World War 1 letter written on pelican pouch skin and a history of Pompoota. [D 8776/1-2(L)] • Manuscript
World War 1 letter written on pelican pouch skin and a history of Pompoota.
World War 1 letter, written by 'Jack' to brother 'Hal', who may have been on active duty in France. Also of interest is the material the letter has been written on; pelican bill or pouch skin. The letter reads, "21 April 1918. Pompoota, River Murray, South Australia. Dear Hal, This is rather bad paper, not exactly cream laid, you see it happens to be a bit of pelican pouch, stretched and dried. There are hundreds of these birds on the swamps now. Their wings measure 6 ft from tip to tip. Things seems to be in a bad state in France just now hope the position will soon improve. Am enquiring about ostrich farming will let you know the result later. Your aff(ectionate) brother, Jack." Also comprising 'The Pompoota Story', a detailed history written by an unrelated author and local of the Pompoota area, A.E. Denman(Service no. 3735 Private Albert Edward Denman, 51st Infantry Battalion), in 1987. The document is a typescript historical background of Pompoota (an Aboriginal word meaning 'the end of the tide'), which was established in 1916 by the South Australian government, as a horticultural training farm especially for the rehabilitation and retraining of returned soldiers. It was situated on the left bank of the Murray River, between Mannum and Murray Bridge, South Australia.