Sydney here I come ...
- David Brougham
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 16 hours ago
Nowadays, it's commonplace to hop on a plane for a holiday across the globe. However, in the 1920s, commercial flights were not an option. It was only after World War II that commercial aviation began to grow, and it wasn't until the 1970s that wide-bodied jets made air travel accessible to the masses.
In the 1920s, large passenger ships were the primary means of intercontinental travel, with companies such as the Cunard Line, White Star Line, and the Orient Steam Navigation Company leading the way.
While researching my family history, my aunt shared a story about my great-grandmother. In her 60s, she traveled alone from the UK to Australia to visit her son who had emigrated, married and started a new family. She was gone for a year. This was particularly remarkable because she couldn't read or write and had lived in the same area her entire life.
Florence was born 9 October 1860 to Hannah Horsefield. Hannah was a widower, her first husband, William Lapish a brewer, had died in a VAT of ale following an early morning fall. It's uncertain who Florence's father was.
Florence married Thomas Huntington (1855-1925), a farm labourer, on 5th August 1878 in Womersley, Yorkshire. Florence was the local midwife. Thomas and Florence had 12 children between1879 and 1907.
Ernest, their fifth child, born 1887 in Little Smeaton, emigrated to Australia aboard the Themistocles steam ship on 17th April 1912 arriving on 31st May 1912. This was some adventure for a 26 year old, agricultural labourer, to make alone.
During this period, emigration was common as people sought wider opportunities in the new world. Countries such as Australia and the Americas offered support to encourage British citizens to emigrate. Between 1861 and 1913, assistance, including free passage, was provided.
Family knowledge suggests Ernest wasn't single long as he reportedly married Prudence 3 weeks after arrival (family folklore) but research confirms he married Prudence Grace Blatch in 1918 in the district of Rockdale, New South Wales, had 2 known children, Doris and Philip, and possibly worked on the construction of the Australian railways.
It was only natural that his mother would want to visit. She traveled alone, likely because of the expense. This journey must have been both daunting and thrilling for a woman in her 60s, yet it likely showcases the strong and confident character she developed through her work as a midwife.
On April 28, 1923, Florence Louisa embarked on the epic journey aboard the SS Orsova from London, traveling in third class. Before her departure, her husband organised a going away party in her honour, which was attended by her extended family, friends, and neighbours.
The journey itself would have lasted approximately 5 to 7 weeks. Traveling in third class would not have been comfortable, as it was certainly very cramped. Passengers would have stayed in shared cabins or dormitories, accommodating 4-10 people, most of which lacked windows. Washrooms and toilets were communal. Third class steerage passengers were closer to the relentless vibration and noise of the engines, which increased the likelihood of travel sickness. Food for third class passengers was basic but sufficient, served in large communal dining areas. People passed the time by walking on the steerage promenade deck, reading or writing letters, playing games, and making or listening to music. Steerage was a stark contrast to the luxurious scenes depicted in the first-class lounges in Titanic movies.
It is almost certain that Florence would have thought the long journey was worth while when she arrived in Sydney to meet up with her son Ernest and his new family. Unfortunately we know very little of the visit itself.
Florence stayed for just under 12 months. She departed February 1924 arriving back in London on the 27th March 1924, on board SS Osterley.
Thomas, her husband, passed away a little over a year following her return. Florence survived for another 12 years, passing away shortly before Christmas on December 21, 1937, at the age of 77. Both Florence and Thomas are interred in Kirkheaton cemetery, located on the outskirts of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Florence bequeathed an estate valued at £755, 19s, and 10d to her children.
Ernest and his wife visited England in 1950. They appear on the departure list of the steamship Esperance Bay, part of the Aberdeen & Commonwealth fleet, on the 23rd December 1950. They had been stayng at Crosland Moor, Huddersfield. Ernest's occupation was described as a joiner. He must have done well for himself as they were returning 1st class, a far cry from his original outward journey. He was 63 and his wife was 56 at the time of departure so maybe in their older age, and as it was Christmas, they had decided to treat themselves, and I definitely say hats off to that. Another noteworthy detail is that at the age of 26, Ernest embarked on his first journey as an Englishman. However, this time his nationality was listed as 'Other part of the British Empire' because he had become a naturalised Australian.
At 72, Ernest died in 1959, in Hurstville, New South Wales, in his adopted country for 47 years. His wife would outlive him by a decade, passing on the 24 June 1969 aged 75.
Detailed lists of people departing and leaving the UK were kept and can be found on many family history sites. They show both the departure and arrival of Florence at London.
