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Messages - Dinkydidy

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19
United States of America / Re: Who completed WW2 US draft card?
« on: Monday 09 August 21 05:51 BST (UK)  »
Thank you so much for your interest and input.

I think Alan completed the Australian papers himself. The answers are handwritten in block letters, but the V in the surname area is shaped very much as it is in his signature, so he probably wrote the London. England answer himself.

In case there's any question of there being two different individuals involved, you'll notice that the 152 Strangways Terrace, North Adelaide address appears on both the draft US card and the Australian papers. It's not on the original enlistment form as it was the address of Alan's wife, whom he married in 1942. He probably did not even know her at the time of enlistment, because there is a different fiancee (Mary Cox, of Goulburn, NSW) first named but crossed out on the Service and Casualty Form at image 7 of his record. And he did not name any next of kin on the original enlistment either.

A family member has unsuccessfully tried to obtain a birth certificate from Louisiana. I wonder if he quoted that state because of its French origins, even though his own name (if it is genuine) is not very common there.

If there was a requirement for US men to register for the draft, would it have applied to all male residents, regardless of birthplace? And if so, would it have been based on the most recent census, since vital records of birth were not always available? So far, I can't see any variation of Alan Le Vere (of the right age) listed in the 1930 or 1940 US censuses, so I just don't understand how or why the draft card even existed.

20
United States of America / Re: Who completed WW2 US draft card?
« on: Sunday 08 August 21 06:53 BST (UK)  »
I don't know anything about his citizenship status. He was single at the time of enlistment, but married in Australia during the war.

21
United States of America / Re: Who completed WW2 US draft card?
« on: Sunday 08 August 21 06:46 BST (UK)  »
Thanks for your reply. I did wonder if the "For" might have been related to a "foreign" registration.

I did locate a Carolyn Puette, maiden name Creighton, who was living in Chicago, Illinois on the 1930 census. She was between husbands and did not remarry until 1945, so could have been using her maiden name. The following is a lot of "maybe", "possibly" and "what if" stuff.

Carolyn was born in Michigan, but both her parents were born in Ontario, Canada. The only Levere family i could locate in Louisiana are "B" on the census, which Alan was not. However, Le Vere and many variations are very common names in Ontario, which of course had many French settlers. AND there is a London, Ontario. Maybe Alan just changed the Ontario for England. I haven't so far found any connection between Le Veres and Creightons, nor any reference to an Alan Le Vere of the right vintage in Canada.

I'm sure it would have been easier for Alan to enlist in Australia with an English birthplace, since that would give him a common British background. But would it have been much different if he claimed to be Canadian, also British?

22
United States of America / Who completed WW2 US draft card?
« on: Sunday 08 August 21 05:36 BST (UK)  »
Alan Le Vere enlisted in the Australian Army in January 1941, giving London, England as his place of birth and 1911 as his year of birth. He served in the Australian Army for the remainder of the war and was not discharged until late 1945, remaining in Australia. He had an American accent.

There is a US draft card for him online, completed in Feb 1944, but unsigned. It contains an Australian address, with his employer listed as the Australian Army. it also states he was born in 1907 in New Orleans, La. The stamp of the Local Board says "Local Board No.1 - For. Washington, D.C."

The only other point of interest is the "Person who will always know your address", an aunt in Illinois named Carolyn Creighton, whose connection is proving hard to trace.

How were draft cards generated, especially in the person's absence? Was registration compulsory, and if so, how was compliance checked? Were they based on US residence? Was there any checking of birth details etc? How did the government even know they existed otherwise?

Lots of questions, I know, but it's proving very difficult to identify him correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Didy

23
Australia / Re: Please help identify Australian WW2 "Special Forces" unit
« on: Friday 06 August 21 08:37 BST (UK)  »
I have only seen the digitised service record, and only the first page is coloured as shown. All printing and handwriting shows quite clearly on this and other pages. The reverse of the pink form is blank except for the small front and profile mugshots and a checking stamp.

The man enlisted in NSW in early 1941 and served in the Middle East and New Guinea. I can't see anything unusual in his reported posting and casualty records, and he was discharged in late 1945.

I am amazed at your veteran ex-serviceman's recall, and appreciate his help.

The form in the example you posted yesterday is very similar, with the main differences being that mine has no question 13 about education, and is completed fully by hand, not typed.

I have played around with increasing and decreasing the colour saturation of documents a little myself, so I know that even a pink document could be adjusted to produce a black and white copy.

24
Australia / Re: Please help identify Australian WW2 "Special Forces" unit
« on: Thursday 05 August 21 08:28 BST (UK)  »
Thanks majm. It sounds quite reasonable and I will possibly be able to confirm that when I get a response from the AWM.

I'm still curious about the different coloured form. It contained no next of kin details, and also included mug-shot type photographs, which I've not encountered before.

Didy

25
Australia / Re: Please help identify Australian WW2 "Special Forces" unit
« on: Wednesday 04 August 21 13:10 BST (UK)  »
Sent query. They may take 10 days or so to reply.

26
Australia / Re: Please help identify Australian WW2 "Special Forces" unit
« on: Wednesday 04 August 21 11:46 BST (UK)  »
Thanks for the suggestion Matthew. I think I'll contact the War Memorial.

Didy

27
Australia / Please help identify Australian WW2 "Special Forces" unit
« on: Wednesday 04 August 21 07:53 BST (UK)  »
Can anyone clarify why this Attestation Form is different from the usual white one? What were the Special Forces referred to? I assume there might be some clue in the long line of initials?

I know there is a specialised Armed Forces board, but thought it might not be familiar with Australian details.

I don't wish to identify the (deceased) individual at this stage, due to a sensitive, irregular family relationship which was the cause of legal action many years ago.

Didy

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