What about this great breaking out in Ireland, is it doing any injury to ye in Kerry? I hope the next letter that you will write to me, that you will let me know all about it. (Letter home, November 6, 1865) So wrote young … Continue reading Tim Fenian
Author: David
My national identity s somewhat confused. Born in Fiji, I grew up in Australia from age 3, but lived for periods in both England and USA before I left school. Studied at University of Sydney, and became a doctor, worked in Christian missions on and off over the years, have ended up in general practice. Married a Swede, Maria, and we have three children, who are all adults now and all studying at university. We have also lived in Sweden for some ten years but at this stage of our lives find ourselves back in Australia, but for how long, who knows...
Tom’s ships
Tom Needham joins the Navy Tom was 13 when he joined the navy in 1864, a young Irish boy who had grown up beside the sea on the coast of County Kerry. His father George Needham had at one time been a captain in the … Continue reading Tom’s ships
Missing home
In November 1865, 14 year old Tom Needham wrote a letter home to his older sister in County Kerry, Ireland. Tom was a 14 year old sailor on the HMS Narcissus, a frigate in the British Navy, which was, at the time of writing, deployed … Continue reading Missing home
“My dear sister…” November 1865
A letter home from a young sailor, an Irish boy on a British ship, in 1865: Addressed to "My dear sister..,” this letter was probably written to Belinda Needham, Tom’s older sister, the one of his five sisters to which he seems closest. A transcript … Continue reading “My dear sister…” November 1865
Tom goes to sea
I was very excited toward the end of last year to receive a comment on my blog from Scott Anderson, a descendant of Thomas Needham: I am the great, great, great grandson of Thomas Needham, my grandfather was Thomas Needham Sitler, my uncle John Needham … Continue reading Tom goes to sea
Forgotten tales 