LETTERS TO KATE CHARLOTTE WALDER
FROM HER FAMILY IN HORSHAM,
SUSSEX, ENGLAND

KATE CHARLOTTE WALDER

A little more anecdotal history: Rose Stuart Doran, a daughter-in-law of Kate Walder's, wrote this about Kate in her biography:

"Kate was trained as a nursery governess and was an excellent cook and an accomplished needle woman, making her own lace cuffs and collars. Kate had a friend who worked at Buckingham Palace and Kate once got to bounce on Queen Victoria's bed. She also got to watch state dinners from behind a decorative grill that ran around the upper walls of the dining hall in Buckingham Palace.

She was originally on her way to Australia, via Canada, and worked for a while in the Thousand Islands as a governess. When a fortune teller told her that her fortunes would be made down south, she headed for New York City instead."

Here now are four letters to Kate from her family:-

Fay Gate, December 7th, no year (after Alfred's death in Australia)

My Dear Kate,

Sorry I have kept you waiting. I have been hunting letters up and I find this is the only one I have which you sent back to me. Sam says that is the last one we had. Of course you know he was always a bad boy about writing home. And if I remember right, they have been sent on to you, the few we have had. I should be glad if your friend could find out his circumstances. At least we want to know when and where he died. He may have had money - he has never told us much of himself. I think Tom Batchelor would be the most likely person to know. I wrote to that address on the envelope, haven't heard any reply at present. There may have been letters from them and Bert sent to the bottom of the sea. So many ships gone down. This terrible war. I wish it would end.

Everything is very dear here and work slow. Sam is doing much. Daisy has just got in the second bad situation after being in a good one three years. I am afraid she will [leave at the month?] . I hope something will turn up (?) soon. Bert is now at the seat of War. He has been out there ten days. We got good new ... {rest of letter missing}

Lamb's Green, Rusper, Sussex, March 30, 1928

Dear Kate,

At last I write to thank you very much for the lovely bag you sent me, which was indeed very kind of you and which I shall find very useful, as I certainly can do with a new one, especially if I go away holiday keeping. I ought to have wrote before but I have had my two sister's staying with me this last week or two and it all makes extra to do. We went up to see Alice on Monday and found her looking quite bonny again, and glad to say Sam has been doing some work at last. He has been on the sick list for some months owing to his eye being bad, and it's nice to feel they both have the old age pension coming in as it makes things a little more easier for them. I also saw old Mr. Gates/Yates? (see Note below) who is 89 and still works every day a little, but he does not seem to alter much. Well now I do not know whether you will have seen Willie before you get this, if not he has asked me to forward some of his things to you, as he could not take them, so I hope you will not mind. He seems to have made up his mind to stop out there for a time, so I hope if he does he will try and do some good for himself, as it seems the money is so good out there, but I hope there will be no trouble about his staying but he seems to think not. But I expect he will write before long and let me know where he is. We are all keeping fairly well for old folks. Will's leg is his worse trouble, but he still keeps jogging along. Now I hope this will find you all well, and with best of love to all, and with many thanks for your kindness to Willie, as well as myself, I remain, your affectionate sister, C. Walder.

Lambs Green, Rusper, July 22, 1928

My Dear Kate,

I am so sorry to have been so long in acknowledging the nice present you sent me but you will see by my other letter, which I have had returned, that I did write, but owing to the mistake of putting East instead of West, I have had it returned, also some laundry Willie asked me to send on to you for him, but it was his mistake as he wrote it down for me. He still goes to and fro to Montreal but he is thinking of trying for a NY boat again before long, only Annsley, the next to youngest girl is getting married in Sept., so I expect he will try and wait till after then, that is the third girl, and not one of the boys, but as they have both got young ladies it will come off some day. Of course we don't look for Willie to settle down as he likes to roam about too much. Besides we can not spare them all. I saw Alice last week and she looked quite bonny again. Sam has been out of work a very long time, but is doing some now, quite close to the Tower. What a difference you would see in the place. Mr. Gates/Yates (see Note below) has lost his fourth wife and he is gone to live with some of his family, as he is so old. We are all going on about the same here, and I hope this will find you and all the family well, and I remain your affectionate sister, C. Walder.

Fay Gate, July 21st, no year

My Dear Sister,

What a long time I have been waiting for a letter from you. Tis nearly a year since your last. I hope you and yours are all keeping well. I am only a poor old woman now and my health goes on from bad to worse. Am very shaky. Daisy has been home for two months which has of course given me a rest. I hope to manage this summer time if I possibly can for tis a loss to her to be home so much. I am thankful Sam keeps well. I think all the rest are much the same. Harry is still lingering on and has been in bed for three years. I hope my time will finish up quick. What a burden he is to Kate. I think we ought to die when we finish work - it would be much the best for one and all. I have had lots of visitors this nice weather. Sam's sister Sally, Mrs. Turner, she has been up. She wears well considering she is 71 and Jack is 77, so they are getting on. Tommy/Nancy/Fanny? Mitchell and Mary Coomber came up. Charlie has lost his wife. He sold up his home and went out to George. They didn't get on together. He took his two children farther up country and deserted them. They will be better cared for in the Church of England home where they are placed. He turned out to be a bad lot. The drink I think was his ruin. I thought you would be interested - poor Mrs. Turner is dying in a London hospital from cancer of the liver. He had been up to see her yesterday. He is looking well for his 70 years. They have one daughter. She is 20. So I hope she will be good to her father. His second marriage was not a happy one. She always seemed such a miserable woman. Do write me soon. With love, your loving sister, A. (illegible).

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 29 April 1997

This page last updated 21 February 2020