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His last visit to Nebraska must have been in the 1880’s when the local Elgin news reported he had returned with, ‘a “child with boots on’, meaning he had a teenager with him. My father, Austin Sergeant Wallis had said that his grandfather, Sergeant Wallis, was always bragging about his success in America and the huge farm in Elgin but few of the family believed it to be true. On this his last trip out he had asked my father to travel with him, for he wanted his grandson to have an interest in what he had achieved. My father was too nervous to accept the invitation or to travel so far into the unknown world. The travel tickets and bookings had been made but as my father wouldn’t go he took a neighbour, George Coupland in his place and this was what had been reported in the Elgin newspaper! Some of the story does not add up for in Feb 1901 Sergeant Wallis wrote a hand written will while living at his son Page’s Prince of Wales Hotel, Slough. Leaving the farm house, land, stable, barmn and granory which were mortaged to George Coupland for $2000 to his son Page and saying that it could be bought back for the $2000 the family documents are a rough deed that had been prepared for a Mortgage of the Elgin Farm, the first payment of which was a note for $2,000, from George Coupland. This appears to be the one and only payment ever received. George took over the farm when Sergeant returned to England for the last time. After he married, George had four sons: George, John Charles, William and Henry.Henry attended Elgin public school in 1909.

John opened a law office in Valentine, Nebraska. with his son, Robert Drayton as a partner. John died in October 1979 but his father, George, lived a full 93 years. He died in February 1980.

My great grandparents, Sergeant & Elizabeth Wallis had six children Swan Sergeant Wallis was born in 1848, Elizabeth Sergeant Wallis born in 1850 but died young in 1862. Kenneth Sergeant Wallis born 1852 became a Doctor and joined the Royal Army Medical corps to become a distinguished Officer. He married Catherine Matilda……….., in ………. Sidney Sergeant Wallis was born in 1856 but died when he was ten in 1866. My own grandfather Page Sergeant Wallis was the youngest and was born in February 1861 he married Amey Austin my grandmother in December 1882 at St. James the Less, Cambridge.

Lieut-Col.Kenneth Wallis served 21 years of Army Service. He was in the Zulu War of 1879 and in subsequent operations against Sekekuni, including the storming of the stronghold, during which he was slightly wounded and received a medal and clasp. Then in the Boer War of 1860-1 he was in charge of the garrison at Potchefstroom during which he was again slightly wounded. Subsequently was with the Nile Expedition in 1884-5 in charge of the movable field hospital, He was present in the reconnaissance to Metemneh for which he received the medal and clasp & Khedive’s star. After this Kenneth was stationed in Ceylon for two years. He completed his army service with 6 years in India. Retiring on half-pay with an appointment in Maidstone.

However the area did not suit him and he moved to Bexhill in 1901. However ill health brought on by consumption made him more or less a complete invalid later in 1904 moving to Hastings where he died in May 1905. Aged 52.

My grandfather Page trained as a chef. And later as proprietor opened the. “Waggon & Horses hotel on the river side in Staines. Sometime later he moved to the Prince of Wales Hotel. Living there with his two children my father Austin Sergeant and his sister Eva. While in Slough my father attended school at Eton his schooling being free as he lived in the area. Eva trained to be a teacher and married Bert Grace in-.?????. .?????. They opened a Newspaper shop in Slough High street. But sadly Eva died in Sept 1917. During the later years of the eighteenth century Sergeant with his wife Elizabeth moved from Hill Road in Cambridge to Slough where Page had built a house. Here Elizabeth died in June 1900 and where Sergeant died in October 1908. They were both buried at St Mary’s church, Slough My grandfather Page who died in May 1931 and his wife Amey who died in Oct 1950 where both buried in the same plot.

     While living in Slough and Eton, Page was contracted to become the personnel cook to Queen Victoria. It seems the queen had a great dislike of fancy foods and when large banquets were celebrated she arranged for my grandfather to prepare plain and heavier type dishes. My father told us that at these banquets the queen would wait until the guests had settled into enjoying their meal and would then slip out into a small dining room where our Grandfather Page would serve and attend to her own special choice of food. Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes followed by Spotted Dick with custard! After which she would return to her guests.

On one occasion during the speeches and toasts an officer stood up to raise his glass to the toast and his sword caught under the table cloth causing all the glasses to fall over and wine spilt over the table cloth. Quickly a stewart picked up the soiled table cloth by it’s corners, letting all the contents fall together. The cloth was then lifted out of the way and passed through the nearest door way, which happened to be my grandfather’s dining room The cloth was passed to him and he asked what he was supposed to do with it, the answer given “Do what you like but get rid of it.

In the meantime the table was relayed and my grandfather started sorted out what was in the table cloth. He found there was sold gold plates which he returned to butlers pantry with the sold silver cutlery. The wine bottles bread rolls and other items were discarded but in the debris Page found a number of broken wine glasses and coffee cups and saucers all slightly broken. These together with some sweets and toffees bound in silk and with flowers adorning them Page kept and we still have these souvenirs The wine glasses were all cut with details of the banquet.

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