WW1 Identity tag

WW1 Identity tag of 62300 Private Henry Herbert (Bert) Gill

Identity tags like these, made of compressed fibre, were worn in pairs, one circular and the other octagonal. In the event of the wearer being killed the octagonal tag remained with the body while the red circular disc was returned to Headquarters for recording casualty details. This is the disc that was returned to the family after Bert’s death.

The information impressed on the disc is limited to country NZ, name and service number, together with an abbreviation identifying the wearer’s religion.

Collection Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, presented by Mrs CN Weir, 1980.19, W2355