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1951.12.1.1

Pair of World War II soldier's identity discs.

1951.12.1.1

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Collection type
Object
Description
Pair of World War II soldier's identity discs.
Long description
Circular red tag [.1] and green octagonal tag [.2] both stamped with [name:] ALLEN M [religion:] CE (i.e. Church of England) [i.d. number:] 7946745 & on reverse [blood group:] A2. [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 3/10/2005]
Cultural groups
English
Person
Maker Unknown Maker
Field collector Unknown Collector
PRM source Ivor Michael Allen
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1945
Date collected
1939 - 1945
Acquisition information
Donated: 1951
Materials and processes
Material Cardboard Paper Plant, Material Plant Fibre, Process Stamped, Process Machine-made, Process Perforated
Dimensions
Width: max 40 mm, Length: max 34 mm, Diameter: max 35 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1951.12.1.1 Accession number: 1951.12.1.2
Research and responses

From website, http://www.wakefieldfhs.org.uk/War%20Slang.htm: "Identity disc. Men were issued with metal or, more usually, red and green composite material identity discs. These gave the name, number, unit and religion of the holder. One disc remained with the body ... in the event of death." Another website (http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-uniforms/dog_tags2.htm) gives the material as 'pressed fibre' but I have been unable to determine exactly what material these discs are made of. [EC 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 3/10/2005]

Search terms: Insignia, Ornament, Writing, Badge, Inscription

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