NAME Francis Herbert POULTER
BORN c. 1878 South Yarra Victoria
DIED 24 February 1953
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 3070
UNIT 2nd F.A.B. 6th Bty. Field Art – Francis Poulter also served in the Boer War.
ENLISTED 17 Aug 1914 – Perth WA
DISCHARGED 24 Apr 1918 – Medically Unfit Gas poisoning

Francis Poulter in partnership with a Reginald Oswald Stiles obtained his first soldier settlement block by transfer and sale from a Mr. Barnett.  The sale was completed on 25 August 1919. Each man applied for and was given a loan under his own name.  (Reginald Stiles Loan No. 1711).  The men wanted to use the loan so that they could purchase lambs and ewes. [1] The block was a part of Duneira Settlement Purchase Area, in the County of Narromine, Parish of Wentworth – Land District of Dubbo SP No. 19/2 – It consisted of 532 acres.

The Department believed ‘it to be a fine holding for two men’.[2] The two had served in the war together. At the time of the application, Stiles was in Sydney with influenza.  The Department of Lands Inspector asked for a quick settlement of the advance ‘as the men have no money to carry on with’.[3]

On 9 October 1919, Poulter requested permission to transfer his block, Farm B, to Jack Nicoll, who agreed to accept the transfer and take over all of Poulter’s liabilities.  At this time Poulter who had been wounded overseas and was suffering the after effects of gas poisoning, stated ‘that his health was failing him and that he had lost a lot of weight. [4]

Francis Poulter transferred his block was transferred to Jack Nicoll by 26 February 1920.[5]  After transferring the block, Poulter settled near Wetherill Park in Sydney.

 Footnotes

 [1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files,  [12/6901 No. 1685]  J. Smith, Stock Agent for Barnett and Handcock to J.C. Bryant 20 September 1917.

[2] Ibid, G.C. Blunt to Director of Soldier Settlements 28 July 1919.

[3] Ibid. 

[4] Ibid,  F.H. Poulter to J.C. Bryant, 9 October 1919. 

[5] Ibid, Returned Soldier Settlement Branch memo, 26 February, 1920

 Other loan files that will provide information about Francis Herbert Poulter: [12/6901, No. 3049], [12/7067 No. 5120]

 Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records of NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files [12/6901 No. 1685] This file is located with the loan file of Jack Nichol.

National Archives of Australia:  Boer War Dossier B4418  http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=686129

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Francis Herbert Poulter) 

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=8018489