Summary
Certificate advising that George Kyrikides (Georghios Kyriakou) was discharged from the Cyprus Regiment of the British Army on 28 May 1946, after five years and 363 days of service. The reason given for discharge on the certificate is the Class XYE Release Regulations of 1945. The service number listed on the certificate is CY2189. It is also recorded on the discharge certificate that George was awarded the Africa Star Medal, for service between 1940 and 1943 in the region of North Africa.
George Kyriakides was born in 1921 in Larnaca, on the southern coast of Cyprus. In his early working years he was apprenticed to his father Petrou Kyriacou as a silversmith and in 1948 George migrated to Melbourne, Australia. In 1949 he married Australian-born Silvia Sarandis, the child of Greek migrants and they had two children. Using his skills as a silversmith, he worked for a local silverware company and then proceeded to start his own silversmithing business under the name Saracen Plate Company, situated at 152 Lygon St, Carlton. A manufacturing wholesale business, they sold mainly to large clients such as Myers and Prouds Jewellery. In 1974 George sold the wholesale silversmithing part of the business due to the difficulty in obtaining pure metals, and continued to work as a Jeweller under the name GK Jewellery until his retirement and beyond. In later years George was known for his philanthropic generosity and in 2006 he died and is survived by his two children.
Physical Description
One sided pre-printed form on watermarked paper. Handwritten details added to both front and back sides, and an official date and record office stamp on the bottom third.
Significance
Statement of Historical Significance:
This collection offers a multi-faceted snapshot of a migrant small business in Lygon Street Carlton through tools of trade, product catalogue and a sample of the silverware produced for retail. It thus encapsulates a small business activity from production through to sale and distribution. It includes a beautiful filigree tray as well as more mainstream domestic silverware items. The collection enables the documentation of the passing on of trade traditions and skills from one generation to the next and the bringing of those skills to Australia, as well as capturing a particular craft, filigree work, which is a disappearing artform
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Person Named
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Inscriptions
Front inscriptions as follows: X3414\ 2347/PP&TJ/T 4\44 Substitute form for A.F.B 108 B\ APPENDIX TO ACI 318/42\ (If this certificate is lost no duplicate can be obtained)\ NAME: Georghios Kyriakou ARMY NO: CY2189\ [ ]ive date of discharge: 28 May 1946 \ Total Service Years: 5 (five) days: 363\ Rank on Discharge: PRIVATE \ Cause of Discharge: Class XYE Release Regulations 1945 \ Campaigns: Service abroad - 5 years 229 days \ Medals etc: Africa Star \ Corps from which discharged: Cyprus Regiment \ Corps for which enlisted: Cyprus Regiment \ Service with the Colours showing transfers, if any to other Corps: 5 years 363 days\ Precious service in HM Forces: - NIL - \ Military Conduct [illegible signature] [illegible signature] Major: Signature and Rank Officer i/c Records\ Date 6 APR 1946 Place: MEF \ Cyprus Record Office Record Office Stamp. Back inscription as follows: Testimonial in accordance with K RS 1940 para 424 \ A happy cheerful worker, who has given good service. [illegible signature] \
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
125 mm (Width), 190 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Jewellers, Small Businesses, Cypriot Communities, Cypriot Immigration, Working Life, Trades, Jewellery, Silverware, Families, Family Businesses, Decorative Arts
