Dumbarton tributes to national war hero Freddy Conroy ... and dad

The life-long resident of Dumbarton and Renton promised chocolates to all the nurses, told one something that couldn’t be repeated about PM Boris Johnson, and tried to phantom pedal the exercise bike his family got him years earlier.

Freddy made himself the same breakfast every morning over the last 16 years: porridge with honey and a banana.

But he insisted fritters - one of his favourite foods - was only ever cooked in lard.

Freddy’s long life up to his death on January 14, though, included war heroism that even his family knew little about but was ultimately recognised internationally.

Frederick Columbus Conroy was born to Margaret and Michael on January 29, 1922 at 101 High Street, Dumbarton. He was one of eight children and the family later moved to Crosslet Road, Silverton, and then Hill Street in Brucehill. Freddy was always local.

Freddy Conroy, pictured after he went to war at the age of 18

He attended St Patrick’s School and was offered the chance to study engineering at Stow College at the age of 15, but declined to instead work and support his family.

Freddy’s first job was as a bicycle boy delivering shopping and letters for the Post Office, then the Co-op. And that led to a job offer from Denny’s shipyard.

When he was 18, he joined the Royal Navy and worked in the engine room of HMS Rodney as a leading stoker. The ship and her crew were involved in many Second World War efforts, including the sinking of the Bismarck, the Battle of the Atlantic, D-Day, the Malta convoys and Arctic convoys.

He also did the really heroic work: darning the socks of marines on the ships for extra money.

When he returned home to Dumbarton, he promptly dumped his war medals in the bin. But his family saved them, and they were passed down through his sisters and eventually framed on his wall in Renton.

“He used to tell us he went and he came back, and thousands didn’t,” said eldest son Michael, 67. “His attitude was, ‘I was there, I didn’t want to be there’.”

Freddy didn’t talk about his time in the war in any detail for decades. It was only when great granddaughter Kayleigh was doing an S2 project and asked the family war veteran that she and the rest of the family started to learn more.

In 2015, the Russian government said they wanted to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II with a medal and a gold watch to honour the Arctic Convoy veterans.

Freddy was proud to serve on HMS Rodney

It wasn’t until 2018 that they learned about Freddy’s D-Day efforts, when the French government awarded Freddy with La Legion d’Honneur, the highest recognition in France.

They wanted Freddy to go the French consulate in Edinburgh to accept it. He told them to send it in the post.

But when it arrived, Freddy was in Morrisons, as he always was twice a week.

The Russians and French said Freddy was a national war hero. “To us, he was our dad,” said Michael.

After the war, Freddy worked in construction on projects such as the Southern General Hospital, the Vale of Leven Hospital, Dumbarton Gas Works and St Columba’s High in Maryhill, the first at the time to have a swimming pool.

In 1952, he met wife Patsy dancing at the Burgh Hall and they married in 1954. They moved in 1955 to Renton to look after Patsy’s father for a few weeks - and it was home for 66 years. The couple welcomed four sons: Michael, John, Freddy and William.

But when Patsy died in 1975, Freddy was left to raise the boys.

Freddy had a long list of responsibilities on the Rodney during the war

Freddy later went to work at Hiram Walker’s Dumbuck distillery and eventually all five of them worked together. Together they collected a combined 88 years of experience.

He stopped work at 61 and enjoyed 38 years of retirement which he could fill with political programmes from Westminster, the Scottish Parliament, Stormont, or Cardiff. He was talking politics even as he was taken to hospital.

Freddy could watch five or six football matches on TV in a weekend but also followed cricket and darts.

He also had an interest in greyhounds and would travel to Ireland with his sons for the greyhounds and going to races there as well as elsewhere. He didn’t get his passport until he was 75 to visit New York with his family.

As well as being known locally, Freddy was also loved by his four grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Family celebrate the Russian government’s awarding of a medal to recognise Freddy Conroy’s war heroism

His funeral, held on what would have been his 100th birthday, was very well attended and even the parish priest Father Anthony at St Martin’s RC church Renton was emotional because Freddy was not just a parishioner, but like a father and a friend to him.

West Dunbartonshire’s depute provost Karen Conaghan, who attended the funeral, said: “Freddy Conroy undoubtedly had a long life, well lived and indeed well loved.

“To his family he was just dad, grandad and great-grandad but, as described by the priest at his funeral mass, he was also a legend, he was a war hero, a man who had witnessed a lot particularly in the early part of his life.

“Freddy’s family gave him a very fitting send off on what would have been his 100th birthday and I thank them for inviting me along to be part of that celebration of his life. I hope the many wonderful memories they have will comfort the Conroy family as they adjust to life without him.”

Dumbarton’s MSP, Jackie Baillie, who also attended, said: “I was extremely saddened to hear about the passing of Freddy Conroy, whose loss will no doubt leave a huge void in the lives of his family and indeed the community of Renton.

“Freddy, in all of his 99 years, was a huge inspiration to those around him.

“His funeral was a real celebration of his life and it was written all over the faces of those who spoke about him, both during mass and afterwards, just how much of an impact he had on their lives.

“He will be greatly missed.”

And Lord John McFall added: “Freddy Conroy was a humble and contented man who faithfully served his nation, family and community throughout his long and fruitful life.

“He lived by his deep faith, never doubting who he was and or where he came from. We all benefited from engagement with him on the journey along life’s path.”

What was Freddy’s secret to a long life?

“A happy family life,” replied Michael. “He enjoyed life. He spent time in his garden, ate the foods he enjoyed.

“He brought the four of us up - told us always do the best you can. He was old, but not old fashioned.

“We were lucky to have him so long - not everybody is as lucky as us.”

All four of Freddy’s sons lived within a couple miles of their dad, mostly visiting or calling daily. Michael, dubbed his “message boy”, John, 65, his chancellor, Freddy, 64, his gardener, and William, 60, who is still working. When they were all over, dad referred to them as the pensioners’ club.

And when paramedics were taking Freddy to hospital the morning before he died, they asked if Freddy had home help.

He replied: “I have the best home help in the west of Scotland - my four boys.”