Returned Soldier's Railway Ticket

A free ticket to ride

This 'Returned Soldier's Railway Ticket' was issued to Trooper George Wilson by the Defence Department. It enabled him free second-class travel from 'any station to any station' between 4th February and 3 March 1919, as long as he was carrying a Returned Soldiers' Certificate of Discharge or Leave Warrant. All returned soldiers received a pass after they returned to New Zealand, so that they could travel back to their homes.

George Wilson

Wilson was born 17 August 1888 in Scotland, to George and Isabella Wilson of Strachan, Kincardine. Wilson enlisted from Rangiotu, Palmerston North. He embarked with the Veterinary Corps unit, 2nd Reinforcements Body from Wellington on 14 December 1914, bound for Suez, Egypt. Wilson mainly served in Egypt and the Middle East, including specifically Helipolis, Kantara (in Cyprus) and Palestine.

For his service in the First World War, he received the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. After the war, Wilson became a farmer. He died in Masterton, Wairarapa on 26 October 1967, aged 79.