Certificate of Discharge and envelope

This is an example of the official certificates that were given to returned soldiers when they were discharged from the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force at the end of their military service during the First World War. The certificates recorded the time each man had served, a brief physical description of him, and a very brief statement about character.

Many men always carried their certificates with them, as in the difficult post-war years the ability to prove war service could help them gain employment. This certificate is made from a mixture of waterproofed linen and cotton to make it more durable when folded up in men's pockets.