NAME Claude Wesley PACKHAM
BORN Abt. 1894
DIED 1966
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 954
UNIT 30th Battalion
ENLISTED Sydney July 1915
DISCHARGED Sydney 39 September 1919

a fair crop sown and still putting in more

Claude Packham applied for his Advance on 28 February 1920.  He wanted to go into share-farming with his father William James Packham – the period of the under-taking to be six years.  His father had originally owned the block and it was part of “Cherry Hill” Farm, Pinecliff, near Molong. The property consisted of 360 acres with an estimated market value of £4,000. [1]

There was a mortgage held by the Gov. Savings Bank on the two portions occupied by Claude and he was also renting a house on the property.  There was an undertaking by the RSS Branch that as William’s land was mortgaged that they would not seize any stock, etc if James defaulted on repayments.  A crop lien was secured from William Packham, his father.[2] Claude and his father William were to take half shares of all crops.[3] On 2 July 1921, Claude was judged to be ‘very satisfactory selector with a fair crop sown and still putting in more’. [4]

The intervention of severe drought in NSW changed that scenario.  By 6 December 1922, Claude had accrued debts of £54.6.0.  That debt rose steadily.  By 26 February 1923, the SS Branch claimed that Claude owed a figure of £246.14.4 a figure he promptly challenged.[5]

On 13 Feb 1923, Claude stated that it was his intention to ‘liquidate his indebtedness’ and by 18 April 1923, the Advance had been repaid in full.

It appears he vacated the land (No date) after experiencing two bad years and there was insufficient ground for share farming. By 2 March 1928, Claude was living at Charlotte Street, Campsie and had applied for a War Service Home.  For Claude Packham independence on the land had proved an empty promise.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files;  [12/6901 No. 3044]Application for Loan 28 February 1920.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid, T.W. Irish Acting Director of Soldiers’ Settlements to Commissioners, Government Savings Bank of NSW 8 April, 1920.

[4] Ibid, J.T.Cox Report 2 July 1921.

[5] Ibid, C.W. Packham to Director of Soldier Settlements 2 February 1923.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files;  [12/6901 No. 3044] Claude Wesley PACKHAM.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Claude Wesley PACKHAM) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8003785&I=1&SE=1