DISABLED SOLDIERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16822, 30 May 1919, Page 8

DISABLED SOLDIERS

THE KING'S CERTIFICATE. x (Per Press Association.). WELLINGTON, May 29. The Defence Department is about to distribute a very handsome King's Certificate of Discharge to men of tho Expeditionary Force who. have been disabled in war service. About thirty thousand New Zealanders are entitled to this document, and eight thousand copies are ready for distribution. Applications are now invited from the remaining participants, who can obtain the necessary forms from any Defence Office, or, from Base .Records, Wellington. ■ '< ' ■■■"•.'■■'

:-,' The certificate is a large one, printed in two colours on heavy paper, and will riiake a handsome picture when framed. The design . 'is by the " celebrated '•Punch" artist, Bernard Partridge, and depicts Britannia- regarding- ; a line of soldiers' representative-' of the forces which : made up the : Army of Britain and .the Empire. On .columns at the sides-.are the names, of: the countries represented. The'' certificate sets out the name and rank of the holder, followed by the sentence:—"Served with honour and was disabled in the great war." The' date of discharge and the lithographed signature of his Majesty the King follow. It will be seen from the form of the certificate that it is intended for men who were discharged disabled. Those who were not disabled will, it is understood receive a similar certificate differently worded, at a later date. Officers who were gazetted out of the forces tlirough wounds or illness will receiye the King's Certificate slightlv different from that issued to the rank and file, and supplies will shortly arrive from the War Office. Applications for tins certificate are now being. received/These certificates will be distributed in addition to those provided by the New Zealand Government, for which competitive designs are now being called.