Saturday, November 23, 2013

WHERE MY FOLKS CAME FROM

My two adoptive parents Harry and Gwin Ruston were both born in London, he in 1885 in Bromley by Bow and she in 1897 in Little Ilford, East Ham.  They were married in South Tottenham and after their marriage lived in London.  They both worked at the Sugar Commission, he as Head Clerk and she as private secretary to the big boss.  (Incidentally, my birth father was also born in East London in 1910,  Walthamstow to be exact).  I have a huge London connection all round.

It was after the cessation of WW1 that dad became very ill with the Spanish 'flu and the doctor told them that they should consider moving to a warmer climate for the sake of dad's health.  This they decided to do and they sailed from London for Australia on the ***"Euripides", disembarking at Albany on 9th May, 1920.

The "Euripides" was built in 1914. It was 15316 tons and it's cruising speed was 14 knots.  It left London on its maiden voyage on 1st July, 1914.  Upon its arrival in Brisbane it was taken over as transport for the Australian Expeditionary Force, resuming normal service in 1919.  In 1932 it was sold and renamed "Akaroa" before again being requisitioned for World War 2.  It was broken up in 1954.


I am now more knowledgable about the ship mum and dad sailed in than they would have been.  Isn't the wide world web wonderful?

When I see films of England something within me stirs and I almost get a feeling of homesickness.  It actually brings tears to my eyes.  Why?  Is it because my folks were English and often spoke of their country of birth and always referred to it as "home"?  Any letters from mum's family always came from England which made me feel close to them. I have of course now been married to an English born man since 1967 and he tells tales of when he was a boy and young man in middle England.

It's so difficult to explain.  I am very much a proud Western Australian (Australian overall really),  (you would perhaps have had to be born over here in the West to understand that statement) and yet I have this feeling of also being very much English.  I hated it when our PM years back decided we were no longer British but could only describe ourselves as Australians (in the census etc).  To my mind I am still British.  Almost as though I have dual citizenship which in a way I guess I have as years ago (not sure it would be the same now) I could have had a British passport.

Please forgive me for this somewhat confused post but being adopted always makes one confused about where one belongs and this country of birth thing confuses the issue even further.  Why I am here on this earth has never been a question I've asked.  It was a random event that just happened over which I had no control.  I was very fortunate that it all ended well for me which is probably being a tad selfish.  Am I at my age allowed to still think of myself as a tiny bit English as well as a dinkum Aussie?

***Another extraordinary thing that links my parents with my birth father is that he as a lad of about 14 also emigrated from London to Western Australia and from records I have found it would seem he also sailed on the "Euripides" and disembarked at Albany in 1923.  Unfortunately those records were sketchy but it was the correct name and age and not a common surname so I am sure it was he.

12 comments:

  1. Interesting that you still think of yourself as British even though you were born here. I've heard similar things from others with strong roots to other countries, especially the Italians and Greeks I know. I think of myself as totally Australian, in spite of being born in Germany. As far as I know, I have no family left there, I could be wrong, but I'm not interested in finding out. My mum had family in Sweden too and there are still relatives there that I know nothing about and they don't know me either. I feel no ties at all to either of those countries.

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  2. That so interesting to hear. Somewhere, very deep inside me, there is something very English and I can't explain it. Perhaps could be as I don't enjoy hot weather, love green fields and pretty flowers. It's unexplainable but I do know for sure the feeling is there.
    You have to remember apart from my adopted folks and an adopted half brother there was no other family for years....just us. That may account for some of this feeling.
    I do, however, barrack for Australia when they play England in the Ashes. Now, there's a thought. haha

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  3. Oh Mimsie I understand this need to know as I watched my Mom who was adopted refer to herself as Scottish and had never stepped on its shore. She did know her Dad was born there. Unless you have unanswered questions in your back round most truly do not know exactly how you feel. HUGS Mimsie you are indeed English. B

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    1. Obviously Button I am an Aussie by birth and now you have explained about your mum I am beginning to realise why I do feel the way I do. I had Scottish great-grandparents so that too is in my blood but it is the English part of me that seems prominent. I guess I have to put it down to we humans being rather complicated creatures at times. xx

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  4. You have genetic roots to that fair isle so it is not surprising you feel a sense of belonging...of home...when you think of England. There is most certainly no harm in it.

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    1. Thanks Delores for that. Makes me realise I'm not just a crazy mixed up kid after all. I hear people say they are fifth generation Australian so guess they don't have any doubt about who they are or where they come from. I am happy with my lot but it doesn't stop me from thinking about it at times.

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  5. I am the first Australian born member of my family so yes, I do understand your feelings. Home is where the heart is - and I can see no reason you can't spread the love/the connection.

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    1. So EC you too are a 'new Australian'? I am second generation on my mum's side, first generation on my dad's side and also on my adopted folks' side. It's strange how I seldom feel any attachment to my Danish side even though my maternal great- grandparents hailed from there. Consider the love spread and thanks.

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  6. Dearest Mimsie,
    I think our by-gone roots bury themselves into our souls in ways that are mysterious and not altogether easy to understand.
    Just go with it, feel it, embrace it.
    PS: I would never doubt you would barrack for Australia oi, oi, oi!
    PPS: My roots go way back to Scotland, hence a special interest and feeling for a blog friend who lives there.

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  7. I think it is lovely that you have this connection to England. Another wonderful post.

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  8. I wonder at times where my daughters allegiance will go, Australia I am sure. However we have such a strong connection to NZ, we have been here for 27 years, I still barack for the Kiwis, can't help myself. xxx Rae ps: my dad's from Nottingham.

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  9. Mimsie, I understand your sense of connection to England, and think it's perfectly understandable. My father was born in Scotland. My grandparents had the most beautiful brogues, and I loved to listen to their tales of Scotland, and loved to hear Pop recite Bobby Burns poetry. (Yes, in our family, he was "Bobby".) Mom-mom let me spend hours looking through her old picture albums, (which I now have) so I know those distant relatives in their kilts and cocky smiles by heart, if not by acquaintance. So even though I've never been there, Scotland holds a very special place in my soul, and I can almost see and smell the fields of heather, and feel the wind blowing across the moor. A country from our past can call to us in mysterious ways. Mysterious, but wonderful. And natural.

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