When Errol Flynn Swopped

Insults With New Guine

The sudden death of Errol Flynn, Hollywood film star, former Tasmanian and New Guinean in Vancouver in October, reminded i lot of Islands people about a lot of anecdotes of a colourff and memorable personality.

Death of a swashbuckler reminds R. W. Robson of the time . . .

Errol Flynn had a career in Papua-New Guinea lonn before he achieved fame in Hollywood, and in 1947, whes Dorothy Stewart (now well-known as manageress of the Hoto Cecil, Lae) was trying to raise funds for a scholarship estah lished by the New Guinea Women’s Association of Melbourne she had a brain wave. She wrote to Flynn thus: DEAR Errol Flynn.—l don’t know whether you will remember n we met at Wau, in New Guinea, quite a long time ago. Howew that is unimportant ... I am now Secretary to the New Guinea Worn Association (Melbourne) and we are attempting to establish a merac to all those people lost from Papua-New Guinea during the war, thro enemy action. This memorial is to take the form of a Scholarship; and) attached circular will explain as much as is necessary about that msi

“I know that you are not exactly credited I New Guinea) with being of a type to throw money to all and sundry for the asking (a man piece of under-statement, if ever I saw one).

I thought that if I, in my lowly position, could? my way clear to donating the odd ten pounds (• a great many hours of my time) to such a woo cause, you could, if you wished, make quitt magnificent gesture and be generous, if only for ■ in your life, just to see how it feels.

“You could, for instance, give up one nighr splendid living, stay home by the fire insteao making yourself conspicuous by your in obnoxious behaviour in a nightclub (if one believe the daily press) and donate the money sig to the Scholarship. Knowing your form, I shd imagine the Scholarship would receive healthy ajs tance if you did this. Besides —think of the hsi over you’d miss!

No Autograph, Thanks!

“However, if New Guinea now means less t nothing in your life, and you do not feel dispq to help the fund, please, PLEASE, do not instt; your Third Assistant Secretary to forward me ; autographed photograph to raffle. This I co not stand. After what I’ve been through this ; six months, I hope never to sell another raffle tiic as long as I live.

“With these few choice remarks —I now leave 5 to your thoughts.

Yours faithfully,

Dorothy Stewarti

Hon. Secretary.

New Guinea Women’s Association (Melbournr Back came this letter, dated from “Mulhollf

Errol Flynn in his hey-day, as the world knew him—on the screen a swashbuckler, in private life a gay, debonair, night-clubbing ladies’ man. Below, he is in a scene from his last picture, “Cuban Rebel Girls”, which is not yet released.

With him is Beverly Aadland, 17, who was the last girl in his life.

She was with him when he died.

The newspapers described her as his protege.

n” on March 28, 1947, with liatory insults: — •ear Miss Stewart. —Your quite isive letter is at hand, and >e find enclosed my subscription 550. pon the frail premise that you not a phoney, would you be enough to label this donation nymous”, please? you are the Miss Stewart I thinking of, you are probably ed somehow to a fat, old, jnant woman named Mrs. ***, ort Moresby, a good friend of who killed herself—l’ve for n how —but to whom I was ;ed, she having befriended me i it was quite unnecessary, rs. *** and I had one love common—a small but most iring parrot belonging to me, species unknown and about as is your hand. e night Mrs. **♦* got drunk, as her nightly custom, and— l surge of alcoholic senti ality, or perhaps some more ?ical urge—took the parrot to vith her. 3 must have turned over or thing for, in the morning, my t looked like a print on the leet, Mrs. *** having squashed t as a picture-card, irt from this, our friendship ed no strain. rtainly if you are Mrs. ***’s relative I presume you will nice cut of this and other ;ions, and I am sure Mrs. would have highly approved. >e you have a nice drunk on Your obedient servant,

Errol Flynn.”

Copies of the letters were received by PIM in 1947; but as the elderly lady referred to so disparagingly by the film star had been well and favourably known in the Territory, and Flynn wanted anonymity for his gift, we put them away in pickle.

There is no reason now why the acidulous exchange should not be published: but the name of the lady would best remain in asterisks.

A Gay, Unrepentant Star

Errol Flynn was born in Tas mania in 1909, the son of a visiting scientist; and he was educated in Dublin, London, Paris and Sydney.

In his ’teens, clever and hand some, he became a sea-rover; and

(Continued on page 99)

Guinea's Dorothy Stewart, who traded insults with Errol.

ynn built this house just outside Port Moresby in the 'Thirties, when he was attempting t a tobacco plantation there. Later he sold it to the writer Beatrice Grimshaw. R. W.

Robson took this photograph in 1937 when it was falling into disrepair.

in the late ’Twenties he was an established citizen of the new Mandated Territory of New Guinea —he was in turn a recruiter, planter, trader and miner.

He had a ketch, and in Rabaul his ketch and he were hired by a Dr.

Herman F. Erban to take a film making expedition into the Sepik area.