Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Lucian was born in Tasmania in 1872, where his father, Rowland Hayward was prison chaplain at Port Arthur, before becoming rector of East Adelaide. Aged seven, Lucian saw the last of the convicts leave Port Arthur in 1878. In later years, he was interviewed and shared a fright he had when, as a small boy, he visited the gaol. His father was conducting a service. and Lucian was outside the chapel under the protection of Old Tom, a trusted prisoner. A big Māori with tattooed forehead approached. "See that big fellow." said Old Tom. "He loves to eat little boys." Lucian let out a hideous scream and bolted. His father heard him and rushed from his pulpit, without removing his vestments, to see what had happened.
Lucian, universally known as ‘Tom’ was fiercely proud of his heritage and his ancestors’ contribution to Australia’s early settlement. His maternal grandfather, John Price (Inspector-General of Penal Settlements in Victoria) was murdered by convicts. His uncle was known as Colonel Tom Price of -Shoot and lay 'em out' fame. To add to this impressive genealogical background, his maternal great, great grandfather was a brother of Sir John Franklin, the famous navigator and Governor of Van Diemen's Land. Following an unsuccessful early ‘20’s expedition in the Arctic Lady Franklin (whose surname Tom and his sons carry) devoted the whole of her fortune to discover the mystery of the lost expedition which included her husband. (In 1930, after 83 years, the camps were finally found. Precious letters written between Lady Franklin and her niece Sophia Cracroft survived, telling of their constant waiting for news as the years passed.) Tom later became the custodian of these letters.
Tom was deeply committed to truth in recounting the early convict beginnings of the Colony. Told of a dramatised version of "For the Term of his Natural Life" being performed in London, where an advertising stunt London depicted processions of men marched in single file in convict attire marked with the "broad arrow," some with sandwich boards, drew attention to the presentation. A chaplain referred to in the book was an ancestor of Tom’s and he believed was unfairly portrayed according to records. Tom’s attitude towards Marcus Clarke, the author, was therefore one of uncompromising hostility.
Tom was particularly proud of his involvement in the Boer War, enlisting on the 1st October 1899 as Private 320 with the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles under General de Lisle. With communications being erratic, the Bendigo Advertiser of August 1900, shared a distressing cable received by the Rev. Rowland and Mrs. Hayward, from Colonel McKenzie, chief staff officer in New South Wales, dated 28th July :— "I regret to have to inform you that a cablegram has been received from the High Commissioner for South Africa, notifying that your son, No. 320, Private L. F. Hayward, C Company Mounted Infantry, New South Wales contingent, was reported missing at Paardellat on the 19th inst., and at the same time am desired by the Major-General commanding to convey to you his sympathy, and to express the hope that news will soon be received of his safe return to the British lines." As the letter stated, Private Hayward, who was in the mother colony at the time, joined one of the New South Wales contingents.
This news came soon after a letter had been received from Tom where he related a narrow escape he had, “with four comrades, in taking a Cape cart across country, having been cut off from their own regiment and from Smith-Darrien's column, to which they were sent. They were fired at some Kaffir kralls and kopjes, but in the end, without food or forage, managed to rejoin their regiments, to the great surprise of everyone, as they had been given up for lost.” A newspaper addendum added that Private Hayward is a nephew of Colonel Price.
In a letter home to his family and shared with the Bendigo Advertiser in January 1901, Tom wrote of his four months as a prisoner with De Wet and of the privations he experienced during this time plus the prolonged trip before he could return home. Travel had to be during daylight hours because of the danger from prowling ‘bush-whacking’ Boers. Tom also outlined how a fifteen strong observation party had been captured by Boers who rode up to them dressed in khakee uniforms, ‘our poor chaps being entirely unsuspicious as they did not come from the front.’ War had hardened Tom as he recounted a good comrade and genuinely strong fighter being mortally wounded through the shoulders and spine, but remained cheerful, commenting that time for mourning was small but fellow soldiers were never forgotten. Regardless he was delighted to be back with his regiment with the added bonus of ample food. In a brief final line, Tom mentioned he was recommended by De Lisle for distinguished service and conspicuous gallantry, adding that ‘any credit to myself in all this was a matter of luck.’
A photo was taken in 1901 of Tom, John McCracken and William Neild, who captured a Maxim gun. In doing so, in 1902 Tom was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for ‘conspicuous gallantry displayed in a bayonet charge on the heights of the Vet River, in which a Maxim gun was captured from the enemy.’ Tom’s regret was that he was incapacitated to serve in WWI because of the injuries he sustained in the Boer War, however soldiers returning from that conflict found him a true support.
Despite his exceptional service Tom was annoyed at the comment that the Australians made their names as fighters at Gallopili,' He asserted that 'When the second contingent left South Africa, about 2,000 of us, we were replaced by the 5th, who were 5,000 strong. There were calls from commanding officers for 50,000 Australians.
In 1902 St Peter’s Old Collegians' Association chose to perpetuate the memory of the "old Blues" who fought for the empire in the Boer War, by having their names emblazoned on a tablet. The unveiling ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Adelaide and the tablet carried Tom’s name as one of the "Old boys who fought for the empire in the Boer War, 1900-1902. Erected by the Old Scholars Association, September, 1902."
In later years, Tom met a fellow prisoner, a young man, James Sinclair. In October ’37 the two met again with Tom learning that Jimmy had become a first-class batsman, playing for South Africa. He was a big hitter, with legend growing that his sixes cut the young shoots off the trees round the Wanderers Oval at Johannesburg. Post the Boer War, a team of South African cricketers came to Australia, unsure whether to Broken Hill in their itinerary. Tom wrote to Jimmy, sharing that he was living at Broken Hill, that he wanted to see the match but would have to travel to Adelaide. Based on their friends and Tom’s persuasiveness, the team went to Broken Hill, where the two ex-POWs had an enthusiastic reunion.
Tom married Marian Elizabeth Josephine Packard from Penola. Their three sons were later to enlist in WWII with the same sense of duty to their country as their father’s. They were Theodore Franklin (Ted) and Rowland Franklin (Toby) in the Army and Tony in the airforce.
Tom was for many years employed at the Broken Hill Company Limited, where he was the Superintendent at the Sintering Works It was a challenging role, particularly with the lack of worker safety where he was required to attend numerous inquests into accidents in the early 1900’s. These included a worker being run over by a train of trucks on the Silverton Tramway line near the Sintering Works. In another case a worker, taking wet slime in horse driven wagons, slipped and became trapped under the heavy wheel.
St Peter’s College continued to play a large role in Tom’s life at Broken Hill, with many ex-students living in the area. From 1906 an annual dinner was held each year as well as Old Scholar’s annual football and cricket matches against Prince Alfred College. At the 1909 dinner, Tom spoke of the importance of the annual Associations reunions being “the outward and visible signs of their loyalty to the old schools. Their loyalty combined three attributes: faith in the old school, hope in the future, and charity for the failure of others. Competition was the salt of life, and if they did not believe him, they should live by themselves for a while, and play dice, their right hands against their left, for amusement. His heart bled for those who attended school before Prince Alfred's was started. He remembered when he was picked to play football for the fifth juniors, he slept all the previous night in his guernsey and stockings. He looked back upon the school as the finest on earth in the days when he knew it.”
Tom was in charge of Wardang Island smelters for 21 years then at the Pirie Smelters and later was appointed superintendent of the Port Victoria flux quarries. He became heavily involved in the local community as a Justice of the Peace in ’32 and was also a Lay Preacher. He became firm friends with Dr Skelton who was later to become Bishop of Lincoln. The two frequently went out quail shooting together, returning with a seasons’ catch of 280 birds (which Marian duly cooked.) The friendship remained strong even after Skelton became vicar and sub-Dean of St. Alban's Cathedral. In a memorable incident, visitors arrived after closing time, but after sharing they were from Australia and knew Tom, Dr Skelton opened the Abbey and entertained them for the evening with dinner.
The family later moved to the coastal town of Port Victoria where Tom was the superintendent of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters fluxworks. This was the area which Tom loved. In July 23 He was caught by a foot, and sustained a severe strain, which necessitated medical attention. He gave generously to the local community as a local magistrate, President of the School Committee and involved in many community sports, as well as being a regular contributor to editorial pages of the Advertiser.
Tom was exceptionally proud of his own patch of Australian utopia on the southern Yorke Peninsula. He penned a poem, published in the Pioneer in April ‘41 about ‘The Tourist’s Paradise’;
On the north wall of my office, Where my prized possessions are,
Hangs a map of this fair country Known as Yorke Peninsula.
Every day I see before me Names that fill the heart with pain.
Telling of those days forgotten, Days that will not come again!
Names of rolling, sonorous beauty. Memories of native men— Koolywurtie, Curramulka, Minlacowie, Warrenben!
Names that speak of peace and plenty In those happy, far-off days,
When the blacks who roamed the country Had not learnt the white man’s ways.
Names of camps and living waters, Names that tell of plenteous food,
Happy hunting grounds and safety, All that meant the blackman's good.
Ah! The race that once conferred them Long has passed from human ken!
Mboloowurtie, Parawurlie, Pondalowie, Warrenben!
In these days, when white man's madness Sets the whole world by the ears.
When each day brings with its dawning Waning hopes and waxing fears,
How these names can soothe and comfort, Telling of the peaceful life,
Rest and love and rippling laughter. Far removed from storm and strife!
Someday I shall close my office, And, forsaking haunts of men.
Passing by Didilyamulka, Seek for peace in Warrenben!
—BOLEG. (Tom Hayward, of Pt. Victoria)
Tom continued to also be outspoken in his support of the young men fighting overseas. In a letter to the Advertiser editor he wrote from 180 Beulah road, Norwood. Sir—We have all been thrilled by the magnificent exploits of the gallant little band of Australians in Timor, as told by the war correspondent and the broadcasts. There is, however, little occasion for pride in the reflection that apparently these men are being allowed to continue unsupported in their heroic fight against over-whelming odds, while we have in Australia thousands of well-trained and well-equipped troops available for service. Is this another case of "If the fools want to fight, let em fight?''—
The February issue of the Advertiser in ’43 published a further poem;
Destroyers we are building now Are queerest of the new boats
The busy causes tell us They are used to ram the U-Boat
We think that this is splendid news And really are not shamming
We hope that they will give the U’s A high percentage ramming.
The family moved to Adelaide in March ‘26 with the local community organising a farewell. The boys all followed in their father’s footsteps, attending St Peter’s College, Tom’s alma mater.
Two of Tom’s sons, Ted and Toby served with the 2/48th Battalion in WWII. Youngest son, Toby enlisted with the R.A.A.F., but developed serious foot trouble (a legacy of the days when he played football for St. Peter's Old Collegians). Warrant Officer Rowland (Toby) emulated Tom’s Distinguished Conduct Medal with his own accolade. He was mentioned in dispatches for gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East from May to October 1942’.
Despite his deteriorating physical health, Tom remained cheerful and vitally interested in happenings. Aged 72, he died at his home in Norwood on the 18th April ’44. His remains returned to Port Victoria where he was buried in the local cemetery. Marion lived to be 89 and died on the 27th September, ’61. She now rests with Tom.
Tom continued to be remembered by those with whom he worked as a kindly-hearted man, of high principles and ideals, and possessed of a keen sense of humor, he was one who attracted and retained the respect and esteem of all who were associated with him.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.