Identity disc : Lieutenant B B Delpratt, 5 Light Horse Regiment, AIF

Single round aluminium identity disc with stamped out hole for suspension. The front of the disc was originally impressed '315 / B B / DELPRATT / B / 2 ALHR / CE'. The disc has been ammended by engraving or impressing. The service number was later changed to '315A', and the rank 'Lt' [Lieutenant] engraved before the wearer's initials. The wearer's Company 'B' has been struck out and replaced with 'C', and the number '2' has been struck out and replaced by a much larger '5'. The disc now reads ' 315A / Lt B B / DELPRATT / C / 5 ALHR / CE'.

Bertram Barnard Delpratt was born on 26 September 1881 at Beaudesert, Queensland. He enlisted in the AIF on 19 August 1914 at Toowoomba, Qld. Delpratt had previously applied to join the Queensland Police Force, but had been rejected due to insufficient chest size and was working as a farm manager when he enlisted. Upon enlistment Delpratt was appointed to B Squadron 2 Light Horse Regiment (LHR) with the rank of trooper and service number 315. He embarked from overseas service from Brisbane on 24 September 1914 aboard HMAT Star of England.

He trained with his unit in Egypt, before landing at Gallipoli on 12 May 1915. Delpratt was admitted to hospital on Gallipoli 30 August, but rejoined his unit a week later. On 24 October he was wounded in the neck and was sent back to Egypt. He remained in Egypt and in March 1916 was transferred to the 13th Infantry Brigade and was posted to 49 Battalion. A week later he was transferred back to the Light Horse, this time to C Squadron, 5 Light horse Regiment. His service number was changed to 315A as there was another man already in the unit with the same service number.

Delpratt served in Egypt, Sinai and Palestine. In July 1916 he was promoted to lance corporal, and then to corporal in August. In April 1917 he was promoted to sergeant and in December went to cadet school to be trained as an officer. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in March 1918 and returned to his unit. In June he was promoted to lieutenant. In October he was admitted to hospital with malaria. He saw no further active service and on 26 December he embarked from Port Said, Egypt to return to Australia aboard HT Somali for early 1914 'Anzac' leave. His appointment with the AIF was terminated On 30 April 1919 .

During the Second World War Delpratt enlisted in the Citizen's Military Force on 13 April 1942 and served in Australia until his discharge on 27 June 1944.

This type of disc is the aluminium single type issued to Australian soldiers in 1914 and 1915. The single discs were replaced by a pair of compressed fibre discs early in 1916. Delpratt continued to use this identity disc throughout the war as is reflected by the amendments made to the disc when he changed units, and later when he was commissioned.