A Land Fit for Heroes?

they showed poor judgement

Leslie Pattle’s block was a part of Toole’s Creek Soldier Settlement. – Portion 117.  Pattle’s block was in the County of Wynyard, Parish of Gregado, Land District of Wagga.  His block was SP 1923/13.[1] He took up occupation of his block in February 1919. [2] He applied for his Advance on 21 February 1919 which was approved on the same day. He stated that he needed the money for a house, fencing, shed and other fittings and a horse, sulky and harness.[3] In March, he asked for permission to pay for ploughing and for permission to undertake share-farming.[4] In May 1919, approval was given for Pattle’s original Advance of £500 to be increased to £625.[5]

Pattle was asked to sign a crop Lien in December 1921.   He refused to do so, declaring that he would be in position to pay any outstanding accounts within three weeks time.[6] In May 1922, Pattle had bush fires that destroyed fencing on his SW boundary although his fencing was insured with the Farmers and Graziers Insurance Co.[7] He applied for and was given an extension of time to pay his arrears in September 1922.

In August 1924, Pattle was forced to sell half of his chaff to meet his arrears.[8] The market was in a poor state and he made little money on his investment. [9]

Because Pattle was judged ‘a fine type’ the Closer Settlement Board acknowledged they had made a mistake in pressing him to sell his hay.   As they put it,  ‘they showed poor judgement in the matter, paying little account of local circumstances’.[10]

Pattle’s arrears were allowed to stand over until January or February of 1926.  It is not yet known if he remained on his land.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/6853 No. 1221], NSW Government Gazette 25 May 1923.

[2] Ibid, Application for Extension of Time to Pay Amounts Due on Advance 19 August 1922.

[3] Ibid, Application for Payment of Advance 21 February 1919.

[4] Ibid, Leslie Pattle to the Director SS 3 March 1919.

[5] Ibid, Application for Payment of Advance 13 May 1919.

[6] Ibid, Leslie Pattle to The Director RSS 3 December 1921.

[7] Ibid, RSS Report 5 May 1922.

[8] Ibid, District Surveyor to the Under Secretary for Lands 19 August 1924.

[9] Ibid, Leslie Pattle to Under Secretary for Lands 12 July 1924.

[10] Ibid, Closer Settlement Report 1 November 1924.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/6853 No. 1221] Leslie John Donald Pattle.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Leslie John Donald Pattle) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=8009408&I=1&SE=1