Summary
Letter to Mrs S. Philpott, 30 Nevern Square, Earls Court, London, England, 16 September 1965, from the Record Keeper, Divorce Registry, Principal Probate Registry, Somerset House, Strand, London providing results from a search of the registry for a divorce of William Leonard and Margaret Sarjantson 1947 - 1965. This item includes its associated envelope. Margaret Sarjantson, formerly Margarert Bannister, was the mother of Shelagh (formerly Sheila) Philpott.
Part of a collection of documents, photographs and an oral history inteview relating to Shelagh (formerly Sheila) Philpott (nee Bannister), an unaccompanied British child migrant. The material documents her time in care in the National Children's Home and Orphanage in England at Bramhope, near Leeds; her migration to Australia in 1950 and her efforts to trace her family later in life. The research file includes photocopied material.
Physical Description
A single buff-coloured sheet of paper with, on one side, black ink stamped text, a purple ink stamped date text; black typewritten text and blue ink handwritten text including a signature. The associated envelope is of brown paper with black printed text; red ink stamped insignia; purple ink stamped text and blue ink handwritten text on one side. The envelope is torn open on one edge.
Significance
Statement of Historical Significance:
This collection documents the experience of an unaccompanied British child migrant who was relocated to Australia under the UK child migration programmes of the post War period, and to whom an apology was formally made in 2010 and reparations made under the UK Child Migrants Fund in 2019.
The documents are enriched by an oral history interview of the former child migrant, now in her eighties. The material covers the period before her migration as well as the lengthy period in Australia when she suffered from the ongoing impact of that migration programme. It documents her later return as an adult to England to find her family and her mental struggle with her identity. The material includes items showing the part played by local Australian social welfare organisations and their relationship to the after-care efforts of the UK National Children's Home.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
Home & Community, Migration & Cultural Diversity, Childhood, Public Life & Institutions
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Addressed To
Mrs Shelagh Philpott, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 Sep 1965
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Person Named
Mrs Margaret Bannister, England, 16 Sep 1940
Mother of Shelagh Philpott referred to in letter. -
Inscriptions
Letter: Room 33 9crossed through0, 44 / DIVORCE REGISTRY / SOMERSET HOUSE, / STRAND, LONDON, W.C.2. / Re: RK/ / Dear Sir/Madam, SARJANTSON / William Leonard / Margaret / A sarch has been made at this Registry / on the information supplied by you covering / the years 1947 to 1965 inclusive / and no trace has been found of a decree / absolute in respect of the above-named. / Yours faithfully, / [signature] for Record Keeper. / D.L.72.'
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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2D Dimensions - Object
110 mm (Width), 178 mm (Height)
Unfolded letter. Associated envelope 130mm wide x 100mm high.
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Keywords
British Commonwealth, British Empire, British Immigration, Child Welfare, Childcare, Childhood, Children's Homes, English Immigration, Letters, Motherhood, Stationery, Welfare
