NAME

 John James Sutton
BORN Abt. 1892
DIED ?
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 6417
UNIT 19th Battalion
ENLISTED Forbes 28 July 1916
DISCHARGED Sydney 27 December 1919Note: Married Sarah Ann Farrell in England 31 May 1919

John Sutton’s block was in the County of Ashburnham, Parish of Wise, Forbes Land District.  The block was a Homestead Farm No. 1919/6 consisting of 891 acres.[1] The property, called Homeland was located near Eugowra, on the Parkes Road.

On 8 May 1921, a storekeeper in Eugowra, Charles Sloane complained that there was an overdue amount of £32.10.0 due to him for the construction of a building ‘some months back and as I have a large family to keep I cannot wait any longer’.[2] In January 1923, Sutton wrote to the Director of SS stating he was having a fairly rough time and could not meet his interest repayments. ‘This is my third year …  All the wheat I have had for sale during that time is three hundred bags and I have to do all the work myself’.[3]

In March 1924, when an inspection was carried out on his property, Sutton was judged to be a satisfactory settler, ‘a decent hardworking practical man who has been doing his best to get on.  So far has had very little chance as his farm was all green country’.[4]

Sutton applied to transfer his block to Edward Augustus Toohey which the Soldier Settlement Branch did not object to. The Soldier Settlement Branch held a second mortgage over the property and the Commissioners of the Government Savings Bank were the 1st mortgagees.[5] Sutton  repaid his advance in full on 10 March 1925.[6]

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Loan Files; [12/6944 No. 3569] John James Sutton, Plan of Portion 13 August 1931.

[2] Ibid,  Charles Sloan to Repatriation Department 8 May 1921.

[3] Ibid, J. J. Sutton to the Director of SS 6 January 1923.

[4] Ibid, CP Inspector T.S. Heet, 7 March 1924.

[5] Ibid, Department of Lands Memorandum January 1925.

[6] Ibid, Under Secretary to the District Surveyor Forbes 23 March 1925.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files;  [12/6944 No. 3569] John James Sutton.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (John James Sutton) online:  http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=8096321