South Yorkshire Times, April 25, 1942

Forgery Charge

Mexborough Man Fined

At Rotherham West Riding Court on Monday, James Burns (28), miner, of 2, Park Road, Mexborough, was fined £5 with the alternative of one month’s imprisonment (twenty-eight days allowed as time to pay) for having forged an army discharge certificate in order to obtain employment.

The evidence showed that Burns got a Job at a Swinton works on Match 17th and signed an undertaking to produce his Army discharge certificate.   When he produced the document on March 23rd it was found to have been altered.

An official from the works said, in evidence, that the engagement of Burns was conditional on the discharge certificate being satisfactory.

P.c. Noden said the certificate had been altered from “top to bottom.”

Defendant told the magistrates that he was discharged from the Army on September 5th, 1941 and altered the certificate two months after.

The magistrates (Mr. J. B. Willoughby and Mr. H. Tinker) decided that the altered certificate should be sent to the Army Record Office.