Monday, Aug. 27, 1951
Fed Up
Tory Albert Burleigh had finally had it. From his home outside London he sent the Sydney (Australia) Daily Telegraph the following classified ad:
"For Sale, English family of five persons.
"Whole family is fed up with the Welfare State and denial of initiative and independence; unwilling to be nursed, undernourished, directed, controlled, clothed, rationed, employed and finally buried by authorities.
"Elder son at present with Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., not included in sale, is waiting for nationalization's benefits to the Persians to deprive him of his livelihood, when he would undoubtedly be willing to transfer his long sea experience to the defense of Australia."
Tory Burleigh, 46, who described himself in the ad as "reasonably intelligent, tall, healthy and strong," said that he, his wife, son, daughter and grandson are "anxious to live and not exist . . . willing to work, learn and give loyalty . . . possessors of keen sense of humor (at present untaxed)." Burleigh served 5 1/2 years overseas in the British army, came home to find his house blitzed and jobs scarce. "It seemed that in this country I was considered derelict because I was over 40." He went into business for himself, then became a salesman but didn't make it, finally took the best job he could find, as security officer guarding some war office buildings. One day when the family was sitting at lunch, he burst out, "For God's sake, let us get out of England and try somewhere else where at least we can breathe." After a few seconds' silence, son
David, 17, asked, "When do we start, Dad?"
At week's end, Burleigh was opening mail from Australia including one letter from a timber merchant offering "jobs for all of you and accommodations."
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