Certificate of Discharge

This certificate was issued to Percy Heenan on his discharge from the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1918.

The significance of this object lies in its 'typicality' as illustrating processes and experiences undergone by many thousands of New Zealanders during the First World War. These certificates recorded the time each man had served, a brief physical description of him, and a very brief statement about character (on the reverse of this particular certificate, Percy Heenan's character was considered 'Good', which was typical of most certificates).

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.