The research for this book was made possible by the helpful staff of many archives and libraries: Archives of the Island St Helena; National Library of South Africa; University of Capetown Library; William Cullen Library of the University of Witwatersrand; Bibliothèque d’Agglomération de Saint-Omer; National Archives of Scotland; British Library Manuscripts Collection; Caird Library, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich; Devon Record Office; West Country Studies Library, Exeter; National Library of Australia; State Records of New South Wales; Richard Neville and the Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW; University of Sydney Library; and the Royal Australian Historical Society, Sydney, especially librarian Donna Newton.
Dr Terry Irving, Professor Emeritus Richard Waterhouse and Professor Emerita Desley Deacon all gave their support for this project, and my literary agent Rick Raftos took it on.
On St Helena I was given kind assistance by Garth Armstrong and Rachel Armstrong; Barbara and Basil George; and the French Honorary Consul Michel Dancoisne-Martineau.
For their help with the book in progress I must thank Dr Susan Adams; Margaret Barbalet; John and Fiona Blanche; Bob Connolly; Sylvia and Tony Francis, who offered a home for London research; Kathy and Malcolm Fraser in Scotland for their hospitality and revelations from their documents collection; Daniel Leunens in Saint-Omer; Dr Susan Lever, the ‘godmother’ for this book; Lisa Matthews; Tom Molomby SC for a rare reference and French translations; Pouya Paymani for computer help; Sophie Raymond for author photographs; Stephen Scheding for research advice; Associate Professor Beverley Kingston; Associate Professor Zora Simic; former St Helena Governor, David Smallman; and Clinton Smith and Dr Diane Morgan for generous work on my website.
The research and writing has taken a number of years and during that time some who helped with it have passed away: Sarah Fried who read the manuscript in progress; on St Helena the archivist Ricky Fowler and the finance secretary Paul Blessington, and in England the St Helena historian, Trevor Hearl, who corresponded with me and whose papers are now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
I must thank Shirley and David Joy, Mornington shire local historians for their pioneering work on the Balcombes’ story, and many Balcombe descendants and their families for research assistance: the late Richard a’Beckett, who made a gift of Alexander Balcombe’s original farmhouse, The Briars at Mt Martha, as a museum and historic park, for family letters; his widow Sue and son Michael for continuing help; also Caroline Gaden, Dee Clements and especially Diana and Tony Bradhurst. The Briars staff Chris and Ilma Hackett have given tireless assistance, particularly with pictures from the wonderful collection, and thanks to Steve Yorke for permission for their use. The devoted volunteers for The Briars, Keith and Shirley Murley, supported this book from its inception to completion.
Gratitude to my publishers: Richard Walsh, who took it up when still an incomplete manuscript and always had faith in it; and to my wonderful team at Allen & Unwin, Australia—publisher Elizabeth Weiss, editorial manager Angela Handley, and copyeditor Clara Finlay—all of whose expertise saw it through to publication; many thanks also to Clare Drysdale at Allen & Unwin in the UK.
I have been fortunate to have readers of the manuscript who made detailed notes and gave encouragement from the beginning: Gil Brealey, Tony Bremner (and his friend Miss Picky), Janet Bell, who checked French translations, believed in the work, made insightful comments and bolstered my spirits when they flagged. Especial thanks to John Kerr, who has been a tower of strength in so many ways. I owe a great deal to Allan Deacon for his constant support throughout the research and writing. My thanks to all.