British soldiers who survived the First World War did not all return to or remain in Britain. Many men migrated, often in search of improved living conditions and better employment prospects, and their war pensions travelled with them. While Australia was one of the most popular destinations for disabled British ex-servicemen, complaints about it frequently reached the Ministry of Pensions. These complaints touched on the climate, the people, government policies and the treatment of migrants.

This paper draws on material from the 'Overseas' subsection of the Ministry of Pensions personal files at the National Archives (TNA: PIN 26). As well as including the paperwork associated with applying for a pension and that application's progress through a bureaucratic process, the PIN 26 files also include correspondence from individuals and their advocates. A close reading of that correspondence reveals the gap between the veterans' expectations of Australia and their experiences of the 'Godforsaken Kangaroo Country'. This paper examines how men coped when dislocated from home and disappointed by the new life they had sought. It also explores the ways individuals' intimate lives are revealed in the bureaucratic processes of government departments.