Thomas Lehane had served Australia in two world wars and his life was spiralling downward. But one man with deep a conviction gave him a chance and probably saved his life. I told a version of this story on West Bremer Radio.

William Harris Watson Jack, known formally as W.H. Jack, was the manager of the Canberra Hotel which from the 1930s provided Brisbane’s best accommodation. In 1942 Jack gave the job of senior porter to Lehane. This appointment seemed baffling because Lehane was an acute alcoholic, and him being entrusted as the first to greet guests just seemed crazy.

What’s more, the Canberra Hotel was owned and operated by the Queensland Temperance League and was famously a dry hotel which meant it didn’t serve alcohol. The appointment could save Lehane’s life, or it could equally ruin the reputation of Brisbane’s leading establishment.

But Jack was a man with deep Christian convictions, the hotel manager, and general secretary (CEO in today’s parlance) of the Queensland Temperance League. His decision to help Lehane aligned with everything he represented. The Temperance League continues today as Drug ARM and remains the same Christian organisation helping people. In fact, this year is its 175th anniversary, making it one of the oldest charities in Australia.

But there’s more to the story of W.H. Jack than giving a man a job.

During the Second World War, Jack led enormous contributions to Australia’s war effort at home. He guided his organisation in supplying refrigeration for non-alcoholic drinks aboard Royal Australian Navy ships and at Australian Army canteens. He established the Brisbane Hostel for soldiers on leave. And he dedicated the top three floors of the Canberra Hotel to accommodate American sailors from the submarines that docked in the Brisbane River.

In short, William Jack and his wife Roberta, through the Queensland Temperance League, dedicated their lives to helping others. What’s more, his support of the war effort, and of Lehane who had served in two world wars, was deeply personal.

You see, all four of Jack’s sons served in the Second World War, and he could see each of them in the faces of each and every soldier, sailor, and airman, including Lehane, who walked into his Canberra Hotel.

Jack’s fourth son Horrace served in New Guinea in the Australian Army including with the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion.

His third son William served as a Morse Code operator in the Royal Australian Navy aboard various ships throughout the war.

His second son Robert served in the Royal Australian Air Force in northern Australia, New Guinea, and with the occupation forces in Japan.

Jack’s oldest son Douglas also served with the Royal Australian Air Force. Before he enlisted, Douglas married Miss Olive Bow. Olive’s aunty was a tennis champion in Ipswich, and her father was head teacher at various schools including Figtree Pocket in Brisbane, and Milbong just south of Ipswich in the Scenic Rim.

Douglas went from the RAAF to an RAF bomber squadron in England. Following a raid over Dunkirk in December 1941, he was reported missing. Without a trace being found, the following year he was presumed killed in action.

At the exact same time that this heart-breaking news arrived, Jack threw Lehane the lifeline of a job at the Canberra.

Jack was grieving for his oldest son and helping Lehane at the very same time. The following year Lehane had his last drink. Jack probably helped save his life.

During this research, I found out that W.H. Jack’s wife was Roberta Topfer whose cousin was Bruce Topfer. Bruce continued the family’s military tradition and served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars and was awarded an Order of the British Empire. He is also a cousin of my father which came as a total surprise to me.

It’s funny the serendipitous things you discover often by accident, and all from a man being helped onto his feet eighty years ago.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A VERSION OF THIS STORY ON WEST BREMER RADIO.

Photo credits:
Canberra Hotel, Brisbane, 1941 – State Library of Queensland.
W.H. Jack – Drug ARM.
Canberra Hotel, Brisbane, 1941 – State Library of Queensland.
Brisbane servicemen’s hostel workers, Mrs W.H. Jack in the middle – Telegraph, Brisbane, 8th January 1943, page 6.
Douglas Gordon Jack – Australian War Memorial 404248.