Identity disc made from Mexican silver coin : Chief Petty Officer G J Blake, HMAS Pioneer

Silver identity disc made from a Mexican eight real coin. The obverse of the coin is partly effaced, but the words 'REPUBLICA MEXICANA' and an image of a bird holding a snake in its beak and talons remain visible. The original markings on the reverse have been completely removed, and a small suspension ring soldered to the top. Deeply impressed into the reverse are the words 'GEORGE.J.BLAKE H.M.A.S.PIIONEER [sic] R.C CH STO NO7098 R.A.N'. Beneath these impressed markings are traces of earlier engraved words, which appear to have read ' J BLAKE AB CH. OF E 2510 HMAS PIONEER' above some scrollwork.

After the German cruiser SMS Emden was destroyed by HMAS Sydney and driven aground on Cocos Island on 9 November 1914, some 6429 silver Mexican eight real pieces (also known as 'silver dollars') were recovered from the wreck. When the light cruiser HMAS Pioneer visited Cocos Island some two months later (17-18 January 1915) on her way to East Africa, it is likely that numbers of the coins were still available, either from local inhabitants, or remaining on the wreck. It is certainly known that several members of Pioneer's crew made silver identity discs for themselves from eight real pieces.

This example seems to have been originally made for (or perhaps by) 2510 Able Seaman Frederick James Blake, who served in the Royal Australian Navy between January 1913 and June 1924, and had sea service on HMAS Pioneer between September 1913 and November 1916. The second owner of the disc, who evidently had it renamed directly over the previous details, appears to have been 7098 Chief Stoker George Joseph (aka George John) Blake, a serving member of the Royal Navy who was attached to the RAN between October 1912 and March 1919. Blake served aboard HMAS Pioneer between December 1913 and November 1916. The reason for the change of ownership between the two men is not known, and neither is the significance, if any, of the fact that they shared a surname.