A Land Fit for Heroes?

 Thomas Lynch applied for his Advance on 15 January 1920.  His property was a Homestead Farm of 761 acres in the County of Gloucester, Parish of Mimi, Land District of Taree. He wanted to use the property for grazing purposes.[1]  Continuous residence commenced April 1921.

On 29 April 1920, he wrote to the Director of SS staying that he had heard nothing about his application for a loan being approved.[2] Lynch stated that he held a Permissive Occupancy and that he intended to do dairying.[3] His block had been registered in September 1919 and the ballot held in Sydney. In May 1920 it was stated by the Deptartment of Repatriation that the reason the land wasn’t approved was that Lynch was not registered as  the holder of the land.[4]

On 16 September 1920 the Inspector from the local Repatriation Committee when recommending the payment of his Repatriation money, stated that:

T.Lynch and his cousin are thorough coast bush men.  Lynch is a young man who is steady and reliable, he possess a fine rustic personality. He will make good and become a typical settler.[5]

By April 1926, Lynch was getting into debt and applied for relief under the terms of the RSS (Amendment) Act of 1925.  He had been badly affected by drought, bushfires and adverse seasons and  suffered heavy losses as a consequence. 

On 1 June 1926, he stated that he had arranged with the Bank of NSW to take over the mortgage from the Repatriation Department.  As well he had received a reduction in his interest repayments and a consolidation of his advance.  He borrowed £1350 on the security of his homestead as his debts were £1400.[6] On 31 July 1926, he was notified that the waiver of interest owing was approved, but that the outstanding principal was to be repaid within 14 days from the date of the letter.

The full amount of the Advance was repaid on 13 August 1926.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8050, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6901 No. 3037], Thomas Lynch,  Application for Loan 15 January 1920.

[2] Ibid, T. Lynch to Director of Soldier Settlements 29 April 1920.

[3] Ibid, T.Lynch to Director RSS 11 December 1919.

[4] Ibid, W. Miller Local Repatriation Committee to Director of Soldier Settlements 30 may 1920.

[5] Ibid, G. Wright to W.Miller Local Repatriation Committee, 16 September 1920.

[6] Ibid, Application for Revision of Indebtedness 16 April 1926.

[7] Ibid, Director of Soldier Settlements to Thomas Lynch 31 July 1926.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6901 No. 3037], Thomas Lynch.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Thomas Lynch) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=8207418