Summary

Two documents of declaration and deposit receipt relating to the name change of Wilhelm David Herr to William David Herr on 9 February 1945. William (Bill) David Herr was one of the Dunera boys. Born in 1914 in Vienna, he escaped to England in 1938, fleeing Nazi persecution, where he lived for less than 12 months before being arrested as a German alien and classified by the Aliens Tribunal as a 'Refugee from Nazi Oppression.'

He was interned and then transported to Australia on the ship Dunera, which docked at Port Melbourne on 3 September 1940 and then in Sydney on 6 September 1940. Upon arrival, Bill was taken to Hay internment camp where he spent nine months, before he was transferred to Tatura for another nine months. Upon release from Tatura Bill and his other internees worked fruit picking in the local area before enlisting in the Australian forces to serve their newly adopted country in the latter part of the war.

Description of Content

2 documents of declaration and deposit receipt relating to the name change of Wilhelm David Herr to William David Herr on 15 February 1945. This must have occurred very soon after his release from internment.

Physical Description

Two sheets attached at top left corner. Top sheet, A5 size, a receipt of Deed Poll deposit, headed 'Registrar-General's Office' and dated 'Melbourne 15 Feb 1945'. Following inscribed in ink: 'Deed Poll evidencing change of name from Wilhelm David Herr to William David Herr.' Second sheet, foolscap size typed page, declaration of name change for Wilhelm David Herr to William David Herr.

Significance

Significance:
This material documents a significant part of migration and wartime history in Australia - the transportation of Jewish refugees on the 'Dunera,' and alien internment. The dramatic story of the Dunera boys is particularly evocative and well-known, and the internment of many at Tatura in Victoria as well as Hay in New South Wales improves our representation of this Victorian internment camp. The Memorandum in particular provides a fascinating and important testimony of the harsh treatment endured by the internees prior to and during their voyage to Australia.

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