Thomas Hampton, a teenager from Leeds, England, moved to South Australia in 1922 in order to work as a Barwell Boy on a farm, owned by a Mr. Poysden. A year later he sent the following letter to the South Australia Immigration Department with a view to bringing his 12-year-old brother over from an orphanage in Leeds. Incredibly – according to the Australia Post website – his little brother George eventually made the enormous journey from England to Australia – unaccompanied – and was reunited with his brother in Adelaide.

Transcript

J E Hampton

C/o J W Poysden

Blyth

South Australia

3rd December

Dear Sir

Mr Poysden as agreed to help me in getting my brother to Australia but he thinks it would be best for me to fill in nomination papers as I know more about my brother than he does. My brother is at present in the National Childrens Orphanage in Bramhope Leeds Yorks we have no parents and I (?) should like to get him near me. Mr Poysden has agreed to make a home here until he is old enough to work at least. I am getting on well here. I have been driving a team since the day I arrived I am now driving an Harvester and I have had a rise in my wages. I think this is a fine country.

Yours faithfully

J E Hampton

PS I am not to sure about my brothers age but I think he is 12 on the 29th of this month.