A Land Fit for Heroes?

Hugh Longworth’s story was contributed by State Records Volunteer Arthur Mason. 

Five Longworth brothers enlisted in World War One.  The other four were George, Archibald, Francis and Walter – all survived the war.

George was to become a soldier settler near his brother Hugh on Bulga Plateau Soldier Settlement.

The two brothers decided their future on the turn of a penny.  ‘Heads or Tails’ decided whether they would return to the John’s River, or take up land as soldier settlers. The Bulga won’[1]

Hugh and his family did not have an easy time on the Bulga plateau and his situation gradually deteriorated until his arrears amounted to £808.8.3. [2] He transferred the block to John Christopher Geelan who was also a returned soldier.

Hugh Longworth left the property and moved to Wingham to join his family who had been living there for some time.

Photographs

Hugh Benjamin Longworth (left) and James Maxwell Bates (right) in Cairo. Photograph courtesy of Matt Freckelton

These photos are courtesy of Matt Freckelton, whose great great grandmother was the mother of James Maxwell Bates.
Matt writes:

…Both men were farmers in the Taree/Manning River Area at the time. I do not know at this time if they were mates before or became mates. They travelled to Sydney/Liverpool and enlisted on the same day and were both accepted into 12th Light Horse 1st reinforcements.

I surmise they were friends before, but have no evidence. They may have met on the way or bonded there…

It [the portrait photo] was taken pre Gallipoli and has the caption on the back, by James “To Mother, this has been to Gallipoli and Malta, so take great care of it”

…James became very ill with Jaundice on Gallipoli and was sent to Valletta Hospital on Malta…Both men served at Gallipoli and James at least and I think Hugh were in the Light Horse “Charge at Beersheba”.

James took up a soldier settlement block in his native Victoria after the war.

This group [photo below] is the 1st Reinforcements. James is easy to find, tallest in the back row. Have not tried to look for Hugh, that won’t be as easy.

12th Australian Light Horse, 1st Reinforcements (James Maxwell Bates is the tallest in he back row). Photograph courtesy of Matt Freckelton

Footnotes

[1] Arthur Mason, Bulga Battlers – A Soldier Settlement Saga, Arthur Mason Publisher, Springwood, 2009, p. 11.

[2] Ibid, p. 13.

Sources used to compile this entry:

Helen Hannah, The Mountain Speaks: a folk history of the Bulga Plateau, H. Hannah Publisher, Elands, NSW, 1979.

Mason, Arthur, Bulga Battlers – A Soldier Settlement Saga, Arthur Mason Publisher, Springwood, 2009.

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/6886 No. 2838] Hugh Benjamin Longworth.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Hugh Benjamin Longworth) online:

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8206395&I=1&SE=1