NAME Charles Don Lennon
BORN 8 September 1896
DIED ?
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 38983
UNIT 4th F.A.B
ENLISTED Melbourne 29 March 1917
DISCHARGED Melbourne 10 September 1919

Three returned soldiers brothers Alfred Charles Lennon, Hugh Lennon and Charles Don Lennon applied for land from Woodside Estate, located at Bulgandry in the Riverina about 40 miles from Albury –  County of Hume, Parish of Bulgandra,  Urana Land District.

Each of the three men applied for a loan.

On 23 June 1921, Charles Lennon Senior (father of the three men) wrote to Senator Millen enquiry about the delay in his sons obtaining their loans.

I understood when I assumed this liability that each of these returned        soldiers would get an advance of £625.  They have spent many months, much cash and lost a lot of valuable time searching for a suitable property….. so in addition to the liability I had already taken on to find the excess money required, I had to finance the boys… to the extent of close on another £1000.

All this hardship, trouble and inconvenience could have been averted if the two branches of Repatriation had some method of co-operating.

You will I am sure admit that taking on farming under the conditions mentioned above is rather disheartening to returned men.[1]

Around March 1924, Lennon applied for a consolidation of his advance.[2] Although he had not effected any improvements on the block by August 1923 he was not in debt and the holding was not mortgaged.[3] This was approved 1 April 1924.[4]

Hugh Lennon’s property was subdivided – half each going to the brothers Charles Don Lennon and Alfred Charles Lennon.

In July 1931, Charles was in arrears to the amount of £535.4.6.

It is unclear if Charles forfeited his holding although it is stated that ‘the cases were prepared for forfeiture’.  The ‘cases’ were possibly that of Hugh and Alfred.[5]

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/7242 No. 7372], Charles Lennon Senior to Minister of Repatriation 23 June 1921.

[2] Ibid, RSS Office Memorandum 26 March 1924.

[3] Ibid, Application for consolidation of advance 14 August 1923.

[4] Ibid,  RSS Branch Office Memorandum Approval 1 April 1924.

[5] Ibid, Department of Lands Memorandum 29 September 1931.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/7242 No. 7372] Charles Don Lennon.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Charles Don Lennon) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8193458&I=1&SE=1