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Record #11512
Name :
: Peter J. HARMAN (1939 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1939

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, London, Lewisham
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: Feb 1950
Country
: Australia

Ship
: Mooltan

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: National Childrens Home
NotesA birth registration was found for Peter J. Harman: Mother's Maiden Surname: Carter; Date of Registration: Apr May Jun 1939; Registration district: Lewisham; Registration county: Greater London; Volume Number: 1d; Page Number: 1252. Parents: Albert J. Harman and Alma G. C. Carter, married 1936 in Pancras, London, England.

In 1950, Peter J. Harman, 10 (along with sister, Carol A. Harman, 12), arrived at Adelaide, Australia, in a group of National Children's Home boys and girls and en route for the Methodist Children's Home, Magill, Australia.

[Printed in an unknown Australian paper in March, 1950.]

16 English orphans' new life at Magill

by John Allan

"They really mean it when they say they'd rather be home in England," 13-year-old Carol harman said confidently but with understand.

"They get homesick for the winter snow and two-story houses and the cold weather. But they'll grow out of it," she smiled.

Mature and poised for her 13 years, Carol was the oldest among five girls and 11 boys--all English orphans--who arrived in Adelaide in February in the liner Mooltan.

The children are at the Methodist Children's Home, Magill.

Carol had been listening ot a few of the children expressing their opinions on Australia. Most of them had said they would prefer to be in England.

Their reasons range from that give by six-year-old Barbara Adams, who missed walking up and down the stairs at the home in England, to that given by nine-year-old Susan Wright, who thought it wasn't green enough here.

All expressed their opinions with eager confidence. their manners were refreshingly old-fashioned. Their unaffected maturity was perturbing.

"Sometimes it's too hot here, sometimes it's too cold," nine-year-old London-born Michael Adams said.

"Back home the boys and girls lived in the one house. Here we're separated, and I don't see my sister all the time as I did at home. My brother is still in England, and I miss him, too.

"But the trip out in the ship was wonderful," he sighed.

Cyril Chudwick, born in Northampton, last lived at a home in Penarth, Wales. He's 11 years old, and says he would prefer to be in England. He gave no reasons.

Eleven-year-old Peter Harman, also from Penarth, is Carol's brother.

He was disappointed he wasn't allowed to drink tea in Australia, but was adamant in his liking for this country.

"I think you have a better chance in life here." he said.

"There are more jobs, farming, and all that. I don't know whether to be a farmer or an engineer," he added gravely.

"It's not cold enough here, and it's not like winter, because there's no snow," said 10-year-old Janet Wright. "It's like our summer," she added.

Janet is Susan's sister. They came from Hampshire.

Neither thought Australia as nice as they believed it would be. Mainly because it was neither green nor cold enough.

Rosemary Adams brought the authority of her 12 years to bear in a half-hearted, shocked denial of the children's criticisms. But the others stuck to their opinions.

Carol and Peter Harman agreed on the virtues of Australia.

"The weather's lovely here," Carol said.

"Your people and your teachers are more friendly than they are at home. I love it here," she added.

"The others will get used to it and they'll come to like it.

"Have a good look at them and see if they're unhappy," she smiled, looking at the children laughing and playing.

She watched them for a while and said: "They just homesick now. It won't last long." 
ContributorsCreated : 2010-04-26 16:54:56 / From original database

Last Updated :

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  15 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
12637 ANGLIS, Philip George1886ENG, LND, Lewisham Apr 1904 : Southwark CAN National Childrens Home  
8530 ARCHER, Maud1891ENG,    , Lewisham Aug 1904 : Bavarian CAN Waifs & Strays  
14092 BLACKBURN, George1889ENG, KEN, Lewisham May 1900 : Tunisian CAN Childrens Aid Society  
14093 BLACKBURN, Walter1885ENG,    , Lewisham Apr 1895 : Vancouver CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
4334 BURT, Gerald1902ENG, KEN, Lewisham Jul 1915 : Hesperian CAN Catholic Emigration Society  
10213 BUTCHER, Gladys1895ENG,    , Lewisham Aug 1906 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
10212 BUTCHER, Irene1897ENG,    , Lewisham Aug 1906 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
11512 HARMAN, Peter J.1939ENG, LND, Lewisham Feb 1950 : Mooltan AUS National Childrens Home  
16465 OGBORN, Walter Frank1906ENG, LND, Lewisham Sep 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos watsonbrown  
6449 SAPSFORD, Bessie1890ENG,    , Lewisham Jun 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
10215 VILLIERS, Jessie1892ENG,    , Lewisham Aug 1906 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
10216 VILLIERS, May1891ENG,    , Lewisham Aug 1906 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
3576 WARREN, Norman Claude1906ENG, KEN, Lewisham Aug 1921 : Megantic CAN National Childrens Home Romilly  
6388 WILLARD, Hilda1907ENG,    , Lewisham Jun 1921 : Scandinavian CAN Barnardos  
4289 WRIGHT, Hilda Gertrude1898ENG, KEN, Lewisham Aug 1908 : Dominion CAN Barnardos