Identity disc : S H R Black, Wireless Section HQ Flight 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps

Circular identity disc impressed with the 1908 Australian Coat of Arms. Around the Arms is engraved in cursive script 'Next of Kin V. C. Black 288 Clarence St Sydney'. The reverse is engraved in the same script with '886/S.H.R.Black./ Wireless Section HQ Flight 4 Sqd/A.F.C.-A.I.F./C.E.'. The top of the disc has a rounded extension with a small hole for attaching the disc to a chain.

Worn by 886 Sydney Henry Robert Black who enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps on 6 October 1916. Black embarked from Melbourne on 17 January 1917 aboard RMS Omrah as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class and arrived in Plymouth, England on 27 March. He transferred to No. 71 (Aust) Squadron RFC (titled No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps from 18 January 1918) on 2 April but was taken on command at the South Farnborough Wireless School for a course of instruction on 16 April. He returned to his unit on 24 June and was promoted Corporal Mechanic on 1 July. On 20 August Black proceeded overseas to France for duty with the British Expeditionary Force as a member of No 1 Aircraft Depot (Wireless Section) He detached to No. 16 Squadron RFC on 24 September but was attached to No. 4 Squadron, AFC on 18 January 1918. Black transferred to No. 3 Squadron AFC on 17 May and remained attached to that unit until the end of the war. He returned to Australia aboard “Kaiser-i-Hind” on 6 May 1919 and disembarked in Australia on 19 June.