife was pregnant when he gone to the war... Their daugther, Kathleen Josephine Gearing was born at Lilyfield on 3rd July 1916, The letter telling her father of the birth of his daughter was returned unopened as hed been killed at Fromelles before he got the news... I dont know why, but Kathleen Josephine Gearing ( Sister Claudia) didnt find out until 2006 where he had been buried. Sister Claudia passed away in July 2011. Kathleen Josephine Gearing was born at Lilyfield on 3rd July 1916, the second child of Patrick and Mary (Kelly) Gearing. Sadly, Kathleen never knew her father who was killed in action during World War1, he was not at home when she was born. Her mother died in 1984 and her brother, Bernard, has also predeceased her. Kathleen attended St Joseph’s School, Rozelle, for the whole of her primary and secondary education and afterwards completed a course in dressmaking at a Technical College – a course that would be well utilised in later years. Kathleen responded to the call to religious life when she joined the Good Samaritan Novitiate, Pennant Hills, on 21st November 1934. She began this new phase of her life as Sister Mary Claudia and made her first profession on 24 May 1937. Following her first profession Claudia was appointed to St John’s College, Campbelltown, which at that time provided education and boarding facilities for junior boys. She remained there for twenty-six years mothering and caring for the daily needs of some eighty young boys as well as attending to convent duties. One of these students, Fr Christopher Willcock, SJ, now a noted composer of liturgical music, demonstrated the long standing respect and admiration these boys showed towards Claudia when he composed, for the 40th anniversary of her religious profession, a special setting of Psalm 131 with the refrain, “In you, Lord, I have found my peace” which will be sung as the responsorial psalm at Claudia’s Funeral Mass. After eleven years spent in schools in Queanbeyan and Gwynneville, Claudia was appointed as Assistant Matron at St Scholastica’s Infirmary, Glebe Point, and when Polding Villa opened as a Hostel for senior Sisters, she spent six years caring for the Sisters in residence. There were two more appointments, on separate occasions, to community and ministry in Campbelltown totalling a further twenty years of ministry in that area. From 1985 to 1990 Claudia was one of the members of a pioneering community at St Mary’s Villa Nursing Home at Concord where she provided pastoral care for the residents. Claudia’s long years of care and service were recognised when she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2005. Although she moved to a gentler pace of life in community at Marsfield, Claudia maintained an active involvement in personal and congregational activities. Gradual failing health prompted a move to Polding Villa in 2009 where she remained until a further transfer to St Catherine’s Nursing Home, Eastwood in July of this year, 2011. Claudia is remembered with love and gratitude by the members of the Gearing and Kelly families, her ex students and her Sisters of the Good Samaritan. REST IN PEACE.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 09:06:50 +0000
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