WODONGA'S troubled RSL sub-branch has stripped members of their status after telling them records of their relatives' service in World Wars could not be found.
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Letters have been sent by the sub-branch's secretary Peter Derriman to some with affiliate status stating a check failed to locate their forebears on "recent Australian Military Rolls".
"Therefore, your membership has reverted to social, until you are able to supply written traceable references," Mr Derriman wrote.
The move upset Lorraine Ahearn, whose grandfather Mihil Thomas Ahearn was a gunner in World War I and part of the 22nd Battalion.
"It's false information because I called up Anzac House in Melbourne to verify my membership status and I'm still signed up as an affiliate member, according to their records, so they're (Wodonga) are sending out a different message," Ms Ahearn said.
The switches to memberships by the sub-branch follows a turbulent period that saw a no-confidence vote in the administration defeated at an extraordinary meeting last month.
Affiliate membership gives voting rights not granted to those in the social category.
Ms Ahearn feared the change was aimed at disenfranchising those planning to use their vote at Sunday's sub-branch annual general meeting.
Wodonga RSL sub-branch president Kevyn Williams said that was "incorrect".
"There's a requirement to provide documented information and they have been asked to provide it, that all it is," Mr Williams said.
Mr Williams said each year 10 to 15 per cent of the sub-branch's membership was checked ahead of the annual meeting.
Ms Ahearn said she could not understand why her membership had been summarily changed.
"They know how it's organised and should understand the by-laws do not give them the right to change my status from affiliate to social without me being able to appeal it," she said.
The Border Mail was able to quickly find Gunner Ahearn's details on the World War I nominal roll on the Australian War Memorial website.
Ms Ahearn was surprised the sub-branch was unable to do likewise before downgrading her membership.
"They have the resources to be able to check that themselves, they should be able to locate that particular scenario," she said.
