Hello,
Continuing my search for Harry Powis, i now have his records from the care ? NAA, and it only muddies the water even more.
I wasn't sure whether to start a new thread, or carry on with this one, as all the plot and explanations are here already.
On one of the forms, well twice actually, it gives his actual (supposed) date of birth as 30/01/1888, as of yet, still haven't found a Powis who fits this, certainly not a Harry.
But the odd thing is, on one of the forms, it gives date of death as 8/10/1957, which is good, as that means that the Harry who's records that i have the burial for is the correct one.
However, one part says age 69, which would be correct if he was born in 1888, but someones crossed that out and put 75?
? So does that mean that he owned up to his right age on his death bed? Also, if I remember correctly, on his death cert was the age 75? Would it be that he was too old to join the army in 1914, and knocked a few years off his life to make him elliglble?
Another page has a written piece on the bottom as follows (have put ? when unsure of word) The a/n was not in receipt of a war pension at time of death, no claim? , has get (?) been lodged ? ? acceptance N.F.A.
.
Not sure what that all means.
Started a new search for birth around 1882, but so far, still no matches......so very frustrating.
There's also a form there re telephone message, from a Mr McKenzie of 199 clarendon St, South Melbourne, stating 'states x/m dies at ? hospital 8/10/57 and requests a form 20 to be sent to him at the above address. ? add P.S (?)
What was a form 20? I've notice that going back through the posts that McKenzie was the undertaker. I did write to them, but not heard anything, I couldn't find a website for them, or an e-mail address.
Reference to his work before he joined up lists clerk, commission agent, commission work, self-employed, London, and reason for leaving is '? to Australia (presumably emigrating) Last employed says 19th Jan, but doesn't name a year sadly.
What was a commission agent? And why would they be self-employed?
But, at least I do have his proper disembarkation date now, 20/05/1920 ,
from Tilbury, on the Kigoma. Why so late, when the war finished in 1918, were they allowed to stay a while? He was demobbed later in 1920.
He also worked for a Mr W Dickinson Beechleigh Andisons creek Rd Ringwood on his return, albeit for a short period I think, then he asks for subsistance when the work finished. He also worked for a Mr Stevens ,dry acetalyn welding, White Horse Rd, Ringwood as a clerk in 1920..
Rather poignantly, there's a letter there from Harry himself, dated 1920, apparently he was refused subsistance because he had failed to attend an interview, and he claims that the PO didn't deliver his letter until after the time stated, and that he went and asked the PO why they delivered his letter late. He also states that he's supporting his wife and 2 children back in England. Lovely legible writing though, at least i have something tangible of his now, albeit a copy.......
I keep reading these files, but because a lot of it is in code, I don't quite understand them all, and the writings not too brill on some of it.
Any advice now, or ideas gladly received, I had hoped that when I had this further info,(all 48 pages of it!) that it would clear things up, bad it only seems to muddy the waters even further......was he born 1888 or 1882? Was he Harry or someone else?
