King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Identity Discs

Fibre Identity Discs, First World War onwards

Fibre identity discs were introduced in 1914.  One or two discs would be carried by a soldier, recording the number, name, unit and religion of the soldier. From around September 1916 two different discs were used: the octagonal disc was to remain with a soldier's body (Number 1 disc) and the red circular disc (Number 2 disc) would be forwarded to Headquarters for record purposes.  They were used beyond the Second World War until replaced by metal discs.

At the start of the First World War an 'emergency pattern' disc could be found in use, which had the details written in ink, rather than being stamped.

    
Lieutenant Frank Kinsey Munro-Thomas, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Accession Number: KO1015/08

The standard, stamped/embossed, pattern was far more common.

Trooper Rowland Clark, number 3714733,
5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Regiment and
Recce Corps. On string, circa Second World War.
Accession Number: KO1744/08

  
 
John Darlington, (officer) number 50011, King’s Own Royal Regiment.
Accession Numbers: KO1722/12, KO1722/13, KO1722/14 and KO1722/15

   
Private Harold Douthwaite, number 38543, 5th Battalion, The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment C of E. Accession Numbers: KO2607/03 and KO2607/04

Sergeant Robert Victor Holmes, number
3710132, King’s Own Royal Regiment On string.
Accession Number: KO2589/08

Corporal Benson Boyd, 5th King’s Own - showing the
number 409705 - indicating service with another
unit at some time.
Accession Number: KO2573/05

Sergeant Albert Holt, number 2112,
5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regiment. First World War.
Accession Number: KO2106/06

Sergeant Mathew Hughes, number 240699, 5th Battalion,
King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Accession Number: KO1820/09

Private Albert Ernest Johnson, number 9657, King’s
Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Wesleyan.
Accession Number: KO2843/04

Private William Alfred Morris, number 2166,
5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. 
With Ypres Medallion.  Accession Number: KO2061/04

Captain James Newhouse, number 58867,
5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Regiment.
On string, circa Second World War.
Accession Number: KO1723/18

Private William Wraith Newton, number 24237,
5th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Marked ‘5’
to indicate 5th Battalion. On metal chain.
Accession Number: KO2602/03

    
Private Harry Rawes, number 265370, 12th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. World War One. Accession Numbers: KO2046/38a & KO2046/38b

Private Daniel Rose, number 2522, 6th Battalion,
King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. On black cord.
Accession Number: KO2704/05

    
Private Christopher Benjamin Thornton, number 27536, 2nd/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. He also served with the 7th and 1st Battalions. Accession Numbers: KO2705/10 and KO2705/11

Sergeant Alfred William Towndrow, number 4368,
8th Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
On string. First World War.
Accession Number: KO2108/06

Robert Percy Firth White, (officer)
number 1381, King’s Own Royal Regiment.
On string. Accession Number: KO1312/19

Fibre identity disk (circular red) to J Rowlandson, number 3708694, King’s Own Royal Regiment
Accession Number: KO2951/008

Fibre identity disk (oblong) to J Rowlandson, number 3708694, King’s Own Royal Regiment
Accession Number: KO2951/009