Offered here is a pair of original Australian military documents relating to Private Stanley James Newman, Army No. VX 85903, who served with the 2/7 Australian Infantry Battalion during the Second World War.
The two documents span the beginning and end of Newman's wartime service:
Together, these two original documents trace Newman's military service from his civic send-off in 1941 through to his discharge from the Australian Imperial Force in 1946.
The Certificate of Discharge is headed:
Australian Military Forces
Certificate of Discharge
Certificate No. 513352
It records:
The certificate also records Newman's physical description at discharge, including his height, blue eyes, medium complexion, dark brown hair, a mole on the left lower hip and a tattoo on his left arm. His trade group is recorded as Group 2, Cook.
The document includes Newman's specimen signature. The signature is written “James S Newman”, providing an important link to the accompanying Certificate of Appreciation addressed to “Private J. S. Newman.”
Research into Australian military records identifies Stanley James Newman, Army No. VX 85903, as a Second World War Australian serviceman who served with the 2/7 Australian Infantry Battalion.
The accompanying City of Prahran Certificate of Appreciation is addressed to “Private J. S. Newman” and is dated 24 July 1941.
This date is significant because the Certificate of Discharge records 24 July 1941 as the date on which Stanley James Newman commenced continuous full-time war service in the Citizen Military Forces.
The name variation is also supported by the surviving documents themselves. The discharge certificate identifies the soldier as Stanley James Newman, while his specimen signature on that same certificate is written “James S Newman.”The accompanying Prahran certificate is addressed to “Private J. S. Newman.”
Taken together, the matching initials, the soldier's own signature, the exact matching commencement date of service, and the subsequent documented service of Stanley James Newman provide strong supporting evidence that the two certificates relate to the same serviceman.
The accompanying document is an original Certificate of Appreciation issued by the City of Prahran to Private J. S. Newman.
It conveys the city's appreciation and thanks for his voluntary enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force for active overseas service, and wishes him a safe return.
The certificate bears the signatures of the Mayor, Councillor and Town Clerk, together with a large red municipal seal.
It is dated 24 July 1941, corresponding with the commencement date of Newman's continuous full-time war service recorded on his Certificate of Discharge.
The certificate provides a glimpse of the beginning of Newman's wartime service, making it a fitting companion to the later discharge document.
The Certificate of Discharge has acquired a number of handwritten annotations in red ink.
Several of these annotations appear to relate to Newman's wartime service and awards. Among the more legible references are “Pacific Star,” “Australia Service,” “1939–45 ??? Medal” and “1939–45 Star”.
Other handwritten words are difficult to decipher with certainty. Rather than speculate about their meaning, they have been left uninterpreted in this listing.
One annotation near the lower portion of the certificate appears to read “Willing to do new health course.”
These handwritten additions are part of the surviving document and are included exactly as found.
The annotations add another layer of historical interest to the document, providing a glimpse into its later history and the way it was retained and annotated after the original period of military service.
Fair vintage condition, with significant age and handling wear.
Both documents are genuine 1940s paper documents and have clearly been folded, handled and stored over many decades.
The Certificate of Discharge shows extensive horizontal and vertical folding, creasing, age-related staining and discolouration, worn and irregular edges, tears and a small area of paper loss at the bottom. The document also bears the handwritten red-ink annotations described above.
The City of Prahran certificate is in similarly well-worn condition, with pronounced fold lines, creasing, age-related staining, surface marks and general paper toning. The edges are worn and irregular, with tears and weakened areas, particularly around the folds. The original printed text, decorative border, signatures, red seal and handwritten date remain clearly visible.
These are original historical paper artefacts offered in their surviving, unrestored condition, with considerable age and handling wear that forms part of their physical history.
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and show the condition, folds, tears, staining, annotations and paper wear in detail.
These original historical documents will be protected using archival-quality materials and rigid backing to help prevent further bending or damage during transit.
They will be sent from New Zealand using a fully tracked postal service.
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