[Editor: This Certificate of Discharge, for Henry Dayrell Herdson (1898-1978), is dated 3 March 1943, during the Second World War (1939-1945). In order to enlist in the Australian Army in the Second World War, Herdson understated his age (he was born in 1898, but claimed to have been born in 1905).]
Certificate of Discharge, for Henry Dayrell Herdson, 1943
[Front of certificate]
[Handwritten and stamped text, in italics]
A.A.F.A. 209
Australian Military Forces
Australian Imperial Force
Certificate of Discharge
Certificate No. 76217
(No.) ….. NX13851 ….. (Rank) ….. Corporal
(Name) ….. Henry Dayrell Herdson
(Regiment or Corps) ….. 2/3 Aust. Ordnance Workshop Company
born in or near the Town of ….. Ryde ….. in the State or Country
of ….. New South Wales ….. on ….. 6 / February / 1905
Enlisted at ….. Paddington N.S.W. ….. on ….. 3 / May / 1940 for
the ….. Australian Military Forces ….. (Regiment or Corps)
He is discharged in consequence of ….. Being Medically Unfit for Service, not occasioned by his own default
Period of Service } ….. 2 ….. years ….. 305 ….. days
including
Active Service ….. 2 ….. years ….. 186 ….. days.
Medals and Decorations } ……….
This discharge was authorized by (a) ….. Authority 18303 G.O.C. N.S.W. L of C Area
and confirmed by (a) ….. Officer in Charge, Records N.S.W. L of C Area
to take effect on (b) ….. 3 March 1943.
Place ….. Sydney
Date 3 / March / 1943
Signature of Commanding Officer: ….. [signed] Lieut. N.S.W. L of C Area Records Office
(a) Insert the appropriate authority under A.M.R. & O. 255.
(b) See A.M.R. & O. 262 and 263.
[Reverse of certificate]
Description of the Soldier on discharge:
Age ….. 38 Years ….. Height ….. 5′ 8″
Complexion ….. Medium ….. Eyes ….. Brown
Hair ….. Dark Brown.
Distinctive marks or scars ….. Tattoo Marks on Right Forearm
Trade ….. Mechanic
Specimen Signature of Soldier ….. [signed]
NOTE
This Certificate is to be issued free from erasures, corrections, and interlineations, and blank spaces are to be ruled through.
No duplication of a Certificate of Discharge will be issued except on surrender of the original and payment of the prescribed fee.
Clothes Ration Coupons.
Book No. 682448 ….. [initialed]
150 Coupons Issued 24.1.43.
G.D.D. N.S.W. L OF C Area.
ACTIVE SERVICE BADGE A13635
ISSUED 3 March ’43 [initialed]
Any person who may find this Certificate is requested to return it in an unstamped envelope to ……….
Headquarters ….. Officer in Charge, Records N.S.W. L of C Area
Source:
Original document
Editor’s notes:
Dimensions (approximate): 197 mm. (width), 228 mm. (height).
The evidence shows that Henry Dayrell Herdson understated his age so as to be able to enlist in the Australian Army in the Second World War, as he was actually born in 1898 (not in 1905, as stated on his Second World War military records). In fact, he was a veteran of the Australian Army in the First World War (his military records, from that time, give his correct age).
A search of the New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages for people born with the surname Herdson between 1890 and 1910 gives only two results: Elvira L. Herdson (born 1896) and Henry D. Herdson (born 1898). Both of these were born to Dayrell H. Herdson and Emily H. Herdson in the district of Ryde. These details were confirmed with information from Ancentry.com.
A check of the records held on the Australian War Memorial site shows two entries for Henry Dayrell Herdson (both for the same person; Service number 3069), who served in the Australian Army in the First World War.
The records of Henry Dayrell Herdson, on the Discovering Anzacs site, supply conclusive evidence that the two Henry Dayrell Herdsons, supposedly born seven years apart, are the same person. The signature on the AIF Attestation Paper (1916) for Henry Dayrell Herdson (18 years old, i.e. born 1898) closely matches the signature of Henry Dayrell Herdson (born 1905) on his Certificate of Discharge (1943); also, both documents also give a birthplace of Ryde, NSW. Considering the unusual middle name and surname, and the same birthplace registered, there is no doubt that the two records refer to the same person.
See:
“Family history research guide”, NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages
“Dayrell Hastings Herdson (1868 – 1924)”, Ancestry [shows that Henry Dayrell Herdson (1898-1978) was the son of Dayrell Hastings Herdson (1868-1924) and Emily Harriett Herdson (1864-1929), and brother of Elvira Lucy Herdson (1896-1950)]
“Private Henry Dayrell Herdson”, Australian War Memorial [Service number: 3069; Final Rank: Private; Date of embarkation: 24 January 1917]
“Corporal Henry Dayrell Herdson”, Australian War Memorial [Service number: 3069; Final Rank: Corporal; Unit: 33rd Australian Infantry Battalion; Date of enlistment: 16 August 1916; Date returned to Australia: 21 January 1919]
“Henry Dayrell Herdson”, Discovering Anzacs
“Herdson Henry Dayrell: Service Number – 3069”, Discovering Anzacs
“Herdson, Henry Dayrell”, Virtual War Memorial Australia [Service Number: NX13851; Enlisted: 3 May 1940]
See also: Certificate of Discharge, for Henry Dayrell Herdson, 1919 [First World War military document]
A.M.R. & O. = Australian Military Regulations and Orders
G.O.C. = General Officer Commanding
interlineation = writing which has been inserted within or between writing from an earlier time (such as additions, explanations, or notations added to a pre-existing document or text)
Lieut. = an abbreviation of “Lieutenant”
L of C = Line of Communication
No. = an abbreviation of “Number”
N.S.W. = an abbreviation of New South Wales (a colony in Australia from 1788, then a state in 1901)
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