13
[Fred Clinch, letter to his wife Eliza, Sunday 17 March 1912, written aboard Koombana and posted at Onslow, original retained by family]
Koombana
17th March 1912
Dear Eliza
This St. Pats "seventeenth
of Old Ireland" we are nearing Onslow
after a nice smooth run. There are a
good number of passengers a good few
who are Derby people whom I know.
I can’t get over poor Eileen breaking
up so at my departure, she said "Don’t
go away Papa" as though she had some
instinctive presentiment of ill fore-
boding, no doubt she feels a bit
lonely going into a situation.
When Eileen takes up studies
in the continuation classes it would
perhaps as well for her to take up
the subjects which are required in
the civil service examinations. English
of course she will have to learn, then
their is arithmetic which she particularly
needs, and other subjects necessary, then
at some future time after passing she
might get the offer of a good situation
in the civil service which would perhaps
be better than the private one she may be holding.
You will not forget to remind Mr.
Hawkings to pay my salary in on
the 15th May, it is more than likely
to slip his memory as it did last year.
I shall not be back at Derby after
leaving there untill about the 25th May.
There is nothing else I can
think of needs attention so shall say
good bye with love to yourself & children.
I remain
Your affectionate husband
Fred
Note: Fred Clinch had a £500 life insurance policy with the AMP Society.
The above letter was apparently presented by Eliza as evidence that Fred
had indeed been aboard Koombana and was rightly considered lost at sea.
In the margin of the letter is the following endorsement:
"C" This is the letter marked "C"
in the annexed affidavit
of Eliza Ellen Clinch sworn before
me this 31st day of July 1912
[signature] Charles [unclear]
A/g Commissioner [unclear]