Summary

Alternative Name(s): Leave Certificate

'Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity, Soldier Not Remaining with the Colours', issued to Sergeant George West, 9th Battalion on 17 January 1919 at Kinross, Scotland. It granted him 28 days' furlough from army service.

George West (1895-1979) was born in Dundee, Scotland, and enlisted in the British Army at the age of 19, on 13 October 1914, regimental no. 200621. He served in 1/4th Black Watch Battalion, (9th) Royal Highland Regiment (1/4 was raised in Dundee), and was wounded in the Battle of Passchendale, 1917. He was discharged in January 1919. After the war George served in the Territorials (UK army reserve) from 1920 to 1923, when he migrated to Australia. From 1930 he served in the Australian Citizen Forces.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, George enlisted in North Melbourne (the nominal roll dates his enlistment as 27 August 1939; his attestation paper says 13 March 1939). He was then aged 43, a painter and decorator, and married to Elizabeth West. He was placed in the 6th Battalion, service no. V65572 / 449188. He was discharged on 2 March 1944 at the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 with the 2nd Australian Regular Training Battalion. George West died in 1979, at the age of 84.

Physical Description

Printed document on cream-coloured paper, with fields filled in by hand. Rectangular stamp at upper right; circular date stamps across bottom. Upper edge of document is torn and folded, with some losses; bottom of page has pinked edge.

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