A Land Fit for Heroes?

Ernest and Alfred George Ostler - left to right. Image donated by the son of Ernest Ostler - Tony Ostler

On 23 November 1920, Ernest Ostler wrote to the Director of Soldier Settlements requesting information about obtaining a loan.  He stated that he needed the money to purchase an oil engine and circular saw plant for the purpose of cutting out building timber. He stated he had a block at Pappinbarra Creek, near his brother (Alfred) and their cousin. [1]  He eventually applied for his loan on 20 January 1921.  His block at Pappinbarra Creek was in the Port Macquarie Land District, Parish of Forbes, County of Macquarie – Homestead Farm No. 1920.16.[2]

In April 1921, he wrote stating that his funds had run out and he needed financial help to carry on.  He believed that if he received financial assistance to tide him over the unproductive period, ‘that he would never look back’.[3] He also stated that he was in good health ‘except for the occasional period of trench fever symptoms which were getting less severe and less frequent’.[4]  He subsequently received £100 at this date but also received additional loan money in 1922 and 1924. [5]

By May 1934, he was married with six young children dependent upon him (read the recollections of one son, Tony).  At this date, he was milking nineteen cows whereas only a short time before, he had twenty nine.[6]    As a result of his war injuries, he was unable to do any hard work and was obliged to employ labour.[7]  He was receiving 38/- per month for running the Post Office at Upper Pappinbarra and both he and his wife, Nellie Reeson were receiving war pensions.[8]  She was an English nurse whom he had met when he was being treating in hospital for his wounds and for being gassed.[9]

Ethel Ostler a sister of Ernest and Alfred, with four of the Ostler children and Malcolm Howe in front of land cleared for Soldier Settlement. Image donated by Tony Ostler.

Ernest was on his block until 1936 when he share farmed the property.[10]  He moved to Port Macquarie for six months before moving to Harrington on the Manning River where he took over the Post Office.[11]

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department;  NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/7165 No. 6383], Ernest Ostler to the Director of Soldier Settlements 23 November 1920.

[2] Ibid, Application for Loan 20 January 1921.

[3] Ibid, Ernest Ostler to the Director of Soldier Settlements 6 April 1921.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid, District Surveyor to Under Secretary for Lands 17 April 1924.

[6] Ibid, CP Inspector A.W. Glasson to the District Surveyor, East Maitland 4 May 1934.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Tony Ostler, Recollections of a Soldier Settler’s Son,  Wauchope, 12 April 2010.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/7165 No. 6383], Ernest Ostler.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Ernest Ostler) online: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=8004608

Tony, Ostler, Recollections of a Soldier Settler’s Son, Wauchope, 12 April 2010.