A Land Fit for Heroes?

Raymond Longford’s holding was in the County of Bourke, Parish of Fennel, and Narrandera land district. It consisted of 698 and a half acres and was a Settlement Purchase 1921/14. Continuous residence on the property commenced on 11 April 1921. He wanted to use the property for grazing and agriculture.[1] The holding was a part of Billaah Estate, Grong Grong.

In 1923 Longford asked for a postponement of his interest or instalments as he had been unable to bring in a crop in his first year of occupation as the land at that time had been unimproved.[2] He wrote again on 12 June 1923,

I have had to battle along with my own labour and strength.[3]

In about August, he was granted an extension of time until 31 January 1924, to pay amounts due.[4]

Longford continued to experience financial difficulties. After considerable persuasion he was induced to sign the crop lien and an extension of time was granted.[5] The execution of a crop lien continued to be a problem for Longford.  In July 1927, he wrote a long letter outlining his dissatisfaction.

‘I think that a lien is asking for a lot of things which are out of the question, it seems as though a person that grows the wheat has not the slightest voice of what is to be done with the sale of it. They can sacrifice a soldier’s rights if it is only a mild year I am to be left penniless.’ [6]

Longford was declared bankrupt in 1927.  Longford probably left his holding sometime toward the end of 1928 or early 1929.[7]

In 1939, Longford applied for a home from the War Service Homes Commission.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/7240 No. 7352], Inspection of Returned Soldiers’ Holding 30 November 1925.

[2] Ibid, Application for postponement of interest or instalments of Purchase Money

[3] Ibid, R. Longford to Mr. Fleming 12 June 1923.

[4] Ibid, A.A. Watson Director of RSS Branch Office Memorandum 24 August 1923.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid, R.Longford to Closer Settlement Branch 14 July 1927.

[7] Ibid, Under Secretary to Deputy Commission War Service Homes Commission 10 August 1939.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/7240 No. 7352] Raymond Longford.

State Records NSW: Supreme Court of NSW; NRS 13655, Bankruptcy files [10/24317, file 26792].

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Raymond Longford) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=11611232&I=1&SE=1.