Summary

Receipt issued on 20 March 1942 by Australian Military Forces to George West for the return of a respirator and steel helmet.

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.

It is not known why George had a respirator and helmet to return in March 1942.

Physical Description

Printed receipt on off-white paper, completed by hand. The left side has perforations, indicating it was torn from a bound document. Its left and lower edges are torn and folded; the receipt is also repeatedly creased. Several patches of foxing.

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