TOPIC:

My Grandfather 4317-GILBERT CEA (1KDG) had a Chelsea Pension, being a Boer War Veteran. ("United Kingdom, Chelsea Pensioners Service Records 1760-1913").

He and his 'wife' left London in Nov 1913 and came to Australia. Their son/my father was born in Jan 1914 in Sydney. We believe their departure from London may have been 'hasty'. Read between the lines/bedsheets.

We have recently discovered that during the voyage out/upon arrival in Sydney, he used a slightly different (Gilbey) surname.

A few Chelsea Pension (CP) questions arise:

1)Was he still entitled to his pension in Aust?

2) If his departure from the UK was rushed, there may or may not have been time to advise the CP Office of their new address in Sydney. I think probably so, and that once he had accommodation/bank account in Sydney, he would have advised the CP Office. Your comments invited.

3) Was the CP ordinarily paid by cheque, or was there some other mechanism (Post Office, bank) where a pensioner could collect the pension.?

4) Was the CP paid f/nightly, monthly, bi-annually, etc.

5) Could he have collected his CP via the British Office in Sydney?

6) Did the Aust govt take over paying CP'ers once they were in Aust?

7) Any other questions I haven't thought of?

Now, given his slight change of surname, and that the CP Office would have him as GILBERT,I guess that he would have had to revert to the surname of GILBERT to claim/bank his CP in Aust.

CONCLUSION:

a) I have written to the Chelsea Pensioner Hospital, but no answer yet.

b) I considered contacting the UK National Archives, but didn't think they would have info on the mechanisms of paying the CP to some-one.

All suggestions and comments most welcome.
Thanks

Bruce Gilbert
Gloucester NSW.

PS: It seems he also resigned from the Territorials AFTER he arrived in Aust, as his Territorial discharge form is dated April 1914.

PPS: My father's surname was registered at birth as GILBEY, so technically that should be my surname as well?!. Ouch!

Hello Bruce and welcome to the forum.

We have had some difficult requests for information on the forum and yours is one of the more specialised.

I hope you will be able to find some answers from other forum members.

Best wishes
David

Ah - we colonials! Always out-of-order!

Please don't invoke "Rule 303" on me.

You're safe here Bruce. No Lee Enfields anywhere to be found!

You have been watching the late Edward Woodward as "The Breaker" I think?

bruceg wrote: Please don't invoke "Rule 303" on me.