Just to bring people up to date with this topic.
I received a reply from NAA a couple of months ago but didn’t act on it because, misreading it, I thought there was another response from them still to come - and then my hard drive died…
NAA advised that there Sydney facility holds two paper records on Donald MacGregor, a repatriation file and a pay card, and I was invited to purchase digital copies - which would cost one hundred odd dollars. I chickened out of that, reasoning that unless the records answered the riddle I might be divorced - and down two cartons of beer - for no result.
I find the wording of the NAA’s instructions ambiguous. Do you still have to pay to view documents if you actually visit the site? Perhaps an experienced Rootschatter living in Sydney may be familiar with the procedures. And - pushing my luck a bit further, he thinks - if it is free, would there be a Rootschatter, or a friend or relative of a Rootschatter, who occasionally visits the NAA in Sydney for research, who would be willing to view/copy those records?
Anyway, these are the details:
"National Archives of Australia
National Reference Service
Reference: NAA1000177222
"Dear Mr McGregor,
I am writing to advise you that we have located a pay card for Donald MacGregor in record series, ST1910/4. This item has been access examined and is available for you to purchase a digital copy.
Title Pay history card Donald MacGregor
Contents date range 1914 - 1918
Series number ST1910/4
Click to see which government agency or person created this item.
Control symbol 2065
Citation NAA: ST1910/4, 2065
Item barcode 13802251
Location Sydney
Access status Open
Date of decision 22 Dec 2016
"The previously mentioned repatriation files in record series C137 - details below, have also been access examined and are available for purchasing digital copies.
Title McGregor, Donald [A260]
Contents date range 1919 - 1924
Series number C137
Click to see which government agency or person created this item.
Control symbol C90891
Citation NAA: C137, C90891
Item barcode 13801936
Location Sydney
Access status Open
Date of decision 22 Dec 2016
Title MacGregor, Donald [A260
Contents date range 1920 - 1920
Series number C137
Click to see which government agency or person created this item.
Control symbol R90891
Citation NAA: C137, R90891
Item barcode 13801935
Location Sydney
Access status Open
Date of decision 22 Dec 2016
"If you wish to purchase digital copies of these items, please see How to purchase copies.
"You may choose instead to view the items in the Chester Hill Reading Room. If so, please contact the National Reference Service beforehand and quote the item details on this email so that the necessary preparations can be made. Advance notice of at least five days is preferred."
Whether or not anyone can help any further I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took part - by help, advice or encouragement - in this quite extended conundrum. I’ve learnt a lot from the experience and learnt what wonderful people there are out there. In order of their first appearance: Jamjar, rosball, majm, Rosinish, cando, judb, Rena, sparret, Ruskie, Pheno, phenolphthalein and brigidmac; with special mention to rosball for copying the divorce papers and wading through all those coroners reports - thanks, Ros - and to majm for much advice from you and from those friends and rellies, and for starting a breakthrough by finding Donald in West Wyalong - thanks, JM.
Cheers, Peter
