Identity disc : Captain A T Cole, Australian Flying Corps, AIF

Round aluminium identity disc impressed '277 A T COLE 1 AFC CE'. The disc is attached to a metal chain.

Born in Malvern, Victoria, in 1895, Adrian Trevor 'King' Cole enlisted in the AIF on 29 January 1916 and joined 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps in Palestine as a pilot. Later transferring to 2 Squadron, Cole served on the Western Front. He recorded ten victories and was awarded both the Military Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the war. He returned to Australia with the rank of Captain on 1 July 1919. He continued to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force and became Director of Training and Commander of Point Cook in the 1920s. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1937. He served with distinction in the Second World War and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He retired with the rank of Air Vice Marshall and died in 1966.