Ted BANFIELD was a mysterious legend in my childhood, a bachelor farmer living in far-flung Lake Cargelligo in rural NSW. Ted was the cousin of my great-grandmother Mary Ellen HALL nee BANFIELD, and so was related to my paternal grandfather Jack HALL. From time to time, Ted visited my grandparents, or they visited him. I have one strong recollection of Ted visiting - deeply sun-tanned, thin, sinewy arms and working hands, with a thin face.
Ted emigrated to Australia with his parents (see my post on the Banfield 'Coffin House' in Kent, England: https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/coffin-house-west-peckham.html ). As an only child, his only blood relatives in later life was my grandfather's family. From Frank Hall's notes:
"John (1876-1948) was born at West Peckham Kent. He worked on the railways in Britain and married Elizabeth Harrison at Stoke on Trent. They had two children, the second a daughter dying in infancy. Their son Edwin John was born at Bagworth, Leics in 1909 and because of his asthma the family migrated to Australia in 1912. After five years in Hay (no doubt with brother Thomas Uriah) and nine years at Goolgowi near Narrandera the family settled on a 1450 acre property "One Oak" in 1927. This property, later extended to some 3000 acres was situated at Bootoowa some 30 km south west of Lake Cargelligo and 500km west of Sydney. The property was a wheat-sheep affair of good standard. Both John and Elizabeth are buried in Lake Cargelligo cemetery alongside the grave of my grandfather Thomas Uriah. Thomas died in 1942, John and Elizabeth in 1948. Their son "Ted" never married but was a very competent sober responsible Christian (not Catholic). In 1987 Ted's only relations in Australia were my family."
Ted and his parents actually appear in the UK 1911 census in Bagworth, Leicester, Ted aged 1.
Ted is buried with his uncle (Thomas Uriah BANFIELD - my great great grandfather) and aside his parents in Lake Cargelligo Cemetery. Two of these photos come from my second cousin Juliette HALL (daughter of Edward 'Ted' HALL, my grandfather's brother).
Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist Section
In loving memory of
THOMAS URIAH BANFIELD
Departed this life 17th March 1942
Aged 75 Years
Edward (Ted) John Banfield
Departed this life 19th April 1998
Aged 88 years
PEACE PERFECT PEACH
Ted's parents also at Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist section
Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist Section
In Loving Memory Of
My Dear Mother
ELIZABETH BANFIELD
Laid to Rest 10th Jan 1948
Aged 64 Years
She looked well the the ways of her household and ate not the bread of idleness
My Dear Father
JOHN FREDERICK BANFIELD
Laid to Rest 1st Nov 1948
Aged 73 Years
Now the labourers task is over
My aunt Elizabeth HALL provided my with a copy of the eulogy read out at Ted's funeral. I have placed a scan here, and a transcript. There are some handwritten cursive notes on the copy, written by my paternal grandmother Jean HALL nee STANILAND (1917-2003) - who was not a blood relation but knew him being married to my grandfather Jack HALL (1920-1996). My grandmother Jean was a Methodist, like Ted, and as such they had a religious connection that wasn't present elsewhere in the family. I have added my grandmothers small notes in parentheses. There are quite a few terms used in this country NSW eulogy that already (22 years later) require a searching to clarify (e.g. tin Lizzie, copper, auger, etc.).
Eulogy for Ted Banfield ('Uncle Ted'), read at his funeral.
Compiled by Gwen Brown.
This is just a small tribute to Ted by some of his friends and neighbours who knew him well. Amongst other things it touches on his generosity, his ingenuity and his sense of humour.
Ted was a great church man who was extremely generous to his church. Mrs. Hazel Cannard recalls the old days of the Methodist church ; money of course was scarce and if anything was needed and there wasn't quite enough money Ted always dipped into own pocket to help.
For many years he was treasurer of the parish and kept the books in perfect order.
Every year at showtime he supplied the wood for the copper and made sure the ladies always had boiling water for the catering. In those days the luncheon pavilion was down near the horse stables, there weren't any electric stoves or hot water laid on. Ted used to transport the crockery from the church to the showground and back again every year.
Ted had the most incredible memory, he could remember in detail anything that happened many years ago. He also knew the Bible from cover to cover and could have lengthy discussions on it. He had a very deep faith and trust.
If you had forgotten something he told you, Ted soon reminded you where you were, what you had been talking about and on what day he had told you.
Ula Fair remembers as a young girl the family drove to Banfields in the horse and sulky and then went with them to church in their old tin Lizzie at either Fairfield or Bootawa. Mrs. Fair also said that a few years ago while on holiday in the South Coast she met some people there who knew Ted. They said that Ted had bought a car for their parish and they showed her the plaque they had engraved with Ted's name on it thanking him for his generosity.
When the Methodist church bought the present residence in Grace St. Ted donated $3,000 towards the purchase of it. Only two or three years ago the refrigerator in the residence broke down. Ted said, "I think it is time for a new one" and so donated a new refrigerator.
These are only some of the generous donations Ted has given. He also gave a generous donation each year to the local hospital. I'm sure there are many more we will never know about.
At the farm Ted was very proud of 'the big dam', as he called it, which when sunk was one of the biggest if not the biggest in the district. He had ingenious ideas on how to manage to do things alone on the farm.
Neil Golding remembers a few occasions on the humorous side. Ted could always have a laugh at himself and see the funny side of things. Once he asked Neil would he come and help him pull an engine out of the dam which had gone under water. Perhaps he thought Neil was a little long in arriving because when Neil arrived Ted was already at the dam with one end of a rope around his waist and the other end around a post. He told Neil "That's just in case I slipped and went under".
Another time he called for Neil's help to come and auger some oats into a silo to 'top it up'. When Neil arrived Ted was already on the top of the silo with quite a long rope tied to himself and the ladder, "Just in case" he told Neil. If Ted had slipped he would have been dangling half way down the side of the silo.
Another day Ted fell off a ladder which was on top of a drum while he was putting a new bearing in an auger. He told me, at a later date, that when he got himself up off the ground and looked at his broken arm with the bone protruding through the skin he though, "Hmm, I think I'm going to need a doctor". Well on this occasion Ted's phone wasn't working and the two-way radio was out of order. He didn't know what he would do, in desperation Ted tried the two-way and it worked! "Someone" was surely looking after Ted ! Neil came to Ted's rescue and drove him to the hospital in Griffith.
One of the most frightening times Ted endured was when he fell into the sheep dip. It was one of those rotary dips with a deep tank. Ted was in the tank for nine hours, eight of these hours he tried to haul himself out but couldn't. I'm sure a lesser person would have given up with exhaustion long before, but not Ted. He decided to rest for an hour and build up some strength then he gave one last haul and was out. Ted was very ill for a long time after that. {Jean HALL notes: I remember this incident & I think Jack thought was would die.}
Ted's faith and determination brought him through many adverse times during his life. Ted was unique. He will be missed by many in this community. Over the last ten years he spent most Christmas' with our family. With the large crowd we have at Christmas we may have been a little overwhelming at times, but I think Ted enjoyed himself. I know our family loved to sit and listen to Ted tell of his past life in 'the old days'.
Yesterday I had a phone call from an old friend of Teds, Mrs. Phyllis Fox, formerly Chapman. She told me of the times when they lived at "Merrilands" Brewer. The Chapmans were very good friends of the Banfields. Mrs. Banfield was known as 'Banny' by them; Ted was "Teddo" and Mr. Banfield as "Pop". Phyllis has kept in touch over the years as has the rest of the Chapman family. She asked me to read this little poem she wrote for Ted on hearing of his passing.
First though I want to read you a message from Val Drummond who is Phyllis' sister. In Val's own words:-
"Ted has always been an important part of my life. When I was little he and his mother and father (Banny and Pop) and Uncle Tom managed to make me feel special and cherished. When both his parents died within a year my family tried to be his family. We admired his scientific mind, and his tenacity and enjoyed his quiet humour. Though we all moved out of the district, we still kept ties with Ted and it was sad we were not with him at the end of his life. I am sorry I can't be with you all today to celebrate Ted's life. I am sure that right now he is welcoming new life with enthusiasm and will make a great go of it". Val Drummond.
Phyllis' Poem
(Jean notes: I think really he would have liked to marry Phyllis)
Dear Teddo, sadly I heard you died today
Quietly alone, early in the day
Because of the past you've already trod
I know that now you've met your God
Dear Teddo, down my childhood memory lane
Sometime joy, sometime pain
Always in friend ship tried & true
There's been Banny & Pop, Uncle Tom, & you
Dear Teddo 'tis said, later rather than never is better
So please accept this letter
Alone you lived, lonely at the end
But in my mind & heart you'll ever be my friend
Images
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