William Slade Vincent

14.2
William in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

Shortly after arriving at Fremantle, William set out for Kalgoorlie, a major gold mining town east of Perth. He like many thousands of others was trying to seek fame and fortune in the mining of gold. But he was soon in trouble again and he had an influential benefactor in the town supporting him.

On 19th July 1930, William wrote a letter to Repat. Dept. seeking his pension. On the same date, Archdeacon Bevis of the Goldfields wrote a letter from St. John’s Cathedral to the Dept. He said that William was stranded in Kalgoorlie and can the Dept. assist him and relieve him of the “responsibility” of looking after him.

Archdeacon Bevis Pleads William’s Hardship [116]

In a form William was expected to fill out to receive his pension, he advised the Repat. Dept. that his permanent address is c/o Mrs. M.D. Tweedie, Tower House, Beaumont, Adelaide. The Repat. Dept. replied, asking when he intends to take up residence in Adelaide. William replied, on 31st July 1930, that he cannot leave the State for an indefinite period and could all correspondence be sent to the “Australia Hotel”, Kanowna (a gold mining town 20km east of Kalgoorlie).

On 22nd August 1930, William sent a further letter to the Repat. Dept. from the Goldfields Motor Garage and apologised for yet another change of address. The letter went on to state “his occupation as a prospector having hitherto made my movements uncertain”.

In the meantime, a letter was sent on 24th August 1930 (full transcript) to the Repat Dept. by Mr. J. Macleod, the proprietor of the Australia Hotel in Kanowna. In it he stated W. Slade Vincent had incurred a debt of £22 3s 3d and left town without paying it.

Australia Hotel writes to Repat. Dept. [117]

On 26th August 1930, William engaged Mr. Cook, a solicitor, to get the Repat. Dept. to send him his pension. The Repat. Dept. advised Cook that William has been told and he should have his money. Cook then wrote another letter to the Repat. Dept. saying, “I would ask you to do me the courtesy of advising me of the position by wire as Mr. Vincent’s circumstances call for immediate advice”.

The Dept. again advised that it had replied by wire and informed Vincent. As for the Australia Hotel debt, the Dept. sent a letter to Mr. Macleod on 29th August 1930 and advised “it has no power whatsoever to assist you in recovery of the debt incurred”.

By 23rd September 1930, William had “outstayed his welcome” in Kalgoorlie and had moved to Pingin Station (166km north-east of Kalgoorlie) and asked the Repat. Dept. to forward his mail to c/o Post Office, Kalgoorlie as “my last address was unsatisfactory”.

He wrote, from Kalgoorlie, on 18th December 1930 and advised the Dept. his address for cheques was to be c/o The Post Office, Broad Arrow, via Kalgoorlie. On 9th January 1931, William was required to fill in another identification form and in it he stated his permanent address as c/o Post Office, Kalgoorlie.

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[116] - [117] Australian National Archives – British Pension Record BP4532 William Slade Vincent