History

James E Lyle, ‘Smithy’, and the stamp controversy

~ higginsmj ~ 7 Comments
CEKSmith
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (‘Smithy’) in his flying gear c1928. By Unknown – Image Library of State Library of NSW, Sydney., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6786312

This year, 2018, marks the 90th anniversary of the first trans-Tasman flight made by the intrepid Brisbane-born aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (affectionately known as ‘Smithy’)#. This was only one momentous event for Smithy and his crews during 1928. He achieved much in his career including an impressive WWI war record and setting prodigious world aviation records. These were historic and exciting times!

It is hard to comprehend in the 21st century just how important and unique these achievements were. We are all used to planes coming and going, with millions of people flying thousands of miles every year. But, back in 1928, aviation was still relatively new. Long distance flying was in its infancy and extremely dangerous for those who took it on.

So, keeping this in mind, on 10 September, 1928, Smithy, accompanied by Charles Ulm, Harold Litchfield and Thomas McWilliams set off from Richmond near Sydney in their Fokker tri-motor named the Southern Cross. They touched down on 11 September at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, New Zealand after covering 2670 kilometres in 14 hours 25 minutes. Over 30,000 people turned up at the aerodrome to be part of this historic occasion. School children were given the day off and public servants were given time off until 11am. It was a monumental day in aviation history! If you would like to find out more, please see here. A flight from Sydney to Christchurch in 2018 takes about three hours! I think Smithy would be impressed.

tasmansea
Tasman Sea (vmf-guglielmomarconi.blogspot.com)

Earlier that year, on 31 May, Smithy, along with Charles Ulm and their American crewmen, James Warner and Harry Lyon broke the trans-Pacific record. They had flown approximately 11,566 kilometres in three legs, and were greeted by 26,000 people on their arrival at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Airport. An amazing achievement! Flying time from Los Angeles to Brisbane is about 13 hours!

Also, in August that same year, Smithy completed the first non-stop flight across mainland Australia, from Point Cook, near Melbourne to Perth, Western Australia.

Southern Cross monoplane
The Southern Cross arrives at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, New Zealand following the First Trans-Tasman Flight, 11 September, 1928. Thanks to Maggy Wassilieff, ‘Southern Cross – A national icon’, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/7481/southern-cross-monoplane (accessed 28 August 2018)

Move the clock forward to 1958. It was now 30 years since Smithy and Ulm had landed in Christchurch to the cheering crowd of 30,000. Much had happened in that time. There had been World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War was in full swing, and Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was gone. He and co-pilot John Thompson ‘Tommy’ Pethybridge were flying the Lady Southern Cross overnight from Allahabad, India, to Singapore, as part of their attempt to break the England-Australia speed record when they disappeared over the Andaman Sea in the early hours of 8 November 1935. Aviator Jimmy Melrose claimed to have seen the Lady Southern Cross fighting a storm 240 kilometres from shore and 70 metres over the sea with fire coming from its exhaust. Despite a search for 74 hours over the Bay of Bengal by test pilot Eric Stanley Greenwood, OBE, their bodies were never recovered. Aviation had come a long way since Kingsford Smith had broken the trans-Pacific and trans-Tasman records. It was time to commemorate his efforts.

The release of the Australian 8d* and New Zealand 6d* stamps marked the 30th anniversary of the First Air Crossing of the Tasman Sea 1928 – 1958. On 27 August, 1958, the first cover with the stamp was released celebrating 30 years since Smithy had crossed the Tasman Sea! James E Lyle (‘Jimmy’) was the designer of both stamps. The photos below will be of interest, especially to those who follow my posts regarding James E Lyle. The first one is addressed to my dear great-aunt, Elsie Morley (1896-1987), and is sent with “Compliments of the designer, James E Lyle”. It was signed by Jimmy with his highly recognizable signature. It was posted in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

20180827_1529091835504749.jpg
First day souvenir cover commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the First Tasman Flight completed by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (‘Smithy’) 27 August 1958 sent from Brisbane, Australia. From my private collection.

The second first day souvenir cover is addressed to the designer, James E Lyle! I could be wrong, but the hand printing looks very much like Jimmy Lyle’s. What do you think? Note that it was sent from Auckland, New Zealand. I think both of these first covers are significant in their own ways and I am pleased they are in my possession.

20180827_1523401780722605.jpg
First day souvenir cover commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the First Tasman Flight completed by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith (‘Smithy’) 27 August 1958 sent from Auckland, New Zealand. From my private collection.

It all looks relatively straightforward. A designer designs the stamp, the stamp is printed, the stamp is released and circulated. Not too complicated? Not so. According to Melbourne’s The Herald, dated 6 September 1958, there were mixed reactions, although there was support for the stamp, “the stamp itself is very pleasing in its design and is a good likeness of “Smithy””. However, it was also pointed out there were some minor flaws and yet other flaws were ‘worthy of recording’. While there was a difference of opinion regarding the type of plane included in the design, it was generally agreed that the Southern Cross VH-USU was so closely associated with Smithy it should have been included. It was further agreed that it was a good likeness of Smithy. On reading the article, the flaws were stated in great detail but I will not include them all here. One of the main flaws was regarding the white flow in the left hand edge of the stamp between the wing of the Southern Cross and the large star. Difficult to judge with an untrained eye! Others stated there were issues with the actual sheets of stamps and the quality of the printing. Those of you who are philatelists, will no doubt understand the ramifications of these ‘flaws’. One critic, Mr C Rivett of Baulkham Hills, New South Wales noted flaws with the wing tip, broken wing tip, broken wing over port motor and problems with the printing of “RN” in the word “SOUTHERN”. I don’t believe any of the critics had issues with the design, per se, but the actual printing of the stamp. So, you see, it isn’t so simple after all. There was certainly some controversy surrounding these stamps.

There is still one important question I have. That is, how or why was Jimmy chosen as the designer of the stamp? He may have been living in Auckland at the time so that might have some bearing on the decision. Maybe his design of the Royal Flying Doctor stamp in 1957 was still in the mind of the decision makers. I am working on solving that mystery, so, watch this space…

James E Lyle was a prolific artist. He not only designed these stamps but also a number of Brisbane Telephone Directories. He worked in various mediums and created numerous public and private artworks. If you would like to know a little more about the art and life of James E Lyle, please see James E Lyle … a lost art, James E Lyle…the stamp of approval 60 years on and James E Lyle – an update.

Thanks for reading!

 

*8d = 8 penny/6d = 6 penny (approximately 7 cents/5 cents) with calculated value of approximately AUD$1.03 in 2017 (Total change in cost is 1438.8 per cent, over 59 years, at an average annual inflation rate of 4.7 per cent.)
#Charles Kingsford Smith was knighted in 1932

© 2018

 

European Adventure…In Flanders Fields

~ higginsmj ~ Leave a comment

2018 marks 100 years since the end of the Great War…the war to end all wars. So, we thought it fitting to tour the Battlefields of World War I – In Flanders Fields. There is so much history, so many sites! I must admit I found the whole experience both very moving and confronting knowing we were so close to where so many lost their lives.

I can’t cover everything, so, I will just share my personal highlights and a few facts you may find interesting.

All in all there are 153 Commonwealth war cemeteries in the Ieper or Ypres Salient Battlefields. They are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission comprising the six member countries: Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and United Kingdom.

There are stark contrasts between the German and Commonwealth war cemeteries. There are only four German cemeteries in the area, all of which are mass graves. There were 25,000 people buried in the one we visited. It seems the philosophy is that the soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder and therefore are buried in the same way.

 

 

German War Cemetery near Ieper, Belgium
Typical headstone from mass burial st German War Cemetery near Ieper Belgium

It was interesting to hear the Belgian perspective and the role of the Belgian army which were, in this case, mainly Flemish.

To clarify, a Salient in military terms is a battlefield feature that projects into the opponent’s territory. The salient is surrounded on three sides making the troops on the salient vulnerable. The Ieper Salient was formed by British, French, Canadian and Belgian defensive efforts against the German incursion during the 1914 ‘Race to the Sea’ leading to the 1st Battle for Ieper.

 

 

Ieper battle ground defended admirably by Belgian (mainly Flemish) troops 1914
Trenches near Ieper used by Belgian troops in defence of Salient
Monument to Flemish soldiers in Belgian army in defending the Salient in 1914

Tyne Cot is the largest British war cemetery near Ieper. There are almost 12,000 buried there with about 70 per cent (8,500) unidentified. Their graves are marked ‘known only to God’. So very sad.

.facebook_1527780396030.jpg2101452099.jpg
Tyne Cot – largest British war cemetery near Ieper

The Essex Farm war cemetery has 1200 WWI serviceman buried or commemorated there of which 190 are unidentified. It is located near one of the dressing stations which has been recreated by local technical school students. It was there that Canadian Lt Col John McCrae MD worked as a surgeon making decisions on the lives of those who arrived at the station. He saw the horrors of war first hand. John McCrae was also a poet and wrote the famous WWI poem, “On Flanders Fields”. McCrae survived the war but died of pneumonia near the end of the war.

 

 

Essex Farm war cemetery, Ieper Belgium
Lt Col John McCrae

Keeping the theme In Flanders Fields, we visited the museum of that name located in the city of Ieper. It is located in the fully rebuilt old Cloth Market. The building was completely destroyed during the war along with most of the town. Some, including Winston Churchill wanted the bombed town to be left as a Memorial to the war. However, the citizens wanted to move on with their lives. So a compromise was reached and the Menin Gate became a lasting Memorial to the fallen of World War I. The museum is well worth a visit. It sympathetically and realistically represents the war and its horrors. It is interactive with the use of your wrist scanner. It has many artefacts that help to paint pictures of the lives of those involved in this painful part of our history.

.facebook_1527779755264.jpg-1664754319.jpg
The old Cloth Market was completely rebuilt following its destruction during the Battles of Ieper Belgium

As Australians, it was very special for us to visit Polygon Wood Memorial and war cemetery. Evidently not many tour buses make the trip there as it tricky to manoeuvre in and out of the parking area. Polygon Wood Memorial pays tribute to the Australian Fifth Division and its service at Polygon Wood.

 

 

Polygon Wood war cemetery
Polygon Wood Memorial to Australian 5th Division during WWI near Ieper Belgium

The Canadian War Memorial located at St Julien, a village near Ieper is magnificent and must be seen.

.facebook_1527779591021.jpg-874514717.jpg
World War I Canadian War Memorial at St Julien near Ieper Belgium

All these (and many more not mentioned) highlights culminate in being present for the Menin or Menen Gate Last Post Cermony which is held every evening at 8pm. There are 65,000 names inscribed on the Menin Gate – British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in the Ieper Salient of World War I and whose graves are unknown. My husband’s great uncle, Henry George Bateman was one of those men. He was 26 years old when he was killed. His family mourned him their whole lives. He was never forgotten. My husband found the location of his name inscribed on the Menin Gate. It was both a solemn and joyous occasion.

Last Post Cermony held at 8pm every night at Menin Gate Memorial Ieper Belgium
Last Post Cermony held at 8pm every evening at Menin Gate Memorial Ieper Belgium
Last Post Cermony held every evening at 8pm at Menin Gate Memorial Ieper Belgium

I leave you with the poem…

 

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
        In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
        In Flanders fields.
Advertisements

Occasionally, some of your visitors may see an advertisement here,
as well as a Privacy & Cookies banner at the bottom of the page.
You can hide ads completely by upgrading to one of our paid plans.

UPGRADE NOW DISMISS MESSAGE

Post navigation

Leave a Reply

Logged in as higginsmj. Log out?

COMMENT

 Notify me of new comments via email.

 Notify me of new posts via email.

European Adventure… Belgium

~ higginsmj ~ 6 Comments

Our long train journey from Berlin to Brussels via Cologne was made much more comfortable by travelling first class. In the scheme of things it was not much dearer than second class so we treated ourselves!

We have had a great few days in cosmopolitan Brussels! While staying here we have taken a couple of day trips. On one day we travelled by train to the beautiful city of Bruges or Brugge. It is only about 1 hour 15 mins travel time from Brussels. As it was the weekend the fares were discounted by 50%. What a bonus!

We did not take a tour but meandered around on our own. We probably did not see as much but it was at a leisurely pace which we enjoyed. There were people everywhere and as the weather was sunny and a weekend, not surprising!

Bruges’s history originates about the 9th century when it was settled by the Vikings. Known mainly for its historic buildings and canals, it is also the home of chocolates and lace making. I have neither to show for my visit. Far too hot for chocolates and sadly, no use for lacework.

Bruges is known as the Venice of the North due to its canal system. Not one gondola was sighted on our visit, though! Interestingly, Livorno in Italy (cruise port for those visiting Florence and Pisa) is known as the Venice of the West or New Venice. Again, because of the canal district.

On the main square in Bruges, Belgium
Known as ‘Venice of the North’ due to the canal system. Bruges, Belgium
Mediaeval Bruges, Belgium
On the main square, Bruges, Belgium
Mediaeval Bruges, Belgium
On the canal, mediaeval Bruges, Belgium
On the main square, Bruges, Belgium

Hope you enjoyed this tiny glimpse of this historical and beautiful city!

James E Lyle – an update

~ higginsmj ~ 27 Comments

Last year I wrote two posts about James E Lyle (see James E Lyle … a lost art and James E Lyle…the stamp of approval 60 years on) They documented my limited knowledge about the man and his accomplishments and the role my great-grandmother, Anna Maria Morley (nee Weinert) (1873-1958) played in Jimmy’s life. I am finally putting together the long promised update! I will never get to the end of this I know, so be prepared for further updates as information comes to light.

A few months ago, I received an email from Ralph Walker, who had stumbled across my blog. Ralph worked with Jim in 1980 at Tell Advertising, a Sydney based advertising agency with an office in Brisbane. The agency was located on the first floor of McFarlane House, a three story building on the corner of George and Charlotte Streets. The building still stands today and was renovated in 2016.

Ralph has been able to fill in a few gaps for me for which I am very grateful.  He thinks his boss may have given Jim free rent and an art board where he could do his drawings and paintings. Evidently, all the staff loved having Jim around. He had a wealth of stories, which Ralph believes were mainly true!

He also remembered Jim did a lot of watercolours and recalled that a picture of his appeared on the front of the Brisbane White Pages phone book in the 1960s. Which is true. I know Jimmy completed a number of phone book covers from the 1960s to the 1980s. A story I came across in my research at the State Library of Queensland (SLQ), stated that Jimmy went to great lengths to get the setting just right for one of the phone book covers.  It included asking if he could enter a building which overlooked King George Square in order to get to the roof so he could get a better view to do some sketches. In addition, Ralph believes the “elegant logo” used in Stefan’s project, the restaurant Jo-Jo’s, which occupied the same site in the Brisbane CBD for 37 years was the creation of Jim. This well-known eatery moved to another location in 2017. It certainly stood the test of time! Ralph suspects that Jim also designed Stefan’s famous logo as well, as they were great mates. I can’t verify that, so, if you know whether that is true, I would love to hear from you. By the way, Stefan is a well-known Brisbane businessman who started his career as a hairdresser. I believe he still owns a number of salons around the country.

James E Lyle autograph
James E Lyle autograph. Courtesy of Ralph Walker.

Jim signed a birthday card for Ralph during their time in the same office. Very clever, don’t you think?

During my research at the SLQ I came across an article by Molly Elliott (New Zealand journalist) that indicated that Jim received a medal for climbing the Matterhorn. He was the first Australian to do so. It was a two day climb and Jim reached the summit on 28 June 1953. Quite an achievement! Ralph also confirmed that Jim had indeed climbed the Matterhorn during his travels in Europe in the early 1950s. So, those little bits of rock under the house at Kangaroo Point were really from the Matterhorn! I tried twice to contact the Swiss Alpine Club to confirm that Jim had received a medal for climbing the mountain, but to date, have not received a response. It would be great if we had some concrete evidence, so if you know something, please let me know in the Comments Section. According to Ralph, by 1980 though, Jim could barely walk and needed walking sticks.

matterhorn
Matterhorn, Switzerland. Photo courtesy of Funky Stock Photos

I have recently received comments on my blog posts from Sharmaine McBain, a great niece of Jimmy’s who also confirmed that not only was Jimmy the first Australian to climb the Matterhorn but also the first to paint it! Wow! So many firsts! What a character.

My family story is that the Lyle family lived nearby in Kangaroo Point and Granny (Anna Morley) recognised that Jimmy had an artistic bent. My understanding is that Granny encouraged his art and helped to pay for art lessons when Jimmy was a boy.
After Granny passed away in 1958, Jimmy continued to have contact with my great aunts, Elsie and Vera Morley. Their home at 40 Connor Street Kangaroo Point had a number of paintings and drawings by Jimmy and I grew up knowing the story. I have some of Jimmy’s paintings from when he was quite young.

I have also located some of Jimmy’s family via Ancestry.com and Gaile Davis, his niece, has been very helpful in providing information. Gaile advised that her elder sister who is four years her senior remembered meeting my great aunts when she was a child. She visited them with Uncle Jimmy at their home in Connor Street. She remembers being told by their father (Jimmy’s twin brother, Tommy) that when the twins were young they would be fed sandwiches by Granny. They were very poor and always hungry so Gaile is certain her kindness to them was remembered for the rest of their lives. Gaile further added, that their Uncle Jimmy was a big part of their lives so she has a lot of anecdotes to share. I look forward to hearing more from Gaile and her family and hopefully more photos!

Another reader, Jeff Hofmann, contacted me to let me know that his parents were friends with Jim and he was the best man at the their wedding. Jeff advised that Jim had painted the wedding group and that the family still had the painting. I received the photos from Jeanette Hofmann. I wish to acknowledge the kindness of the family in allowing me to use these photos below. The wedding was held at the Albert Street Methodist (now Uniting) Church, on 11 May 1946. The Groom was Clive Hofmann; Bride was Morva Hofmann (nee Harris); Bridesmaid Vivienne Thompson (nee Hofmann);  James Lyle was Best Man.

James Lyle Best Man
The Hoffman – Harris Wedding 1946. Photo courtesy of the Hoffman family collection.

The following photo, also kindly provided by the Hoffman family, is similar to the one I grew up with at the Kangaroo Point house of my great-grandmother and great aunts. The difference is that Jimmy was wearing a peaked cap and dress uniform.

James E Lyle
James E Lyle during his World War II army service. Photo courtesy of the Hoffman family collection.

 

If anyone has or knows where some of Jimmy’s art work is located, I would love to hear from you. Jimmy was a prolific artist so someone must know where they are. My research has turned up a few photocopies of his work (below)  courtesy of State Library of Queensland. There are more and they will appear in the next update. Hopefully, these will jog someone’s memory!

 

 

Photo courtesy of OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of GS-21, James E Lyle Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of GS-21, James E Lyle Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of GS-21, James E Lyle Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of GS-21, James E Lyle Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of GS-21, James E Lyle Photograph Album, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Photo courtesy of OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.

In addition, I came across a list of paintings for sale at an exhibition during the 1970s. I am unsure of the date and the venue but I think it could be Guv’s Restaurant which was located near Government House in Fernberg Road, Paddington. So, if you recognise these paintings, please let me know.

  • Evening, Cabbage Tree Creek
  • The Old Saw Mill
  • The Outgoing Tide
  • The Solemn Land Beetota
  • Misty Morning, Wyberra
  • McMasters’ Boatyard – NFS from the collection of Mr Harvey Blair
  • Edge of Town – Birdsville
  • Wear and Tear
  • February Morning
  • Rural Gothic
  • Abandoned – NFS from the collection of Mr and Mrs R Tritton
  • Mud Flats, Wellington Point
  • Jimboomba Gums
  • Stricklands’ Place – Mt Tamborine
  • Christmas Creek
  • Astrid and the Butterfly
  • Quiet Evening – Mr Barney
  • Johnsons’ Place – NFS from the collection of Lieut-Col and Mrs Morel
  • The Silo, Capalaba
  • Boy with Dinghy
  • Ryans’ Place – Scone, New South Wales

Just to finish up, I found this postcard amongst family papers that may be of interest to you. This postcard was produced from the original watercolour, Gone to a Safe Anchorage by James Lyle. I particularly like the notes on the reverse of the postcard! Enjoy!

20180224_104847.jpg
Postcard, “Gone to a Safe Anchorage” (reproduced from original watercolour) by James Lyle. From the author’s private collection.
20180224_104218.jpg
Reverse of postcard, “Gone to a Safe Anchorage” (reproduced from original watercolour) by James Lyle. From the author’s private collection.

I trust you have enjoyed this update. Next time I will explore Jim’s time in New Zealand and his many and varied interests.

Thanks for reading!

© 2018

Mona May Holbeck… a life lived

~ higginsmj ~ 13 Comments

While sorting through boxes of family memorabilia, I came across some things that reminded me of my paternal grandmother, Mona May Shipstone (nee Holbeck). There were photos, an assortment of Birthday, Christmas and Sympathy cards and even some old 78 rpm records! There were items with no real meaning for anyone anymore… except for me. They are a connection to the past, my past. So, dear reader, I’ll tell you what I know, and think I know about Mona and hope you gain a glimpse of this woman and the times in which she lived.

Mona was born on Sunday 30 October 1904 in Clarendon, a rural locality in the Somerset Region located approximately 40kms north west of Ipswich in South East Queensland. Mona was known as ‘Nannie’ to my sister and myself. And, I must admit, it feels strange referring to her by her first name.

Before we go any further, I want to provide some background on Mona’s family in order to help make sense of her life and who she became. Her father, James Louis Holbeck (1866-1946) married Annie Sixsmith (1868-1938) on 6 February 1889 in Gympie, Queensland. Annie was an Irish immigrant who left Castlecomer, County Kilkenny just three years prior. It was interesting that James’ mother (Mona’s grandmother), Jane Ruddy (1841-1916) was also an Irish immigrant who left her home in County Armargh some 25 years before. Anyway, James (Mona’s father) worked for the railways and my grandmother (the eighth of ten children) was born while he was working in the area. I understand the family were living in a railway house at Clarendon at the time. By at least 1910, the family was living in Newstead, a suburb of Brisbane. The Electoral Rolls for 1913 show that Annie and James were registered as living in Maud Street Newstead and their occupations were shopkeepers. Things had changed dramatically as James’ occupation was no longer ‘Lengthsman’ as noted in the 1903 Electoral Rolls.

At the time of Mona’s birth in 1904, it was at the dawn of the 20th century. Although King Edward VII was the reigning monarch, Australia had recently become a Federation, known as The Commonwealth of Australia. The First World War was still ten years away. The Wright brothers continued to work on powered flight after their successful flight the year before on 17 December 1903. 1904 also saw the arrival of the first Ford car in Australia. The automobile would soon become commonplace on the roads.

As Mona was growing up, she faced many sad and difficult times. Nothing has changed, I know. Most of us face our fair share of pain as we grow older. It is often these times that define us and shape us into who we become. It was no different for Mona. At the age of six, her sister Emily Agnes (known as Emma) aged 11 years and 10 months came home from school one afternoon and within a few days she had passed away. It was an event that affected the whole family for the rest of their lives. If you are interested in reading more about Emma, please see my post from 2016 A Life Not Lived … I think as a result, Mona and her remaining sister, Katherine Lilian (Aunty Kate) remained close all their lives. (Mona was devastated when Kate passed away in 1973.) Then, in 1914, when Mona was 10 years old, her mother Annie gave birth to her tenth child, Arthur Edward, who survived only three days. Another distressing event. Also in 1914, World War I broke out. One of her older brothers, Charles Alfred enlisted in 1915 and saw service in France. Thankfully, he returned home, married and raised a family.  So, from a young age, Mona knew about grief and loss.

2017-11-28 12.38.39.jpg
Mona May Holbeck circa 1920. From the author’s collection.

 

On the 26 April 1930, Mona married John William Shipstone (better known as Jack), right in the middle of the Great Depression. They had four sons between 1931 and 1942. My father, William John (better known as Bill) (1931-2011) was the eldest. Graham James followed in 1935, with Donald Henry (1938-2014) and Colin Lionel in 1942. My mother, Jean, always said that Nannie would have liked to have had a daughter but that was not to be. My mother and Nannie always got on well and in some sense was the daughter she never had.

a00e82fd-bb58-434c-823b-d6c2a8e26210.jpg
John (Jack) William Shipstone and Mona May Holbeck on their wedding day 26 April 1930. Photo courtesy of Barbara Horsburgh

 

A similar wedding photo of the one above hung in the lounge room at my grandparents home in Newmarket the entire time they lived there (from 1930) and was still there until my Uncle Don’s passing in 2014. So, I grew up with this image. I always loved her dress with its handkerchief hem and the beautiful shoes… and that huge bouquet of flowers.

Before her marriage to my grandfather, Jack, Mona worked as a shorthand typist. There is a family story that Mona, during a lunch break, came across a speed typing competition being held on the street, so Mona competed and came second. Unfortunately, I have no evidence of that. However, I have included below a photo of Mona’s Certificate for Shorthand awarded from Stott & Hoare’s Business College in Brisbane in 1920.

20171128_143656.jpg
Certificate of Shorthand awarded to Mona Holbeck on 9th December 1920. From the author’s collection.

When her children were older, Mona went back to work, in the office of the department store of T C Beirne, located in Duncan Street, Fortitude Valley. Her typing career did not end when she retired from T C Beirne either. Her youngest son, Col, completed his panel beating apprenticeship in the mid 1960s and later started his own business. So, in the early 1970s, there was my grandmother happily(?) typing (on a manual typewriter, of course) invoices and quotes for her son’s business. Just as an aside, when Nannie was no longer able to assist with the typing, I was recruited to help Col with this task. I must say he paid very well!

Mona was fortunate to have music lessons and according to The Telegraph, dated 25 October 1919, the music exam results for the London School of Music showed Mona achieved a mark of 66 in the Junior section. While I was researching, I noticed there was a Ruby Walker in the list of results. I remember my father telling me he had singing lessons with a Miss Ruby when he was a young lad. I wonder if this Miss Ruby was the same one. Evidently, Dad only attended for a few weeks then just went to town and spent the money each week – bad boy! He was in so much trouble when his mother found out!

Mona’s father, my great-grandfather, James Holbeck lost a leg in a shunting accident during his time as a railway employee. These life-changing events were not uncommon at the time. My father remembered his grandfather had a wooden leg as a result of the accident and, for a small boy, he found it quite intimidating. Evidently, Grandfather sat in a Captain’s chair by the wood stove in the kitchen of their home in Newstead. That same chair is now at my house and is very much the worse for wear. It has been repaired and repainted so many times over the years that it barely resembles the original item! My plan is to restore it as near to original as possible. Although, that may prove to be difficult, as it is a bit like the story of the man with the axe that had been in the family for generations. Except that the handle and the axe blade had been replaced several times, it was an original family heirloom!

20171128_162514.jpg
This Captain’s chair belonged to my great-grandfather, James Louis Holbeck. In much need of repair! Photo from the author’s collection.

I don’t have many photos of Mona so the few I have are very precious. The ones below were taken in the backyard of Jack and Mona’s home in Newmarket in April 1972 with the four generations of the Shipstone family: My grandparents, Jack and Mona, my father, Bill, myself and my son, Brent aged five months. I remember that day very well. We all knew it was significant… having us altogether. You can see Nannie and Pa look very happy.

Mona and Jack, Margo, Bill and Brent taken April 1972. Author’s private collection.
Mona and Jack Shipstone. April 1972. Author’s private collection.
Margo, Jack, Mona, Bill and Brent. April 1972. Author’s private collection.

 

Mona had lived through three quarters of the 20th century! Just like many others, she lived through the two world wars as well the Korean and Vietnam wars. During the Second World War, a United States army base was established in Brisbane. However, there was a certain amount of animosity between the Australian and American servicemen even though they were allies. There was no love lost for a variety of reasons. One of the issues that disturbed Brisbane residents and the Australian servicemen was that while they were on strict rations, the US servicemen had access to a variety of food, beverages and other items forbidden to the locals. Tensions boiled over and during 26 and 27 November 1942 violence erupted in what became known as the Battle of Brisbane. The melee led to the death of one Australian serviceman and hundreds of Australian and US servicemen being injured. The news of this ‘battle’ was suppressed and many people still don’t know about it. My father told me about going to the US Army Camp with other boys and picking through the rubbish the ‘Yanks’ had thrown out. He often went home with ham and other delicacies not seen in Brisbane for many a day! So, it was there if you were prepared to go through the rubbish!

Mona saw aeroplanes and flight become common place as well as automobiles and the phasing out of horse drawn transport. She saw the transformation of Brisbane from a cholera-ridden town with little sewerage and infrastructure to a vibrant city with freeways and skyscrapers, and… sewerage. The 20th century was an amazing time for all those who lived through it.

We are all influenced by those around us, particularly as children. When I think of Mona, I recall her quietness, patience and dignity. In her own way Mona achieved much and hopefully I learned something from her. She experienced joy and pain. She was the best daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend she could be. I admired her because she was a working woman when many women were staying at home. She cared for her family in the face of adversity. She was proud of her sons’ achievements and was much loved. Still sadly missed…

James E Lyle…the stamp of approval 60 years on

~ higginsmj ~ 21 Comments

101631_060 years ago today, the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia 7d* (penny) stamp was released. “So what?”, I hear you say. “Stamps are released every other day. What is so special about this one?” Well, this stamp, or should I say the designer of this stamp, had a close association with my maternal great-grandmother and her family. The designer of this stamp (as well as others) was James E Lyle (Jimmy). Regular readers will recognise the name as I have posted about the work and life of this Brisbane-born artist and his connection to our family. If you don’t know what I am talking about, have a look at James E Lyle … a lost art.

To provide some background, particularly for my international readers, the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) was founded by the Reverend John Flynn OBE, DD (1880-1951) who was an Australian Presbyterian minister. Through his work with the Australian Inland Mission which provided spiritual and practical assistance for those in the “Outback” of Australia, he saw first hand the hardships endured by them. Over time, Dr Flynn saw that one of the major needs was for medical assistance for the scattered population. Dr Flynn was a visionary and in 1928 the beginning of what was to become the RFDS was launched.

“The Royal Flying Doctor Service is one of the largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world, providing extensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency service to people over an area of 7.3 million square kilometres.”    RFDS Website 2017

For more detailed information on Dr Flynn and the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia please see RFDS Website.

On a personal note, I have an official first day issue addressed to my great aunt, Elsie Morley, date stamped Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on 21 August, 1957 (below). While the cover is a little worse for wear, the stamp depicts the map of Australia with the Caduceus and in its shadow, that of an aeroplane covering Outback Australia. The Caduceus, often seen as a symbol of medicine, is a symmetrical staff with wings with two snakes intertwined. This official first day cover came with the compliments of the artist, James E Lyle (lower left corner).

img20170812_18400729
From the author’s private collection.

While the RFDS did not receive any revenue for the stamp, they did receive much needed publicity. On the other hand, I understand that the RFDS received revenue for the Official First Day of Issue which I would imagine was very welcome.

Another first day cover provided by Jimmy’s niece, Gaile Davis, appears below. The following description was provided when she purchased it a few years ago:

  • 1957 Australia First Day Cover The Royal Flying Doctor Service
  • Designer: James E Lyle with modifications by B Stewart – Engraver: Donald Cameron – Printer: W C G McCracken
  • Design shows a map of Australia overshadowed by the Caduceus, this stamp was released as a definitive and available for all purposes, but primarily to cover the postage and internal air mail rate.
  • Issued 21 August with perforation 14¼ x 14
  • First Day Cover 7d Blue Caduceus over Australia.
RFDS FDC G Davis
From the Gaile Davis Collection.

In the process of researching Jimmy Lyle’s life and art, I came across an article in an RFDS Magazine from May 1999. It provides a perspective of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and its connection with Jimmy. It seems that a past patient of the RFDS, Reg Ferguson, a former Troop Sergeant at Tobruk during World War II, conceived of the stamp after he was introduced to philately while convalescing after a number of operations. This new-found hobby led him to think about the design of a stamp to bring attention to the RFDS.  He believed that the publicity the RFDS would receive would go some way to repaying his debt to the ‘Flying Doctor’. This was in 1946. He later enlisted the aid of another ex-serviceman, the artist, James E Lyle to design the stamp. Following some discussions with the grateful patient, Jimmy went about designing the stamp. At this time, Jimmy had never designed a stamp. After many years of lobbying the Post Master General of Australia, the stamp was finally released on 21 August 1957. For the full article, please see RFDS Magazine May 1999.

Interestingly, I also came across an article by Molly Elliott of the Auckland Star, written in the 1960s, where it documents Jimmy’s travels through Europe, Arabia, India and Australia. On arriving back in Australia from Europe and beyond, Jimmy landed in Adelaide. It was the mid 1950s and according to the article, Jimmy wanted to see more of Australia and embarked on a 3-4 month journey north to Darwin. Along the way he encountered the work of the RFDS and wanted to show his appreciation for their inspiring work and started gathering material for a stamp that would provide publicity for the organisation. So, this is probably after initial contact with Reg Ferguson around 1946. As with many things, the exact story is lost in the mists of time. However, the facts remain, that the stamp was indeed designed by Jimmy Lyle and approximately 66,000,000 stamps were sold during the period 1957 to 1959, before the postage price went up. (Some things never change!)

On another note, I saw a copy of a receipt for £100** from the RFDS. This is the same amount Jimmy received in payment by the Commonwealth of Australia for the design of the stamp. Jimmy donated the whole amount to the RFDS. I understand Jimmy had a long relationship with the ‘Flying Doctor’.

A photo and a few documents regarding Jimmy’s connection with the RFDS appear below. Apologies for the poor quality of the photos. The State Library of Queensland is not conducive to good photography! Regardless, I am sure you will get the gist of it. If you take the time to read the fine print in the article, it states that Jimmy was a temporary resident of New Zealand. He lived and worked in Auckland for a number of years during the 1950s.

James E Lyle RFDS article (2)
Assortment of RFDS documents from James E Lyle Scrapbook, OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
James E Lyle RFDS display c1957
The Royal Flying Doctor Service display including the 7d stamp c 1957. OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.

Another of Jimmy’s artwork included a mural, measuring 17 feet x 6 feet (5.1 metres x 1.8 metres), which was located in the Brisbane General Post Office Boardroom in 1961. It depicts not only various stamps, including the RFDS 7d stamp, but also an assortment of postal department equipment and apparatus.

James E Lyle GPO Brisbane Mural
Mural, Brisbane GPO Boardroom 1961. OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.

In the photo of the initial viewing of the mural (below), Jimmy appears on the left. The other well dressed gentlemen may be some of the “several prominent businessmen” who, according to the invitation from the Post Master General to Jimmy, had also been invited. (I think Jimmy looks quite dapper in his dinner suit!)

Brisbane GPO Boardroom mural 1961
James E Lyle (left) at the initial viewing of the mural located at the Brisbane GPO Boardroom in 1961. OM93-13, James Lyle Clippings, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.

I understand that the RFDS 7d stamp is in the private collection of Queen Elizabeth II, a keen philatelist.

The 60th anniversary of the release of this stamp has given me the opportunity to not only highlight the work of the RFDS but also to recognise just one more of Jimmy Lyle’s remarkable accomplishments, of which there were many. James E Lyle was a complex and multi-faceted character who achieved much in his life both personally and through his art. I trust you enjoyed this short tribute to this remarkable and versatile artist, James E Lyle and the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia 7d stamp.

 

Notes:

* The pre-decimal 7d (penny) = approximately 90cents in today’s money.

** Approximately $3,040 in today’s money.

 

 

Another Buccleuch?

~ higginsmj ~ Leave a comment

This is a postscript to an earlier post, Buccleuch who?, regarding Henry Buccleuch Shipstone, my 1st cousin x 1 removed. In that post I mentioned that another baby was born aboard the Duke of Buccleuch on an 1883 voyage to Australia. This baby was also given a middle name which paid tribute to her birth at sea. Her name was Alice Buccleuch Lake, and she was born on 15 October 1883 during the voyage to Queensland. This was just four days before my great uncle, Samuel Buccleuch Shipstone, was born on 19 October 1883. As to her forename, Alice, I wonder if she was named after Alice Bray who was another passenger on board the Duke of Buccleuch who proved to be helpful following the birth of Samuel Buccleuch. Alice Bray would later become my great grandmother. I feel sure the respective families knew each other on board, given their shared experiences.

Having come across this in my research, I was intrigued to find out what became of Alice Buccleuch Lake and decided to investigate. To date, I have found that her parents, Edward Lake and Mary Ann (nee Willis) had another two daughters after arriving in Australia. Jane was born in 1891 but died within the year. Lilly was born in 1892.

It appears that, prior to 1910, Alice sailed back to England. While there she married Joseph Edward Willetts about June 1910 at Aston, England. This took some researching as I could find no evidence for their marriage in Australia. I knew they had married because there was a reference to the Marriage Certificate in Alice’s correspondence with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) office, dated 4 march 1920.  On further investigation, I found Alice and Joseph sailed to Australia in 1911 aboard the SS Essex with their infant daughter, Lilian Buccleuch. Yes, another person with the ‘Buccleuch’ middle name!  Lilian was born in Aston, England in early 1911, just before leaving for Australia. Alas, Lilian passed away not long after arriving in Queensland in 1911. Another daughter, Alice Beatrice, was born in 1913. Sadly, she died in 1915, at just two years old. Then in 1915, Joseph and Alice welcomed Edward John. Unfortunately, Edward passed away in 1916. So much grief! Their fourth child, Hazel Elsie was born in 1916. I can happily report that Hazel grew to adulthood, married and had a family of her own.

The Great War had been going since 1914 when Joseph Willetts enlisted in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on the 20 May 1916 in the 22 Reinforcements (Rns) 9th Battalion. He was 33 years and 5 months old and his occupation was recorded as a Labourer. Before immigrating, Joseph had served for twelve years in the Worcestershire Regiment. As a Private in the AIF, Joseph embarked in Brisbane for England on the vessel HMAT Marathon on 27 October 1916. So, after five months training, he and his comrades were on their way to the ‘War’. Joseph had named Alice, his wife, as next of kin. He was leaving her with an infant daughter and the grief of recently losing their only son and the loss of two daughters in the previous few years. Alice was 33 years old and lived at Woodend Road, Ipswich, Queensland. (Incidentally, I, too, live in Ipswich which is about 30 kilometres west of Brisbane, Queensland.)

marathon
Courtesy of harrowercollection.com

Joseph Willetts trained as a First Class Signaller in England before arriving in Havre, France on 24 July 1917. His service record notes he was moved to Halfleur and on 5 August 1917 he committed two crimes: breaking out of camp and being out of bounds. Then, on the 8 August 1917 his battalion was marched out to Belgium. On the 4 November 1917, Private Joseph Edward Willetts was wounded in action. He died of his wounds later that day. He was buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery. Private Willetts was one of the 38,098 Australians who lost their lives during eight weeks of fighting defending the town of Ypres. He left behind a wife and young daughter.

ypres_resevoir_arch2
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery in the 1920s before the wooden markers were replaced by headstones (Courtesy of ww1cemeteries.com)
ypres-resevior-cemetery
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery 2014 (Courtesy ww1battlefields.co.uk)

Following the death of Joseph, Alice received a pension of £2 per fortnight and £1 per fortnight for her daughter Hazel. For the living, life goes on. By September 1918, Alice had married Benjamin Ramsbottom. Much of the correspondence on Private Willetts’ war service file is addressed to Mrs Ramsbottom and annotated that Alice had remarried. The last date of correspondence to Alice regarding Joseph’s war service was 18 July 1924, almost seven years after Joseph’s death. Did Joseph’s death hang like a spectre over her second marriage to Benjamin? We will never know, but you can’t help but wonder.

It appears that Alice lived in Ipswich most of her life. A newspaper article dated 27 January 1939 cites her as a witness in a court case which has her address as Wyndham Street, North Ipswich.

Alice Buccleuch Ramsbottom (nee Lake, formerly Willetts) died on 12 August 1953, aged 69 years. According to the Funeral Notice, Alice was a wife (twice), a mother, a mother-in-law and grandmother. At the time of her death, Alice was living in Jackson Estate on Cribb Island. This was a suburb of Brisbane which was resumed in the late 1970s to extend the Brisbane Airport. It was never a prosperous area and began life as a a collection of fishing shacks which grew into a small suburb. Its most famous residents were the Gibb brothers who later became the BeeGees.

It is a puzzle why Alice was living on Cribb Island which was quite some distance from Ipswich. Perhaps she was living with family? We might find out one day.

rd7da
Real Estate Development Advertisement 1916 (Courtesy bonzle.com)
statelibqld_1_118720_fishing_shacks_on_the_foreshore_at_cribb_island_1926
Fishing shacks on the foreshore at Cribb Island 1926. (File:StateLibQld 1 118720)

I wonder whether the passengers who made that momentous voyage from England to Australia on board the Duke of Buccleuch in 1883 kept in contact over the years. Likewise, did the passengers keep in touch following the 1911 voyage on the Essex when Alice and Joseph migrated with their baby daughter Lilian Buccleuch Willetts. Maybe, they did and maybe they didn’t. It is interesting to consider how life’s events shape our lives. Alice Buccleuch had a unique start to her life and she faced more difficulties and pain than most during her life. There was so much grief, you wonder how she endured it all. She must have been a strong, resilient woman.

If you have any further information about Alice Buccleuch, I would be interested in hearing from you.

Thanks for reading!

Buccleuch who?

~ higginsmj ~ 5 Comments

In an earlier post (HMAS Sydney Lost 75 Years Ago) I alluded to the unusual middle name of my 1st cousin 1 x removed, Henry Buccleuch Shipstone. So, for all those wondering, “what the …”, rest easy, all (well, what I believe to be true) will be revealed. If there are any inaccuracies, my apologies in advance. Please set me right (with evidence) in the Comments Section.

We’ll start at the beginning of my line of the Shipstone family in Australia. My great-grandfather, Samuel Henry Shipstone, was born on 16 January 1854, in Star Lane, Bullwell, Nottinghamshire, England to parents John Shipstone and Isabella Glover. At the age of 22 in 1876, Samuel married Frances (Fannie) Burton and in 1881 their son James (Jim) was born. According to the 1881 census records the family was living in Openshaw, Manchester and Samuel was working as a railway wagon maker. By 1883 they had decided, along with many others in Britain, to emigrate to Australia. This was probably due to the recruitment drive by the new Queensland Government to attract families and workers to the new State of Queensland. See Colonial Immigration in Queensland for an overview. So, they packed up their possessions and their small son and boarded the Duke of Buccleuch.

duke-of-buccleuch-bi-nmm
DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH – iscs 3,099gt 1873 Barrow
Courtesy of National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, United Kingdom (G2228)

You may already know but, on 27 August 1883 the island of Krakatoa, located in Indonesia (formerly the Dutch East Indies) erupted three times on that day. It is considered one of the most deadly volcanic eruptions of modern history and it is believed that more than 36,000 people died due to the subsequent tsunamis following the eruptions. It was a significant global event. See 1883 Krakatoa Eruption for an excellent essay by Monique R Morgan. By October 1883, the Duke of Buccleuch was sailing by Krakatoa on its way to Queensland Australia. The main eruption was over but minor eruptions, mostly of mud, continued.

https://i0.wp.com/images.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_640x430/public/j654k4h.png

Krakatoa eruption 1883 – Image courtesy mentalfloss.com

The eruption of Krakatoa was not the only drama unfolding for the young Shipstone family. Fannie Shipstone had embarked on her journey to Queensland with an extra passenger. Fannie was pregnant and on 19 October 1883 gave birth to their second son. To honour their son’s birth at sea aboard the Duke of Buccleuch, he was named Samuel Buccleuch Shipstone.  In turn, Samuel Buccleuch named his only son similarly, ie, Henry Buccleuch Shipstone.

Family legend held that Fannie had died in child birth and Samuel Henry was left to care for his two young sons. It was further believed that a fellow passenger, Alice Bray, was passing by the cabin when Fannie had “died” and helped out with the children. However, the ship’s records show that Fannie arrived in Brisbane, Queensland in November 1883 with her family. The records showed that Samuel Buccleuch was born on board the vessel and some passengers had died. But not Fannie. The sources show Fannie died and was buried in Brisbane in 1885. That was two years after her alleged death on board the Duke of Buccleuch.

Great story. Just not all true. Interestingly, Alice Bray was to become Samuel’s third wife in 1888 and my paternal great-grandmother. My grandfather, John William (Jack), was the youngest of Samuel Henry and Alice’s six children. I guess that is a story for another day.

(As an aside, while trawling through the shipping lists, I found two other babies were born on the same voyage. What do you know? One of them was named Alice Buccleuch Lake. Might follow that up one day.)

(As a further aside, the Duke of Buccleuch was lost with all hands following a collision with the Canadian vessel Vandalia in the English Channel on 7 March 1889. See Loss of Duke of Buccleuch for an interesting read).

I trust that you are not too confused. Family history takes many twists and turns and I am along for the ride. Have you had any family myths that have been busted? Let me know your story in the Comments Section. I would love to hear from you.

HMAS Sydney Lost 75 Years Ago

~ higginsmj ~ 7 Comments

Today, Saturday, 19 November 2016 marks the 75th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Sydney off the Western Australian coast.  The Sydney was sunk with the loss of the entire ship’s company of 645. It remains Australia’s worst naval disaster. The Sydney was sunk by the German HSK (German Navy) Kormoran disguised as the Dutch merchant ship Straat Malakka. Until 2008, the resting place of this ship and its company remained a mystery. There have been many countless words written on the history of this disaster by professional historians, and I am not in that illustrious company, so will not be adding to that. So, for those interested, you should check out this link HMAS Sydney History

My thoughts today go to Petty Officer Henry Buccleuch Shipstone. According to the records he was my first cousin, 1 x removed. My grandfather and Henry’s father were half-brothers (they shared the same father). Confused? Family history is a bit like that. Many’s the hour I have spent trying to work out just who is who in the family zoo.  Anyway, we are related. That’s what counts – I think.

Back to Henry Shipstone. In 1941 Henry was 28 years old when he and his 644 companions went down to the bottom of the Indian Ocean. Evidently, Henry liked to write. He wrote poems. A few days, or weeks before the sinking of his ship, Henry wrote the poem below, A Sailor’s Prayer. This poem was read as part of the memorial service for those lost on the Sydney after its discovery in 2008. I am fortunate to have a framed copy of the poem which was given to me by a much-loved uncle. If you would like to visit the tribute to Henry at the HMAS Sydney II Virtual Memorial, see it here.

I sometimes wonder what would have happened to Henry if he had survived the awful war that did indeed take his life. He was 28, single and had grown up in Graceville, a leafy Western suburb of Brisbane with his mother, father and four sisters. I didn’t know the family personally as I was born in the 1950s.  I didn’t find out too much about Henry until more recent times. Would he have gone on to be a writer or author of some kind? or would he, as so many did after the Second World War, work in an ordinary job, have a mortgage and a family. Just one of the crowd. Of course, this is just musing because Henry never did get to do anything after the War. His war ended on this day 75 years ago. Along with so many other young and, not so young, men and women who never reached their potential. War does that. It robs a generation of so much potential. Families grieved for never to be seen again, husbands, wives, children and siblings. What is sad about the sinking of the Sydney is that the families left behind never really knew where their precious loved ones were lying. Many of the immediate families had passed on before 2008, when they discovered the whereabouts of both the Sydney and the Kormoran.

It’s funny though, if it wasn’t for this tragedy I probably wouldn’t have given Henry Buccleuch Shipstone much of a thought as I worked through the family history. That is, except for the unusual name. That my friends, is another story for my Saturday Arvo Thoughts…

Poem A Sailor's Prayer by Late Petty Officer H.B. Shipstone, of HMAS Sydney II

© 2016