Once Called Home

A collection of 181 posts

Once Called Home

An Arranged Marriage

Joan Millard and Brian Freyburg’s Wedding 1944. L to R Bishop Paget, Rosemary Paget, Brian, Joan, Gervas Hughes, Front Angela and Tim Hughes. An Arranged Marriage Joan waited and waited for Brian’s arrival after the phone call confirming he was still alive, hospitalized in Cairo. “You must be

Once Called Home

A More Social Life?

Bishop Paget & his wife Rosemary at their home Bishopsmount, in Salisbury during WWII A More Social Life? There were no visitors to the farm, but there was the Que Que River to explore, snakes to kill and the odd leopard and crocodiles to see.  Joan managed. A More Social

Once Called Home

A Christmas to Remember

1961, Happy Times.  Gervas Hughes’ farm staff dressed in their Christmas bonsella clothes: new shorts and shirt for the men, a new dress for the women and sweets for the children. A Christmas to Remember Life was lonely on the farm and Joan was anxious for the children, Angela and

Once Called Home

Rhodesian Hospitality

The Que Que River strip road, near Greenham Farm, one of Rhodesia’s many lonely roads, even in the 1960’s. Rhodesian Hospitality No one ever came to visit Greenham Farm.  One day, in town, Joan said straight out, “ Why haven’t you been out to the farm to see

Once Called Home

An Illicit Romance in Rhodesia?

The Que Que River ran through the Greenham Farm An Illicit Romance in Rhodesia? Gervas engaged a thirty year old married man, Arthur, to help with the dairy and keep Joan company while he was away.  Kicked by a horse when he was fourteen, Arthur was hard of hearing and

Once Called Home

Biltong and Green Pawpaws

Joan Millard and her niece and nephew, Angela and Tim Hughes missed their days at Herschel in the Cape. Biltong and Green Pawpaws After Joan’s father’s estate was settled she and the children, Angela and Tim, travelled by train, departing Sunday midday from East London to Kimberley and

Once Called Home

Battered by Fate

The Penrose-Marks home, Oblivion, at Kidd’s Beach, just south of East London, in the Cape Province had a wonderful view of the river. Rear: L to R Jennifer Penrose-Marks, Joan Millard,  Front: Angela and Tim Hughes, and Penrose-Marks twins Elizabeth and Anne. Battered by Fate When Joan’s father

Once Called Home

Deep Compassion

Dr. Philip Millard and his beautiful Australian red headed wife Ursula on the steps of their home in Herschel in the Eastern Cape in 1907 – See more at: https://www.oncecalledhome.com/2013/02/deep-compassion/#sthash.oVySn26V.dpuf Deep Compassion  Dr. Philip Millard owned one of the earliest cars in

Once Called Home

High Adventure

The view of Wittebergen Mountain and Ursula’s favorite golden poplars in the Eastern Cape painted by her in 1935. High Adventure  Joan inherited her skillful compassion from her father, Dr. Philip Millard, who sought high adventure in Africa. High Adventure  After dark, following a long days ride, Dr. Millard

Once Called Home

God Bless the Soldiers

In Happier Times At Herschel for Barbara Millard and Gervas Hughes wedding in April 1936: Barbara, Monica, Gervas, Theo, Joan and John God Bless the Soldiers  Dr. Millard bought a battery wireless. The months went by with news of the war ever on their minds.  They never missed the news

Once Called Home

Tim Does Something Really Bad!

Angela and Tim riding at Herschel in the Cape about 1940 Tim Does Something Really Bad!    Dr. Millard thought of himself as an old man, though he was only sixty.  He had poor health and had to look after 55,000 Africans.  Luckily, with the resilience of the young, the

Once Called Home

The Devotion of Joan

Sisters Joan Millard (L) and Barbara Hughes (R) riding together at Herschel in 1939 The Devotion of Joan Rosemary Paget, a family friend, a few days after Barbara’s funeral, organised the packing and travel arrangements for Gervas and the children, Angela and Timothy.   They’d go by train to

Once Called Home

Gallant, Splendid and Tragic

Angela, Barbara,  Tim,  and  Gervas on the front steps of Greenham Farm, Que Que.  1940  Gallant, Splendid and Tragic During the war petrol rationing kept people at home unless they had horses.  Barbara’s father had owned one of the first cars in England but rode a horse in Herschel

Once Called Home

Horse Power Makes a Comeback

Gervas’ office First St, Que Que.  After the war broke out, petrol was rationed and men went back to their horses. Horse Power Makes a Comeback Gervas, a bloke with no shoulder muscles due to his bout with polio, could tip his hat, use a hammer, fire a gun, run

Once Called Home

Petrol Power

Gervas Hughes bought the first fifteen ton Leyland Hippo lorry for transporting timber. Petrol Power Gervas bought a fifteen ton Leyland Hippo lorry for transporting timber, securing a notice to the tail gate: You are behind the biggest lorry in Rhodesia: Drive Carefully. Petrol Power Gervas had Brian drive the

Once Called Home

Back and Forth and Ups and Downs

Barbara,  Tim and Angela Hughes, 1939 Back and Forth and Ups and Downs Barbara Hughes loved her childhood home at Herschel in the Cape and went there again the following year.  She’d often leave the babe with her younger sister Joan and go off with her Dad. Meanwhile, Gervas

Once Called Home

Muscle and Wood Power

Gervas Hughes had eleven sixteen foot bullock wagons that transported firewood to the G and P mine.  Three cords made a load. – See more at: https://www.oncecalledhome.com/2012/12/muscle-and-wood-power/#sthash.JMvgZ77s.dpuf Acacia logs were dragged onto the wagon by oxen from the opposite side, one of

Once Called Home

More lessons for a Jo'burg Lad

Loading  Maize A City Lad Gets Down to Work  Gervas Hughes, in addition to his office on Main Street, bought the first industrial site east of town, made available by the Lands Department of Que Que (see location on aerial photo published last week).  One acre in size it cost

Once Called Home

Rhodesian Ingenuity

Gervas Hughes’ wagons for transporting firewood to the mines were always in need of repair Rhodesian Ingenuity  Rhodesia was not  regarded as the promised land for those seeking a fortune in the early years before WWII.  Rather it was a place where those who found it hard to get a

Once Called Home

Settling in a New Chum

Gervas’ office & mill  on Main Street Que Que , 1939 Settling in a New Chum After Brian Freyburg recovered from the measles at Barbara’s parental home Herschel in the Cape, he heard that Gervas wanted a learner for his farm at Que Que.  A failed engineering student, he had

Once Called Home

Outlawing the In-laws on Both Sides

Gervas’ parents, Charles and Cecily Hughes, on one of their many visits to Que Que standing outside Gervas’ office 1930 Outlawing the In-laws on Both Sides     It was 1937 and after the trip to see the Seventh Wonder of the Natural World, Victoria Falls, Barbara returned with her parents to

Once Called Home

A Dog’s Grave of a Garden

Greenham house 1939 Water from the Que Que River about a mile away was carted by ox drawn water tanker to  Greenham Farm to supply the house hot water system. A Dog’s Grave of a Garden Greenham Farm didn’t have a normal sign post to direct people.  ‘The

Once Called Home

Getting Married in the Saddle

Barbara Millard and her brother John  at their family home Herschel in the Cape, 1913. Getting  Married in the Saddle Barbara Forster Millard was the eldest child of Dr. Philip and Ursula Millard and had a privileged life as a doctor’s daughter.  She was a tubby child. Her native

Once Called Home

Intoxications at Que Que Hotel

Gervas and Barbara paddling in the Que Que River 1936 Intoxications at Que Que Hotel   The Que Que Hotel, on Main Street, facing the Railway station, was run by ‘Hacker’ Matthews an ex-pugilist. Next to the hotel was a large wood and iron hall, where Hacker staged boxing matches. Foolishly,

Once Called Home

A Suitable Girl in the Bundu

Gervas Hughes Two Ton Model A Ford Truck parked outside his office and workshop on First Street, Que Que 1928. A Suitable Girl in the Bundu  The sixteen voyages Charles Wylde Hughes made to Africa to visit his sons provided ample opportunity to meet interesting people from all over the