His marriage to Beatrice MOORE

There is no obvious record of Beatrice's departure from the UK or her arrival in Australia. She may have travelled as a prospective bride.

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Left: 33 Chapman Street, North Melbourne, from where the couple left to get married. The witnesses to the wedding were Leslie's half sister, from his mother's first marriage to William Henry COX (d. 1882), and his brother-in-law. Note also that Leslie is already a farmer in Bungalong South, adjacent to the parish of Peechelba.

Married life in Australia

Battle to Farm - Leslie Milo FORSYTH's participation in the Soldier Settlement Scheme in Victoria

The Victorian Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act of 1917 established a scheme that helped settle thousands of returned World War One soldiers on farming land across Victoria through government leases. This drastically transformed the landscape of regional Victoria. The Victoria scheme commenced in 1917 with 2,290,489 acres (9,269km²) for 8,640 settlement farms set aside. Between 1918 and 1934, 11,639 returned servicemen were allocated blocks; the majority of blocks were granted in the early 1920s.

On 14 May 1920, and before his wedding in July 1920 Leslie Milo FORSYTH took an allocation of 212 acres 0 rods and 34 perches (87 hectares) in allotments 46, 46A and 46B on the dissolved Hogan's and Rourke's Estate at Peechelba in the district of Benalla. As of 21 March 2016 there were no images available of the FORSYTH/Peechelba file. Was Leslie hoping to benefit from his father's farming experience? Source: Public Record Office Victoria ref: 3409/86.6 (Accessed: 18 March 2016) Left: A map locating the Soldier Settlement in Peechelba

The Benalla Standard of 14 May 1920 gave a view of the selection procedure of the Closer Settlement Board, held at Wangaratta Courthouse, 14 miles from Peechelba, for the allocation of 4024 acres.

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• The allocation had been subdivided into allotments values between £2290 and £2310.
• The allocations were between 219 acres and 167 acres.
• The land comprised of river flats suitable for farming, dairying and grazing.
• Twenty three applications were received; some allocations received seven or eight applications, whilst others received none.
• The war service and responsibilities of the applicants were taken into consideration, but most importantly the applicants suitability.
• The Board were pleased with the class of the men.

Above: A concatenated image of the Benalla Standard of 14 May 1920

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Above: Map of the Peechelba allotments placed on a map circa 1893 Lot 46 is, at the time of the map, a single lot marked red. There is no indication as to the location of Leslie's three lots. The township of Peechelba is blue. The boundary of Hogan's and Rourke's Estate is a red line

An area of 210 acres valued at £2444 was allocated to LM Forsyth, Bayswater. The article describes the financial constraints Leslie faced as:

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• an advance of £625 for stock, implements, seed, manure, buildings fences etc to be repaid in three years;
• the capital value of the land, including 5% interest, is repayable in half-yearly instalments of 6% over 30½ years;
• the title to the property could not be transferred for six years unless the board agreed.

In the first year Leslie would have had to have repaid £154, equivalent to £6581 (A$11,396) based on the RPI index to 2021. This would have a major implication on the future viability of the farm.

Shortly after the big struggle began for economic sustainability of the Peechelba settlements: the need for a railway. It was always argued, in Leslie’s time in Peechelba, that the Soldier Settlements were severely handicapped by the lack of a railway line to the Goulburn Valley and North Eastern railway line, and the resulting inability to get produce to market.

Above: Peechelba allotment 46 in 2016 based Source: undated map 3381 Peechelba Parish Plan/Regional Land Office Parish & Township Plans in Battle to Farm - Leslie Milo Forsyth's web page (Accessed 23 March 2016)

Leslie Milo, the committee farmer

On 25 August 1920, at South Bundalong schoolroom, the Benalla Standard reported on the inaugural meeting of the Peechelba Railway League whose aim was to ‘have constructed a railway line through those districts’. The meeting ‘was in favour of prompt action and of using all its efforts to secure the construction of the line which [was] an absolute necessity to this part of the district’. ‘Mr Forsyth was elected chairman and treasurer [… and] was appointed delegate to interview the Boorhaman League’. Leslie was at forefront of the campaign to make the settlements economically viable.

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Leslie was elected as president of a second committee. On Thursday 28 July 1921 the Melbourne Age reported on Alleged Victimisation at Soldier Settlement. Nearly all the soldiers in occupancy of the former Hogan’s and Rourke’s Estates expressed indignation at ‘the alleged action of the inspector of soldiers’ settlement in victimising some of the settlers’ and asked ‘for an inquiry to be held.’ In a pessimistic tone the Chair, without realising his personal future implications, continued: without the line ‘the chances of the Hogan’s, Rourke’s and other soldier settlements being successful seemed very remote’. Committees formed at Peechelba, Willoughby and Boorhamam to present their evidence to the Railways Standing Committee, sometime in September or October. They took ‘evidence on the proposed railway line, also to make an outlet for timber from the ironbark forest and the valuable red gum forest’. Left: This handbook was issued by the New Settlers League of Australia in 1925. A plethora of these handbooks circulated in the 1920s providing cheerful and optimistic advice to immigrants and returned soldiers Below: "The Man that Carries the Others" from New Settlers' Handbook to Victoria, 1924. The Closer and Soldier Settlement Schemes were based on the belief that primary production was the foundation of Victoria's future prosperity.

The Age, Friday 08 October 1920, reported that agitation from this meeting came to the notice of the Wangaratta shire council, which voted to cooperate with the venture to bring a railway from Springhurst through Boorhaman and across the Ovens River to Peechelba and on to Devenish. 'This connection would open up a large area of wheat growing, sheep- raising and dairy country. […] [I]t was the duty of the Government to provide facilities for [the soldiers] to get their produce to market’. A public meeting was to be convened to push forward the project. In fact either the Railways Standing Committer failed to make the proposed September/October consultation meeting and rescheduled or a second meeting was held in Peechelba on 2nd/3rd May 1922. This was followed by a district tour. Fourteen delegates, including Leslie, pledged they would leave the actual route to the Railways Standing Committee. Mr Inchbold, the chair, was busy collecting evidence to support the line. Source: Benalla Standard, Tuesday 28 March 1922. Within three years and three months and three harvests the Benalla Standard of Friday 10 August 1923 inferred that the soldier settlers were not financially independent or successful. Cracks in the idyllic future were appearing necessitating a resumption of the wartime collective support. However, the community social spirit was being fostered.

Under a heading of ‘A FORWARD MOVEMENT AT PEECHELBA’ the paper reported that despite the weather, a well attended meeting was convened at McLeod’s Barn, Peechelba on 01 August 1923, to form a Progress Association. Its aims were to ‘1) build a strong representative unit animated by the right kind of public spirit to effect reforms and improvements; 2) establish a composite force of thought and action to ensure effective representation of the case for our district on all matters affecting our immediate and future welfare’. The Association proposed to look into the continuing railway proposition, water conservation, roads and bridges, wheat and dairying interests, sports and social events and the building of a community hall. Leslie was elected as a vice-president.

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The paper reported some progress on the railway, known as the North Boorhaman railway. The Minister for Railways was urged to bring together all public bodies interested in building the bridge across the Ovens River. The Forestry Board was involved, so the stands of timber had been noted.

The proposed railway line between Wangaratta/Springhurst and Yarrawonga, through Peechelba, was hotly contested as early as 24 March 1915 at a meeting in Peechelba, when a second official inspection was demanded after the engineer making the report had got lost in the bush and hadn’t been within 12 miles of the township. It wasn’t until 30 September 1927, 12½ years later and three years after Leslie’s departure, that The Age of Melbourne reported in a one line Country News article that ‘The new railway to Peechelba, it is expected, will be opened toward the end of October’. How many other soldier settlers abandoned their allotment because of the delay in building the railway?

Above: A sketch map showing the general route of the proposed railway to Peechelba, with an arbitrary start point. Present day railways are shown in yellow and grey.

Insolvency

Leslie continued to farm for four years and four months until he became insolvent owing £860/8/7 (£860.43) or £52,450  (A$70,500) based on the UK Retail Price Index to 2021. On the same scale his assets were worth £459.07 (A$37,600 based on the UK Retail Price Index to 2021).

This insolvency notice indicates the Leslie had cause to move from Peechelba to a new farm at Rutherglen, closer to the River Murray. Rutherglen is a modern 40km by road from Peechelba, with excellent vineyards. Left: The Age report of 11 September 1924

According to Victoria Petty Sessions Registers, L.M. Forsyth, of Bundalong South (along the Murray River and north of Peechelba), was summoned to the Yarrawonga Courts for Rate Debts for £12.15.4 in 1924 and for £33.4.4 in 1926.

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Failure of the Soldier Settlement Scheme in Victoria

Over the years, there has been great debate as to the success or failure of the Soldier Settlement scheme ¹ as ex-soldiers were entering farming life in a difficult economic climate as the world descended into the Depression. This applied to Leslie. Over 50 per cent of those allocated blocks left the scheme. Many were unable to cover their debts when food prices plummeted, while others accused the government of leasing blocks that were too small.

During the 1920s soldier settlers struggled and of those allocated blocks under the scheme: only 61% were on blocks in 1934. The scheme was criticised by a Victorian Royal Commission in 1925 and a later Commonwealth inquiry. The Royal Commission identified four main reasons for the failure of soldier settlers:

• the selection of inexperienced settlers;
• lack of capital;
• the size of blocks allocated;
• prices received for agricultural products.

It was also claimed that returned soldiers were allocated blocks of land without having established their ability to manage a farm.

Source: Battle to Farm (Accessed: 18 March 2016)
File 3409/86.6 Leslie Milo Forsyth Peechelba (Accessed: 08 February 2019) Soldier Settlement file at PROV 46 46A 46B/212--0--34 Series number: VPRS 5714/P0, Consignment number: P0000, Unit number: 550 PENDING not online 08 February 2019

Back to Sunshine, McKay's and blacksmithing

The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes and occupations as:

• 1925 668 Forsyth, Leslie Milo, Looney st., Rutherglen, blacksmith - in the Rutherglen sub-district of Indi
• 1925 669 Forsyth, Beatrice, Looney st., Rutherglen, home duties - in the Rutherglen sub-district of Indi

until after the 1927 Roll when, by 1930, they had moved to 60 Adelaide Street, Sunshine.

Perhaps he was employed at the Sunshine Harvester works, still as a blacksmith. Beatrice was recorded at the same address on home duties. Leslie wrote to Base Records on 7 November 1930 from 60 Adelaide Street, Sunshine, Victoria, seeking information on his long estranged father who he believed had enlisted in the AIF as Tom McDONALD 2, and was believed to be about 61 when he returned to Australia in 1918/19. Left: 60 Adelaide Street, Sunshine 2010

The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes and occupations as:

• 1931 1081 Forsyth, Beatrice 60 Adelaide st., in Footscray a sub-district of Corio
• 1931 1082 Forsyth, Leslie Milo, 60 Adelaide st., blacksmith, in Footscray a sub-district of Corio

1934, 1937

In 1949, Les was at the same address recorded as a widower.

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The Sunshine Harvester works, of the agricultural implement industrialist H.V. McKay, was established in Ballarat. In 1906, his factory and many of his employees moved to Sunshine Harvester Works, at Braybrook Junction, named after his major product the Sunshine Harvester; the first successful combine harvester in Australia. McKay rapidly expanded the factory to become the largest manufacturing plant in Australia which, at its peak, employed nearly 3,000 workers. Inn 1921 McKay's paid £4 16s 0d a week, compared to the £1 10s 0d plus keep as a farm labourer. 1 Left: McKay's Sunshine Harvester

McKay's Sunshine Estate (later known simply as Sunshine) was built as a Garden City for the works employees but was later reputed to be the 'Birmingham of Australia'. Right: McKay's works at Sunshine, Melbourne

The 1937 Electoral Roll shows that the family had moved 2.5km to 125 Morris Street, south-east of Adelaide Street. The bungalow, rented from William Thomas Roberts of 18 Dawson Street, Sunshine (Source: Trove) appears to have a single bedroom and three reception on 446m2. In October 2009 the property was listed at $A300,000 plus. This is 1.7km from Harvester Road and Foundry Road. This was also the home of his second daughter Gladys Lesley FALLA and her husband Ronald Lawrence, a machinist. Left: 125 Morris Street, Sunshine 2014

The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records their homes and occupations as:

• 1942 1507 Forsyth, Beatrice 125 Morris st., in Sunshine a sub-district of Corio
• 1942 1508 Forsyth, Leslie Milo, 125 Morris st., blacksmith, in Sunshine a sub-district of Corio

The National Museum of Australia, in Canberra, has a collection of photographs of staff of HV McKay's staff at the Sunshine works.

¹ Lake, Marilyn, The Limits of Hope, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1987, p.xiii

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Forsyth would be fined £2 and £1/14/6 (£1.72.5) costs on each of charges preferred again him

Bad blood had been emanating from both houses on 'for years', to the extent Leslie had sought legal assistance. On Saturday 10 May 1942 thing boiled over. Mrs Carter was alleged to have made remarks about Leslie's family and a daughter in particular. She also allegedly said, 'You are a ---- imposter and getting a war pension under false pretences'. Leslie, allegedly countered by calling her 'a ginger haired ---'. The newspaper used several ---- in the course of its report. Whilst sitting in the back of Mr Robert's car, Leslie had tried to address Mrs Carter quietly. However, according to independent witnesses, 'Forsyth emerge from the side gate and attempted to drag Mrs. Carter from the car. He also saw the handbag thrown into the gutter'. This handbag was either, used by Mrs Carter to beat Leslie through the open car window or for self protection. Despite Roberts trying to arbitrate, 'Mrs. Carter kept calling him a big --- imposter'. Left: The lead article in the Sunshine Advocate of 22 May 1942 Source: A Morris Street Skirmish, Sunshine Advocate Friday 22 May 1942 (Accessed: 21 March 2016)

The magistrate, impressed by the independent witnesses, found against Leslie and dismissed his counter claim. The total of fines amounted to £7.45, equivalent to £370.0 based on the RPI inflation index to 2021 or A$570. Mrs Carter didn't know about Leslie's skill with a bayonet!

V353303 Lieutenant Leslie Milo Forsyth VDC in World War II

In September 1940, at the age of 51, Leslie enlisted from 125 Morris Street, Sunshine, into the 1st Victoria Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) at Sunshine Town Hall, Melbourne. He declared his demobilisation from AIF 3rd Tunnelling Co, his rank as CQMS, highest rank as A/RQMS, his Military Medal and his Special Qualifications gained during War Service, which are considered for special employment as ‘Delayed Action Mines and Traps’. This skill, I would suggest, led to him being out in no-man’s-land on 02 November 1918 with the mortally wounded 4748 Sapper DF Corkery, and where he gained his Military Medal. An original IED man. On enlistment, he was still a blacksmith at the McKay/Massey Harris factory in Sunshine.

Leslie’s peace time service involved one year as acting platoon sergeant in the Footscray VDC School. On 28 August 1942 he was promoted to A/WOII.

At a medical examination on 23 March 1942 he declared a 5% gas disability making him ‘Fit for Class 2B'. On 10 December 1942, he was promoted to A/Lieutenant and Lieutenant in the 1st Victoria Battalion. Perhaps as a result, on 27 February 1943, he was sent, to the Engineers Base No3 at Wagga [Wagga - Kapooka Base] to partake in the 16 days Engineers Course No2.

His appointment was terminated to the reserve list, when 1st Victoria Battalion VDC was disbanded on 31 October 1945.

Source: National Archives of Australia (Accessed: 28 September 2016)

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Their death

By 1963 Leslie had retired and moved to 19 Glengala Road, 1km from Morris Street. This appears to be a three bedroomed property on a 604m2 plot. Left: 19 Glengala Road, Sunshine 2010

The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records Les as a widower:

• 1963 2469 Forsyth, Leslie Milo, 19 Glengala rd., W.20, nil in Deer Park a sub-district of Lalor

T

In 1966, at the time of his death aged 77, his usual address was given as Flat 8, 187 Brighton Road, Elwell, Melbourne. This was the home of his daughter, Gladys Lesley FORSYTH/FALLA. However, he died in Heidelberg, north-east Melbourne. where there is a large hospital.

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Left: Fawkner Cemetery, Melbourne, where Leslie and Beatrice ashes are likely to have been scattered. Author: November 2015 (Authority: Fawkner Cemetery staff)

Right: Map locating where ashes are likely to have been scattered in Fawkner Cemetery - ringed red (Authority: Fawkner Cemetery staff)

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Left: Despite being cremated Les' memorial plaque is located at Springvale without his Military Medal being recognised.

Les' granddaughter, Diane Forsyth, a councillor at Cairns Regional Council, emailed in October 2016:

My Grandfather was very special, a gentle and fair man who was very passionate about social values and the rights of the working classes. I believe his activism rubbed off on me! My mother, his daughter Gladys died [13 November 2006] 10 years ago aged 84, she had ovarian cancer. Both her sisters died of emphysema before her, in fact they were living on the Gold Coast in Queensland and mum was nursing them. Mum came to live with me in Cairns after they died about 1998 I think. She died at home with both my daughters [Candice and Nicole] and myself by her bed. Left: Diane Forsyth

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Failure of the Soldier Settlement Scheme Soldier settlement in Victoria after World War I is often presented by the body of historical reports as a story of lost hopes and unfulfilled expectations. Many were unable to live up to the idealistic images of the yeoman farmer and the ANZAC legend, to make a good profit, or to consistently provide as the breadwinner of the family, […] demonstrating at least some sense of failure in the lives of soldier settlers. […]. Narratives of failure: the historiography of soldier settlement Historical literature contains three predominant narratives depicting failure in the history of soldier settlement, using the benchmarks of: broader national ideals; economic objectives; and social expectations The first measure emphasises the ‘sufferings of returned soldiers’ to show how they could not live up to the images of the yeoman farmer and the ANZAC legend. […] [S]oldier settlers were expected ‘to become a symbol of post-war stability’ in a ‘cross fertilisation of the outback yeoman and ANZAC traditions’. [It was to be a] ‘flawed vision’ [of] ‘triumph of romantic fantasy over sober reality’. [T]he concept of the self-sufficient yeoman farmer was believed to be the key to Australia’s rural development and future prosperity [in the belief] ‘that hard work and good intentions would guarantee success on the land’. [The] ‘wartime version of the bushman’ […] lead to ‘romantic illusions … and misplaced assumptions of the potential of the returned man’. Not only did these sentimental aspirations lead to failed policies, the soldier settlers were also destined to be seen as failures in their inability to live up to such unrealistic standards. […] The second historical narrative of failure stresses the inability of the farmers to pay off their debts and become profitable on the land. The soldier settlers were ‘bound to “fail”’, as they were ‘increasingly required to give the country a worthwhile return on its investment’, in an era when ‘cost was rather dramatically underlined’ […]. By the start of World War II in 1939, all of the farmers on the settlement were in debt by at least £1,000 each, with a total cost of approximately £12, 000. [However, there are] […] examples of ‘both alarming failures … [and] some very successful settlements’ demonstrating that ‘the policy was not a universal failure’. [and was] ‘on the whole […] comparatively successful’, when ‘the level of forfeiture is taken as the measure of success and failure’. [Those] farmers who remained on the land until 1934 were, in strict terms, a success. However, some were forced off the land in coming years, while others would have to struggle for many decades before claiming their block under a freehold agreement. Furthermore, a resort to forfeiture was not necessarily a satisfactory marker of failure, particularly in a scenario where [insolvency] was considered to be a sensible financial decision, avoiding further costs in the long-term. The third historical narrative of failure underscores the inability of male soldier settlers to live up to their expectations as the breadwinners of the family. [T]he goal to attain a ‘living wage’ was the standard all men had to achieve in order to ‘fulfil their family responsibilities’. Given the ‘pitiful returns’ of soldier settlers, ‘these men were striving for the unattainable’ and were fated to regard themselves as failures. […] [M]any families did not receive a consistent living wage, and often relied on their own stock to provide rations such as milk and cream. ‘[L]ife was very labour intensive with few amenities’. [There were …] the hardships of the drought, the depression, and how the soldier settlers ‘strived long hours for just the basic necessities’. Ill health, unfavourable markets, and poor land The broader histories often describe the elements that led to failure, including ill health, unfavourable markets, and the poor quality of the land. [T]he unfavourable markets are also often rendered as a prevalent source of affliction on the path to failure, yet this factor did not always correlate with financial ruin. Like virtually all soldier settlers, the […] farmers struggled with low market prices for hay, wool, and sheep. [T]he poor quality of land, small block size, flooding, and drought [w]as another leading cause of failure yet, once again, this adversity did not bring about a universal incapacity to make a living on the farm . […] [T]he District Inspector strictly recommended the land only if the blocks would be subdivided into ‘300 acre lots’. Yet the eventual average size of the allotments was much lower at 163 acres (65 hectares), almost half the recommended size. (LMF received 212 acres (86 hectares). The District Inspector also raised concerns over the quality of the land […] the […] farmers struggled with low market prices for hay, wool, and sheep... Cont:-

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Conclusion [W]hen identifying failure in the lives of soldier settlers [t]he matter of context is crucial for determining success or failure, as well as the boundaries for such labels. The broader narratives provide insights into the misleading ideals of the yeoman farmer and the ANZAC legend, the shortcomings of soldier settlers in making a profit, and their inability to meet their social expectations as the ‘breadwinner’ of the family. […] The wider narratives can be profound in illustrating the problems faced by soldier settlers; including their ill health, unfavourable markets, and the poor quality of the land. The soldier settlers were worth far more than the sum of their so-called failures and successes. Source: Abstracted from Kirby, James, 'Beyond failure and success: the soldier settlement on Ercildoune Road', Public Record Office of Victoria, 2015 (Accessed: 27 March 2016

Thomas Crompton FORSYTH (Leslie Milo's brother) Family hearsay records that Leslie's brother, Thomas Crompton FORSYTH, had encountered his father, Thomas Taylor FORSYTH (aka MACDONALD), in 1918/1919. He had visited Leslie for about 20 minutes at Peechelba about 1921. Leslie believed his father had continued to serve at the Maribyrnong Remount Depot on Guard Duty after the war and was believed to be in the Finley, New South Wales area. Base records reply of 11 November stated they were unable to identify Tom MACDONALD from the information provided by Leslie. It is interesting to note that if Thomas Crompton FORSYTH changed his name then he took his wife's maiden name. Thomas Crompton FORSYTH b. 15dec1885 Mt. Jeffcott, Victoria d. 30jul1930  Moonee Ponds, Victoria m. 07may1916 St. Peter's and St. Paul's Catholic Church, South Melbourne, Victoria Florence McDONALD (born McDonald Spearo) b. 09feb1891 Carlton, Victoria d. 29nov1970 Kew, Victoria Their children Florence had a child born in 1911, father not known, five years before she married Thomas. Jean Ellen FORSYTH b. August 1916, South Melbourne, Victoria d. February 1917, Carlton, Victoria  Buried: Melbourne General Cemetery Leslie Thomas FORSYTH b. 1920, Victoria d. 11nov1976 East Melbourne, Victoria Buried: Fawkner Cemetery, Victoria John (Jack) Francis FORSYTH b. 25nov1921 d. 20jun2000 m. (1) and Divorced Lillian BEALE m. (2) Jean Lindsay JAMES Ellen (Nellie) Milner FORSYTH b. 31may1919 d. 21mar1975, Kew, Victoria m. 19nov1949 William (Bill) Harold SMITH  - Presbyterian Church, Deepdene, Victoria

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass		Version B15 Updated 15 August 2021