NAME Alfred George Ostler
BORN c1897, Norwich, England
DIED 1962
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 2639
UNIT 33rd Battalion
ENLISTED West Maitland – 29 July 1916
DISCHARGED Sydney – 4 June 1920 – medically unfit gun shot wound to the head

Ernest and Alfred George Ostler l - r. Image donated by Tony Ostler

Alfred George Ostler had a Homestead Farm of 222 acres in the Port Macquarire Land Distrist, Parish of Forbes, County of Macquarie. It was a part of Upper Pappinbarra Soldier Settlement.[1] He stated that he required his Advance for a house, clearing, stock, and a dairy.[2]

Albert wrote to the Under Secretary for Lands on 9 June 1923 asking that the terms of repayment be reviewed.  He acknowledged that the terms would be manageable for successful settlers and asked that ‘the burden be made a little lighter’ for himself.[3]  It is not known if he was successful in this.   By 20 October 1926, he was milking fifteen cows but due to the shortage of feed they were ‘strong but low in condition’.[4]

It is not known how long Alfred stayed on his block.  The last date provided in the loan file is 26 August 1927.

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Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/7108 No. 5622] Application for Loan 18 October 1920.

[2] Ibid, Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Branch Office Memorandum, February 1922.

[3] Ibid, Albert Ostler to E.P. Fleming, Under Secretary for Lands, 9 June 1923.

[4] Ibid, CP Inspector’s Report, 20 October 1926.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058 Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/7108 No. 5622],  Alfred George Ostler.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Alfred George Ostler) online: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=8004605