East Enders send letter of thanks to Queensland for boiled beef
Guest blogger: Katrin Hurlimann-Graham - Manager Public Access, Queensland State Archives
Looking at all the food available in a supermarket today, it’s hard to believe that someone would thank the state of Queensland for sending them six hundred tins of boiled beef. But in February 1915 David Keep, the Town Clerk from the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green in London, writes a letter of thanks to Hon. Digby Denham, Premier of Queensland. (Mr Keep actually addresses the letter to the Hon D F Denham, Prime Minister of Queensland – a small hierarchical error!)
At the time, the Borough of Bethnal Green was one of the poorest in the east end of London and families in the area were in acute distress on account of the present international crisis when the 6lb tins (approx 2.7kg) of boiled beef were apparently distributed among them.
This is one of several letters that you can listen to being read on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulbgDpfjmIM
Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 25236, page 1
Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 25236, page 2
We welcome relevant, respectful comments.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
We also welcome direct feedback via Contact Us.
You may also want to ask our librarians.
We welcome relevant, respectful comments.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
We also welcome direct feedback via Contact Us.
You may also want to ask our librarians.