Summary

Alternative Name(s): Army Book 64

Small brown cloth-covered pay book for George West, relating to his service in the British Army during World War I. He was paid around three shillings a day.

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

Multiple page printed booklet with brown leatherette cover containing hand-written records of pay. The front cover folds over the back to protect the pages. The booklet includes 'Instructions to Soldier', 'Daily rates of pay' and 'Cash Payments'. A section for a will has been left blank.

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