Prisoner of War identity disc : Corporal W Middleton, 2/30 Battalion, AIF

Japanese issued prisoner of war identity disc worn by Corporal William Middleton of 2/30 Battalion, AIF. The roughly cut rectangular disc is made of thin galvanized metal with Japanese characters which translate as 'Australia' and 'NCO' painted on it. Below these is stamped an Australian Army service number 'NX46929'. At the centre top of the disc is a hole with a short length of wire twisted through it. A safety pin is attached to this wire loop.

William Middleton was born at Taree, NSW, in April 1905. He enlisted in the 2nd AIF in July 1940, becoming Corporal NX46929 in 2/30 Infantry Battalion, part of the 8th Australian Division, which was sent to defend the Malay peninsula. After heavy fighting in Malaya, (including the successful ambush of advancing Japanese forces at Gemas on 14/15 January 1942) 2/30 Battalion surrendered with the rest of the 8th Division at Singapore on 15 February 1942, and went into captivity. Middleton would have been issued with this tag, identifying him as an Australian NCO, by the Japanese authorities. He survived captivity, but was in very poor health when repatriated to Australia aboard the Dutch hospital ship 'Oranje'. He was not expected to survive the voyage, and gave his ID tag to New Zealand Nursing Sister NZ823214 Mary Langford, who was serving on the 'Oranje'. Official records indicate, however, that he recovered, and was considered healthy enough to be discharged from the army in March 1946. His later movements are not known.