Identity discs : Flying Officer J A Harris, 43 Squadron, RAF

Pair of aluminium identity discs, one circular and one hexagonal, attached to each other by a 160 mm long silver chain. The hexagonal disc has two 4 mm mounting holes on either end while the circular disc has only one. Both are engraved on the obverse '407618 Harris J A RAAF C. E.' and on the reverse 'O IV'.

Worn by 407618 Flying Officer James Arthur Harris of 43 Squadron, RAF. Harris was born in 1920 in Gawler, South Australia. He worked as a clerk until his enlistment in the RAAF on 7 December 1940. He trained in Australia and Southern Rhodesia, qualifying as a sergeant pilot. After obtaining their wings Harris and fellow trainees were on their way to England when torpedos struck their ship. The Australians stuck together and managed to board a small life boat with one South African, some RAF officers and one WAAF. They were rescued by a Polish Cargo ship five hours after the ship sunk. He flew briefly in Egypt and North Africa before moving to England where he was posted to 43 Squadron, RAF, mainly flying Spitfires over France, North Africa, Italy and Malta. He was later commissioned. Harris was discharged on 1 October 1945.