Dear Roger and JDS1949,
yes the misfiling is a bother and sounds like it happens everywhere, it certainly happens here as I have lost my WO338 index (the printed version) and it has to be in a file somewhere in this house......! Grrrrrrr
As for Alfred Ernest's file, I've had second thoughts, if you have a chance please confirm that the information that I have is the same as you have seen at the TNA.
Its been a torrid couple of days, I've been beavering away at home and elsewhere going over some aspects of AEH's Service Records again. I had said previously that I would mount a question regarding the "form of Commission" this aspect has always had me puzzled
I now have a more logical explanation of what happened regarding the receipt of a Commission document by Nora. (and I didn't work this out myself)
We believe that AEH was Commissioned and entered into the British Permanent Army. He was due a Commission Certificate or as we know it a "Form of Commission" AEH didn't give a forwarding address of perhaps an address that he was no-longer residing a Hotel or boarding house. The British Military sent this document to this address by Registered mail and it bounced. The British Military knew that he was originally with the AIF. They sent it to the AIF to be sent on to his NOK. The AIF then sent it off to her.
They send it along with two other documents, the covering letter explaining that this is a Commission Form for her husband that has joined the British Army, they wish her to sign the receipt card and return it to Victoria Barracks in Melbourne and wish her to forward the Commission form on to AEH
At this point we now know that she is aware that he has joined the British Military, we don't know if she knows his location in the UK. At this point she either sends it on if she knows where he lives (unlikely) or bins it or keeps it.
The important thing here is that the British Army know how to get back to Nora via the AIF, so this confirms that he was using his correct name or none of this would be possible. The term "for transmission to him" resonates in my head because I have never understood the meaning of this term in context with the other information, now it makes perfect sense (to me)
We believe that he was actually out of the Army in October 1919 and the receipt of the Commission document was a housekeeping exercise after the war. It is therefore possible that he joined using his name (A or Albert Harrison) around the time of his Discharge from the AIF in August 1918. So we believe that we should consider reviewing the Army lists between the period August 1918 to say June 1919
The next part is even more fanciful and salacious....!!
There are three documents in his service file that relate to correspondence between the AIF and the Department of Repatriation. These are a request on behalf of the Department Doctor requesting information regarding AEH via a B103 sheet in relation to a living allowance. I had historically thought this to be for Nora, however it is reasonable to conclude that it might be for AEH given that Nora's name isn't mentioned and the Department was for soldiers and not dependants, these documents were written on November 1922, the third item in the group is a DVA file card made out to | Capt Harrison A E | Repat | 22/11/22 | 0/205 |
only| suggesting that there was a Repatriation file. We have hit this angle hard previously without success, the files have been raided and there only remains an empty folder......!
The B103 form is a listing of all significant issues regarding his career, inc. medical, promotions, crimes and postings
What do you think, plausible....??
Ian
