Identity disc : Trooper E J Craggs, 12 Light Horse Regiment, AIF

Aluminium identity disc with crudely engraved details. Obverse reads "2373 / E.J. CRAGGS / 12TH LH", while reverse reads "EV CRAGGS / ACC".

Associated with the service of 2373 Trooper Ernest "Ern" James Craggs, "A" Squadron, 12th Light Horse who enlisted in Sydney on 10 February 1917. Twenty two year old labourer Ern Craggs was killed during the charge of the 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments against the Turkish held town of Beersheba on 31 October 1917 and his commanding officer, Lieutenant Edward Ralston related in a letter to Craggs' mother that "the day before the fight he was laughing and joking as usual and was full of spirits all through the long night ride. He rode into action just behind me and the last I saw of him [he] was standing in his stirrups and cheering." Ralston was wounded at this point and "A" Squadron Sergeant John Bailey continues the story: "He and I were wounded at the same time he was hit in the head and chest. I helped him under the cover of his own horse which was killed. I held the poor Boy's hands while he passed away. He only spoke once - told me he thought he was badly wounded [and] he only lived about 10 minutes after he was wounded. He did not have any pain thank God."