Overview
Wed. Sept. 5
I go before the Military Service Medical Board to-day at Palmerston North. Clif drove me to station to catch 8.45 pm [sic] train. Two other Levin fellows going up, H Cottle + Aplin. Met Mr Douglas Gardner on train + had long chat. On arrival at Palmerston [North], four of us took a taxi to the Empire Hall where the Medical Board sits. I first went into a little
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room near the entrance door + sat at a table with an orderly who filled in a paper giving my name, occupation, date of birth, parents names, birthplaces, etc, etc. Armed with this paper I went up behind the stage of the hall where I found a number of men stripped to trousers + socks having their physical particulars taken by another officer. Before my turn came an adjournment was made to dinner which we had at the Empire Hotel next door. Having till two o clock Aplin + I walked round the Square + visited the Public Library. At 2pm I stripped to trousers + socks + had my height, weight (10 st[one] 6lbs), chest measurements, normal 34 in[che]s + expanded 36 inches, colour hair, eyes etc + religion taken. I then went to a large room at the side of the hall + was examined by two doctors, another officer being present. Stripped naked, had eyes + hearing tested, sounded (heart + chest), arm exercises + hopped about. My big toe was noted + one of the doctors
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examined me for varicocele but said I hadn t got it, only a wide ring . Leaving this room, I dressed + went to another small room near the entrance door of hall, but was not examined by dental officer. Another officer gave me an order to get 5/- for the day s pay + a white paper bearing the word You are hearby given leave without pay until further orders . Medical classification :- C2. Others who passed the medical test got a blue paper with date that they have to go into camp. Caught New Plymouth mail train to Levin. Tom Vincent drove me up to my gate. Much rejoicing by Maud on hearing news of my rejection.
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[High resolution image of whole page is available by scrolling through images attached to George Leslie Adkin personal diary, May 1917-February 1919