This is proof of Attestation form being filled in by another

[Bardess]

Lad from Smethwick enlisting in Australia [local pronunciation Smerrick]

[jhill]

I find this sort of thing all the time on Attestation Papers. My favourite is that of a fellow born in the north eastern United States whose place of birth is written "Province of Rhodarling". (Say it out loud while looking at a map of the Eastern U.S.A.!).

The reason this happened is that the man himself did not fill out the form. A clerk filled it in from the answers the man gave to verbal questions. Often, the clerk was shaky in geography, especially "foreign" geography. Also, there were frequently language difficulties.