In May 1919
as William travelled north, his anxiety grew as he neared his destination of
the Smith family home in Bundaberg ,
Queensland where his wife Florrie
and their son Johnnie were eagerly awaiting his return after three years. He
had set in motion the chance to settle on land in the Glasshouse
Mountains north of Brisbane , and was hoping they would share his
excitement and enthusiasm.
on his return from the
Great War.
As a part of
the Australian Government’s reward to returning soldiers areas of land were
subdivided into small blocks for their use.
One of these was the Beerburrum Soldier Settlement in Queensland ’s
Sunshine Coast . William had been allocated 34
acres 2 roods and 31 perches on lot 588, to grow pineapples on assignment to
the government and was lured with money borrowed from the government.
So full of
high expectations of the noble promises
made, the little family set out with a few meagre belongings, to start their
life together. William needed all his resourcefulness to cope with many of the
arduous tasks that needed attending to. Heavily timbered land needed clearing
and fencing before any ploughing or planting of pineapple suckers could begin.
As well as preparing the farm he needed to construct some form of dwelling, for
his now expectant wife and young son. This
originally consisted of rough hewn timber walls an iron roof and a dirt floor.
Whilst some money was allocated and instruction provided, funds saved for
living on were soon exhausted . The relentless toil of working in solitude in
the searing northerly sun, or torrential rain, was beginning to take its toll
on a man who had suffered the deprivations of war. With little or no income, credit was extended
for fertilizer and farm implements causing an increase in loan repayments. Work
on road building gave some financial relief but restricted the time then spent
farming.
When finally there were
pineapples to sell, market factors brought little returns. Poignant letters to the authorities at this
time show the start of William’s concern of the situation he found himself in.
Map of landed leased to William Fraser at Beerburrum
In the
Queensland Governments wisdom, the soldiers were not able to own the land with
a freehold title, given only a perpetual leasehold with the condition that they
were required to reside on the block. Due to his financial position he sought
work in the cane fields at Bundaberg where Florrie could safely give birth to
their next child Cuthbert surrounded by her supportive family. Consequently he was required to relinquish
the block in May 1922 with the Government investigating its worth so they would
suffer no loss. William lost not only the optimism he had brought back from the
war, but a loss of his self esteem.
His
leadership skills were once more acknowledged and the family set off in March
1923 on the challenge to live on Ocean
Island in the Pacific (Kiribati ) where
William was to supervise workers in the British Phosphate Company. On his return in June 1924 he could only find
work labouring on the wharves, in Sydney ,
which after his illustrious war career he found demeaning. The dark shadows
were starting to develop when on 13th November 1924 in his despair William made the decision the
world was better off without him and he tried unsuccessfully to commit suicide.
After a fortnight in Royal Prince Alfred he entered a very dark world
completing cutting off all light to any personal connections. He was admitted
to Callan Park
Psychiatric
Hospital Sydney
in a very depressed state on 30th November 1924.
This was to
be his sanctuary from the realities of the world for the next three years. His
clinical notes state that he suffered from periods of agitation, when he was
anxious to work, but then sunk into a condition of “cataleptic stupor –
refusing to eat, or to see his wife”.
Medical
Superintendent Callan Park states “The
patient is suffering from acute suicidal melancholy, this being an emotional
reaction -after his distinguished war service and then only being able to find
unskilled employment,- in a man of such an impulsive nature. A state of his
mind is evident in this letter which he wrote when he decided he was unworthy
of the medals bestowed on him.
Letters written by
William Arthur FRASER when returning his medals
and certificates to the
Army
Through
Florrie’s endeavours to gain financial support for herself and the children we
are left with a mountain of paper work in files. For the next ten years the
effort from many caring personnel, on her behalf, finally attributed his health
to be a result of his war service and he became officially a military pensioner.
This allowed
her a full pension for William of 4 pounds 4 shillings , herself 2 pound, and 2
pound 15 shillings together for the three children.
Florrie, a
descendent of a primitive Methodist Minister, probably sustained herself with
her faith throughout this time as most of Sunday would be spent at the Toxteth Methodist Church
at Glebe, in company with many caring friends.
Cuthbert, Dorothy and
John FRASER
On the steps of the
house at Glebe.
The files
show that from the time he was allowed leave from Callan Park, until the time
The Deputy Master in Lunacy is no longer in charge of his affairs in 1942,
there were investigator’s reports, watching his movements and taking statements
from neighbours in regard to his movements and general demeanour. “
“17th
January 1935. Has improved somewhat in his demeanour. Previously he
would not leave the house nor talk to anyone. He is now a bit brighter and goes
out with his wife or the children. Apart from the relationship with the eldest
lad, he appears fond of his other children. His wife reports he is not so
morose and now takes an interest in daily affairs. He is more affable but still
quick to take offence and requires managing. She takes him to Callan Park
every three months to report and obtain an extension of his leave.”
10th
February 1936 “He is still unemployed and spends most of his time at
home. Mr Martin of 217 Bridge Rd
Glebe states he has known the member for some time. He is very simple in his
ways and is generally quiet and gives no trouble.
Family life
returned to a form of “normality” during his periods at home during the 1930’s
but he often had times of irrational outbursts.
In her memoirs his daughter Dorothy writes “If we
heard Dad ranting inside we would hide in the laundry until he banged his fist
on the table
and yelled at his photo, in uniform above the mantle, “call yourself an officer and a gentleman”
after which they knew it was safe to go inside.
The relationship with his eldest child, John, for a
combination of reasons, was particularly traumatic resulting in John leaving
home and consequently coming under the guardianship of John O’Brien at the
Repatriation Commission. This was troubling for his mother and siblings
especially when William would not allow John into the house for Christmas in
1937. Dorothy and Cuthbert met him in secret and reported his whereabouts and
welfare to their Mother.
When things
were in a relatively normal state the family would go out to different picnic
spots around the harbour. William liked to take the children swimming to the
beach, but particularly to many of the Harbour Pools. He would put them on the
tram to Drummoyne or to Bondi
Beach and then walk
briskly there himself. For a man who had route marched through France and then walked out from Bahgdad through
the mountain passes in Persia
(Iran )
these were mere strolls in the park.
Whilst the
memories of his war impacted on the family another invaded into their lives but
at this time he became more responsive to the family and involved in the lives of his grandchildren, particularly caring for his eldest grandson
on a daily basis on a prolonged admission to the Children’s Hospital. He also had a reconciliation with his son
John.
Admitted to Concord Repatriation Hospital
with Bronchitis he died from Congestive Heart Failure on 5th August
1949 and was deeply mourned by his family.