The hand signatures on the notes in pencil and pen reflect a trend, apparently started by Alaskan bush flyers in the 1920s, of soldiers, sailors and airmen in WWII signing the paper currency/notes of their comrades while they were deployed ("short snort" was slang for a shot of liquor - what better time to sign a note than over a drink?). 

This note is signed by what appear to be several members of the British Armed Forces and local relief workers with the locations, where noted, centering on the island of Malaita, which is the primary island in the Solomon Island chain, in the city of Fauabu, which was invaded by the Japanese in early 1942 and held until November. One of the hand signatures, by a J.R. or G.R. Buffet, is dated December 30, 1943. Another, by a Phyllis Talbot, provides no date but seems to indicate she worked at the local Hospital of the Epiphany. Another signature by W.L. Friday indicates that this was in "World War #2 South Pacific 1943". The final signature, by Hellis Iliad, seems to indicate she worked at or was part of the Melanesian Mission.

The Solomon Islands were a very fascinating piece of World War II history, with some isolated units of Japanese solders remaining until the 1950s and 1960s, unconvinced the war had ended by Japanese surrender. 

This note captures, as with many of the "short snorter" notes available, a little piece of history from a generation that has all but disappeared but whose efforts, struggles and victories are still resonating with us today.