Jack Carey was regarded as one of the greatest Australian-born footballers of the pre-World War 1 era. Usually playing left half, he was originally a part of the Pyrmont Volunteers club during the 1890s before switching to Pyrmont in 1903.
Aged 39 at enlistment, Carey’s best playing days were behind him but he still turned out regularly for his Pyrmont church team. On 17 August 1916 near Pozieres, the 2nd battalion’s trenches came under a strong German counter-attack. Volunteers for bomb-throwers were called for and Carey stepped up. He was killed when hit by a German grenade in the midst of a fierce bomb fight.