Good day
I have been writing about S A (Alec) Hill for the history societies in Ireland – they might be interested in the meteorology or the Kipling links. I would be grateful if any of your members can point me towards previous research. Carrington did not include much about Alec, Edmonia (understandably) gets most of the attention, and I want to give him his due.
For example, the shipping lists: during his “furloughs” from India, Alec visited his family near Belfast – in 1883/4, and possibly in 1889. What traces did he leave? In September 1883, when Alec and Edmonia are SS State of Florida passengers, their neighbour in the list appears to be an Irish farmer Alex HALL, or just possibly HILL, and he deserves attention. Edmonia seems to be travelling to Canada.
In October 1889, when Edmonia and her sister Caroline sail from London for India, the newspaper list says “Mr and Mrs S A Hill and friend”. Thomas Pinney says Alec travelled (at least part of the way) separately. On 1 November, Kipling writes a postcard addressed to “all the S. A. Hills” at Port Said. I suppose their ship is the SS Goorkha built 1882 and scrapped at Genoa 1906; it is not the SS Goorkha built by Harland & Wolff and launched 1897.
Has anyone more information on this globetrotting?
Best wishes
Chris Hill
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