Letter from W H Locke to Aunt

This is a copy of a letter addressed to “An Aunt” from William Henry Locke, passed on to me by Stephen Locke — many thanks to him for sharing it.

The intended recipient of the letter is uncertain. Some details, particularly the references to visits to Stamford, suggest it may have been written to Susan Lock (1841–1926). However, the letter also mentions this “Aunt” visiting Brockley in Australia, and it is almost certain that Susan Lock never travelled to the other side of the world.

For that reason, the identity of “Aunt” remains a mystery. It may possibly refer to Agnes Searle, though this is still unconfirmed.

I wrote to Western Australia recently to ask them for your address and have just received it from Rosie.  I think this is the first time that I have ever written to you and it is over eleven years since I was out at Leytonstone to say “goodbye”.

I may have somewhat passed out of your memory.  I seem, away here in New South Wales, not only shut off from the few relations I have at home, but also from those not at home but located in this vast Commonwealth. As an example, I haven’t seen Rosie for over seven years, and until he was over a few weeks back, I hadn’t seen Charlie for over 6 years.  Bert and Annie were over to my wedding in Melbourne about 2 years and 3 months ago.  You will see that we don’t see very much of each other. 

It was Charles recent visit to me that gave me the desire to write to you and tell you how I am getting on and in the hope of hearing of you in reply.  You know Aunt, I haven’t in the least degree forgotten you. I remember how lonely I used to get when Rosie used to make one of her visits to Stamford and how I used to long for the time of her visit to expire.  I can remember a lot of things about you, principally I think your merry laugh. But you impressed me very much on one occasion when I was quite a little fellow, by your prowess at Draughts.  I used to play very often with Bert and if even I got anywhere near beating him, I used to get quite excited over it and used to think I was a great player and then you came out to Brockley and played Bert, and from the manner in which you wiped him out, I considered that I knew very little about it, as up to that time I thought he was a Champion. It is strange how these little things remain in one’s memory. 

I don’t suppose you have forgotten me altogether Aunt, you will no doubt have a dime recollection of a puny delicate youngster who was always threating to shuffle off the earth, but never quite managed it.  Although I have never got thoroughly robust, I have every reason to be thankful for a very fair measure of health.  No doubt, Bert has told you about my wedding as he went home soon after.  He, Annie and Doris were the sole representatives of my side of the family.  The last named acted as one of the two bridesmaids, a very young one.

We have a dear little boy named Walter Reginald, just 16 months old, gives promise of being very big and is at present very fat and strong and the picture of health. Rosie also has a boy, but of course his name is not Locke, so you see what a lot depends on our little fellow to perpetuate the family name on this side of the globe.  We intend to have his photo taken this month and will send you one.  I am sending by this post a photo of my wife (Alice) also one of myself.

While Charlie was over here, we had a run up to the Blue Mountains together, about 70 miles from the coast by train.  The scenery is magnificent and the altitude about 4/5000 feet.  The air is very bracing and refreshing after the semi-tropical heat of this city.  We used to sit out on some over hanging rock in the immense solitude of the mountains and talk about the old days in the old country, not perhaps always such bright days as they might have been under other circumstances, but still very bright and attractive to us youngsters and also as viewed from this distance. 

I would very much like to make the trip home and see some of the old faces and to revisit the old familiar shop of childhood’s days so dear to memory.  I often tell Alice about England and what a beautiful place it is and then I set to wondering whether I shall ever see it again, but it is on the programme and if we do not make the trip it will not be from want of inclination but for need of the necessary funds. 

I started to write this for the last mail but was unable to finish it in time, we were then almost on the eve of the Coronation and now owing to the sudden illness of the King, the whole affair is postponed.  Yesterday was to have been the great day and it was observed here as a partial holiday as it was too late to make other arrangements but there was not any holiday making or festivity, everyone is deeply concerned here about the Kings health and we are all praying for his speedy recovery. 

I am afraid that the rejoicing here would have been somewhat damped by the overpowering effects of the dreadful drought from which this country is suffering.  We have scarcely had a drop of rain for over 8 months and it is estimated that this state alone has lost 25 million sheep to say nothing of the cattle and loss of crops.  It is very unfortunate that it should come just at the start of our new Commonwealth life.  We are all earnestly praying for the much-needed rain. 

As I daresay you have heard I am occupying the position of Chief Clerk in the Australian Branch of the Alliance Assurance Co. of London.  My work is chiefly Maritime Insurance and the shortage in the export of wool will materially affect our business next year.  I have been in Sydney nearly 5 years now and I was with the same company in Melbourne previously for about 6 years.  All my wife’s people live in and around Melbourne and at times she used to find it a wee bit lonely here but now that she has a little boy to look after, her time is pretty well taken up keeping him out of mischief. 

We manage to get down to Melbourne about once a year, it is nearly 600 miles from here – 2 days journey by steamer & 18 hours by train.  I prefer the latter as I am a dreadful sailor and always get terribly sick, although I have been for several trips since we arrived in the Colonies. 

Sydney is a very fine city, more like London than any of the others, but the best of all here is the Harbour, it is reported to be the finest in the world, although the distance from Sydney to the heads (Entrance to the Harbour) is only about 7 miles, yet there are so many little bays and coves running inland that we have over 160 miles of foreshore in the harbour.  It is delightful for picnicking, of which the Sydney people are very fond. 

I arranged yesterday for Alice to bring our little boy in tomorrow to have his photo taken and I will send you one as soon as they are finished.  I would like you to see the original, he id such a dear little fellow and is supposed to be a real little Locke. 

Now Aunt, I do hope you will write to me a few lines in reply as I should much like to hear from you.  I hope that you won’t find this letter very uninteresting, but I will try to do better next time, especially when I have one of yours to answer.

I must close now with fond love in which Alice joins,

Your affectionate Nephew,

W.H. Locke

Reggie sends a big kiss.