Historical information

This is another of the documents held within a frame 90.5cm X 66.5cm, covered by no-reflective glass of the Walter Thomas West Collection.

Physical description

Official Royal Document
Certificate possibly done by caligrapher in old English script,signed by King George V, and a signature which is not decipherable.

Inscriptions & markings

Top Left hand Corner: George R.I. (Signature of King George V).
Main Face of Certificate: 13
George, by the Grace of God of the united Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the seas. King Defender of the Faith Emporer of India etc.
To our Trusty and well Beloved Walter Thomas West MM Greetings
We reposing a special trust and confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good conduct do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be an Officer in our land forces from the twenty - ninth day of November 1917. You are therefore carefully and diigently to discharge your duty as such in the Rank of Second Lieutenant or in such a higher Rank as we may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or Appoint you to, of which notification will be made in the London Gazette, and you are at all times to exercise and well discipline in arms both the inferior Officers and men serving under you and use your best endeavours to keep them in good order and disipline. And we do hereby command them to obey you as their superior Officer and you to observe and follow such orders and directions as from time to time you shall receive from us or any of your superior Officers according to the rules and discipline of war in persuance of the trust here by reposed in you.
Given at our court at Saint James's the Third Day of May 1918 in the eighth year of our reign.
By His Majesty's Command
Signature Undecipheral
Bottom Left hand corner
Walter West MM
Second Lieutenant
Land Forces