NAME Albert Travis Luke
BORN Abt. 1896
DIED Abt. 1976
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 2855
UNIT 6 Rein. 17th Battalion
ENLISTED Warwick Farm 13 August 1915
DISCHARGED Sydney 29 March 1918  Medically Unfit

We feel that that it is most unjust

Albert Luke appears to have had a holding next to his brother G.S. Luke – (They may well have been share farming together). Albert’s property at Ashbank Estate was in the County of Camden, Parish of Wingello, Land District of Moss Vale – Portion No. 243.  It consisted of 1000 acres. Albert Luke commenced continuous residence on his property on 28 March 1919.[1] Albert’s Advance was approved on 31 March 1919.[2]

The brothers wrote to the Minister for Lands complaining about changes to how their repayments were to be made – that is quarterly instead of yearly.  ‘We feel that that it is most unjust that changes should be sprung upon us without notification’.[3] On 6 June 1922, they were advised that a definite decision about this change had not been made.[4]

Approval was given for an extension of payments until 13 January 1923.[5] On 27 February 1926 the Luke brothers requested deferring of payments again ‘due to an adverse season’.[6] Deferment of an arrears amounting to £8.17.0 was approved to 31 January 1927.[7]

An inspection of 6 May 1926 reported that Luke’s block had ‘everything  (looking) good and reasonably maintained’.[8] The file emphasises the way changes to repayment regimes shaped the lives of the State’s soldier settlers.  The deferment of payments was crucial in buying settlers the time to succeed.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files;  [12/6854 No. 1237] Inspection of Returned Soldiers Holding 4 February 1921.

[2] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum 31 March 1919.

[3] Ibid, Luke Brothers to the Minister for lands 19 May 1922.

[4] Ibid, AA Watson Director of SS to A.T. & G.S. Luke 6 June 1922.

[5] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum 8 June 1922.

[6] Ibid, Luke Brothers to Under Secretary for Lands 27 February 1926.

[7] Ibid, Officer in Charge, Closer Settlement Branch, to Director of SS 8 April 1926.

[8] Ibid, CP Inspector to the District Surveyor, Goulburn, 6 May 1926.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files;  [12/6854 No. 1237] Albert Travis Luke.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Albert Travis Luke) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8205833&I=1&SE=1