Identity disc : Private J Larsen, 6 Battalion, AIF Accession Number: REL33247.001

Description

Round aluminium identity disc. Impressed on one side '3345 6AI CE LARSON. [sic] J'.

Contextual Description

This identity disc was issued to 3345 Private Joseph Larsen after he enlisted with the 11th Reinforcements to 6 Battalion, AIF, on 6 July 1915, at the age of 24. Larsen was born in Denmark and immigrated to Australia in 1912 where he worked as a farmer near Pearcedale in Victoria. He was killed in action on 20 September 1917, during the 3rd Battle of Ypres. When he enlisted, Larsen named his father, also Joseph Larsen, of Svenborg, Denmark, as his next of kin but noted that this was where he had lived 'when last heard of'. Attempts to trace his Danish family to notify them of his death, by both Australian and Danish authorities, were unsuccessful. It was decided that Larsen's remaining personal effects should be forwarded to James S Ridley, also of Pearcedale, as he had been named sole beneficiary in a Will drawn up by Larsen upon his enlistment. Ridley advised that although Joseph Larsen had written to his parents a number of times after he arrived in Australia he had never received a reply. Larsen had lived and worked with Ridley and had come to be considered one of his family. Accordingly a package was sent to Ridley in 1918 containing Larsen's effects. It comprised two identity discs, photos, a wallet, a damaged wrist watch, cards, a compass and a lock of hair. A third identity disc was forwarded in June 1920 after Larsen's remains had been reinterred in the Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium. Later, Ridley agreed to accept Larsen's service medals and Death Plaque on condition that they be handed over to Larsen's Danish relatives if ever they could be located. This type of disc is the single type issued to Australian soldiers in 1914-1916. The single discs were replaced by a pair of compressed fibre discs early in late 1916. This disc and the disc described at REL33247.002 are the two listed in the contents of the package sent to James Ridley in 1918. They were found in England in 2004 and returned to Australia.