Featured ID bracelet

First world war

CE chief engineer.
MT motorised transport.
ASC army service corps.
From what I read they use to get coins and flatten them and have them stamped by a local jeweller. It was supplementary to their dog tags.

Not sure how to find out more information about the soldier (without paying).
Would be happy to give this to his family if they were interested.

 

My first guess would have been a sweetheart piece of some sort, and maybe it was afterward. It depends on the length of the bracelet.

 

From the Imperial War Museums web site re World War I identity tags:

"The official fibre tags of composite material were not trusted, especially by sailors who, correctly, did not believe that they would prove durable in water. Hence many continued to wear personal means of ID as well as official – often the official around the neck, and the unofficial as a metal wrist bracelet."

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/first-world-war-identity-tags

Debora

 

I think they were made over there. By local jewellers. Thats what I read. Given war is often resulting in dismemberment etc they wanted extra ID.

 

In that case CE is not 'chief engineer' (although that is an official WWI acronym that was used). It is likely 'Church of England' instead.

 

Think you're right. This one has "C of E."

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ww1-id-bracelet-tag-silver-officers-512084288

Debora

 

What is the coin? Do I see part of the word 'francs' & 'Marianne'?

 

Yep.

Debora

 

I read that it is 2 Francs but I see no '2'
Maybe the 2 was on the ground off side I guess.

 

How much did that one sell for? I do not have a worthpoint subscription.

 

Sorry. Neither do I. But at the very least, they have silver value.

Debora

 

Mine isnt silver but I didnt buy it to make a profit. Just thought it was an interesting thing to have that is over 100 years old.

 

Are you sure it's not silver? They were made from 2 franc French coins that I read were silver until 1920.

Debora

 

They used silver coins for this sort of stuff right into WWII. I have a sweetheart necklace made from an Australian dime and a piece of airplane windshield. The guys and local populace used what was handy. Since silver wasn't being manufactured they used coinage.

Our guys in Iraq/Afghanistan got their service numbers tattooed on their torsos just in case. No record of if anyone had to be IDed that way.

 

To be honest I don't know what it's made of I just didn't see any silver colour really but maybe it's just grubby.