Did British soldiers wear identity disks equivalent to US dog tags? Dog tags had the owners religion on them. I've read that US Jewish POWs often got rougher treatment. My friends uncle was captured during Battle of the Bulge. His captors thought he was Jewish because his name was Canter, even though his dog tags had P for Protestant, which is what he was. Dave
Relgion was stamped on ID discs. WW1, WW2 British Identity Discs [] - £12.00 : Tims Tags - Dog Tags - Military Discs - ID Discs - Tims Military Dog Tags - UK, USA, EUROPE!, Dog Tags and Military Identity Discs Shop - Tims Dog Tags suppliers of quality Dog Tag Identity Discs - UK, US Ron posts a pic of his mate's id disc. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachments/ww2-militaria-collecting/71856d1326572607-dog-tags-lews-identity-disk-jpg http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/470403-post7.html
Surely if they thought there was a good chance of capture (Special forces, paras etc.) they would not carry such information on them or retain an obviously Jewish name.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/44414-identity-discs-tags.html I posted a question and Ron replied - not long ago - April 2012?
Last Sunday, I gave a talk about my book to a combined group at Anshe Sholom Synagogue in Hamilton, Ontario, and had the pleasure to meet Mr. Sam Shapiro. Sam was an RCAF NCO second pilot on a Whitley, shot down and taken POW in July or August '41. He ended up in Stalag Luft 3. He told me that, because of his name and the Star of David on his dogtags, he was warned (presumably by Dixie Deans, who Sam idolized) NOT to attempt to escape. It was said that, if he did and were to be recaptured, he likely would not survive. Sam told me that he took this advice to heart, and focussed his energies on Red Cross activities, for which he was later rewarded with a Red Cross medal (post-war). Marc
A veteran of the 17th DYRCH recently described a Jewish corporal from that unit who was bayoneted by his German captors, once they determined that he was Jewish. It was the event which caused many in the regiment to no longer " accept the surrender of German soldiers".
Louis Hagen/Levy (Glider pilot, "Arnhem Lift") recounts that his army documents were officially issued in the name "Lewis Haig", and that other jewish servicemen - especially German and European refugees - were all renamed to protect them in the event of capture.
As I have often mentioned, I was one of five serving brothers and we all had our own personal way of dealing with the issue of a very Jewish surname. Two of my brothers changed their surnames before going in the Forces but Jack, Mick and I opted to serve under our family name. I always considered that Mick placed himself at particular risk by volunteering for the Jewish Brigade and dear Jack's ID disks were used by the Germans even after his death. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-air/42597-last-flight-lancaster-rf154-b.html I remain thankful, even to today, that I was never taken prisoner whilst with the 4th QOH, and often wonder if I would have had the time or even presence of mind to get rid of my ID disks with their prominent declaration of my religious faith. Sombre thoughts for the Remembrance Weekends. Ron ps And you may remember Larry Fox telling you about this chap ! BBC - WW2 People's War - Arnold's Star of David Tattoo
Great stuff Ron, thank you - and I hadn't read the story of your brother, very moving and interesting account. My dad always recalled being told those dog tags didn't belong to him, but 'to the King' by a drill corporal.
