Summary

Identity card issued to Constance Maclaurin (nee Duffell) in 1942. This type of card was issued to British subjects who were civilians. During World War II everyone in Australia was issued with a personal identity card and was required to report changes of address to the government. These cards were particularly important in the identification and monitoring of Aliens (non-citizen residents) , particularly non-Europeans and Asian residents.

Constance Duffell was born in England in 1910. She migrated to Australia with her parents and brother on the 'Narkunda' in 1927 aged 17. During the voyage Connie was accommodated with another girl (a stranger) on the lower deck while her mother, father and brother were on the upper deck together. Connie suffered seasickness until reaching Gibraltar.

Her father, Thomas Duffell was brought out to work at the Commonwealth Printing Branch as an engraver and transferrer; this was common apparently for workers to be imported as there was not enough local printing expertise at the time. In 1934 she married Archibald Gordon Maclaurin who had migrated from England in 1928 and worked at the Note Printing Branch. They had two children, Roger and Jocelyn and lived all their lives in Essendon.

Physical Description

Brown card identified as an identity card, one side stamped Geelong 1942 and addressed to Constance Maclaurin, 11 Noble Ave North Essendon; reverse side signed by C Maclaurin and witnessed by J G Duffell.

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