NAME Frederick Stanley WALKER
BORN Abt. 1891
DIED ?
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 19
UNIT 3rd  D.A.H.Q ?
ENLISTED Sydney 29 August 1914
DISCHARGED Sydney 23 January 1919

we cannot carry on to make enough to keep our wives and family

Frederick Stanley Walker took up a block adjoining the one owned by Gerald Horace Bacon – Nos. 15 and 11 – both Private Leases for a period of five years dating from 1 February 1920.[1]. There two blocks of about 961/2 acres were from O’Brien’s Farm in the Land District of Wollongong. The two men appeared to be in partnership and each obtained the advance, but were given the same loan number.  The property was believed to be capable of supporting two men with ‘knowledge of dairying and mixed farming’.[2] The properties were classed as being suitable and ‘due to splendid rains last night, [the two settlers] were additionally anxious to get on to the holding’.[3]

By July 1922, Walker and O’Brien were making good process ‘working away manfully’ and were given permission to sell some cows and heifers, although this did not go ahead. All their debts at this time were paid up.[4] The onset of sever drought in 1923 changed this situation dramatically.  Repayments quickly fell into arrears payments were in arrears and little money was made in an entire season.[5]

On 17 August 1923, they wrote to the Director of SS stating that they,

Have been compelled to leave as owing to the very bad winter on top of a bad summer and all our feed is exhausted, we cannot carry on to make enough to keep our wives and family.[6]

On 23 August, the two men wee interviewed about their position and future prospects.  It was suggested that their stock and plant be sold in liquidation of their debt to the Department.[7] Walkers arrears amounted to £260.18.4.[8]

Their property was sold to George Thomas for £500 cash.[9] The settlers vacated their holding on 17 August 1923.[10] But Bacon and Walker were not repaid the amount overdue on their advance.  The money from the sale of the property was taken off Bacon’s amount owning, with half eventually being taken off Walker’s debt.[11]

There continued to be confusion about this well into 1924, because it was believed that the two settlers were on the same holding and not on two.[12]

26 November 1925, Walker was working as a green grocer in Wollongong.[13]

As 24 June 1936 Walker was not in receipt of a War Pension.[14] Walker stated that he was married and working for his wife who had a fruiterer’s business.  She was keeping him giving him £2 a week for his keep.[15] His solicitors Russell and McLelland notified the Under-Secretary that he was unable to pay anything off his debt.[16]

Walker’s debt was written off on 23 June 1937.[17]

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6854 No. 1231] Frederick Stanley Walker Application for Loan 20 February 1919;   RSS Branch Memorandum 31 May 1923.

[2] Ibid, Valuer General to the Director of Soldiers’ Settlements 26 February 1919.

[3] Ibid, William Waters JP to Director of SS 25 February 1919.

[4] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum 5 July 1922.

[5] Ibid. 16 June 1923.

[6] Ibid, Bacon and Walker to the Director of RSS Branch 17 August 1923.

[7] Ibid, RSS Branch Office Memorandum 23 August 1923.

[8] Ibid, Report from the Under Secretary 24 August 1923.

[9] Ibid, O’Donnell and Stumbles Auctioneers 27 August 1923.

[10] Ibid, Crown Solicitor to Under Secretary for Lands, RSS Branch 14 June 1924.

[11] Ibid,  RSS Branch Office Memorandum 30 October 1923.

[12] Ibid, 22 July 1924.

[13] Ibid, Under Secretary for Lands Report 26 November 1925.

[14] Ibid, Deputy Commissioner Repatriation Commission to Under Secretary for Lands 1 July 1936.

[15] Ibid, Under Secretary for Lands Report 4 November 1936.

[16] Ibid, Russell & McLelland Solicitors to Under-Secretary for Lands 5 November 1936.

[17] Ibid, Loans and Arrears Section 23 June 1937.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers Settlement loan files; [12/6854 No. 1231] Frederick Stanley Walker.

National Archives of Australia: B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Frederick Stanley Walker) online: http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=3004507&I=1&SE=1