Two identity discs worn by allied prisoners of war in Germany : Private H Horner, 4th Machine Gun Company

Two steel identity discs, one oval and one octagonal. Oval disc is stamped 'RIBNITZ' across the centre and 'Aushebungsbezick' (district levy) around the top edge. The octagonal disc is impressed 'RIEDRICHSFELD [Friedrichsfeld] 73282'. Each disc has been punched with two holes at each end for wiring to a cap.

These discs were issued to 245 Private Herbert Horner whilst he was a prisoner of war. They were worn wired to his cap.

Horner was born in Riverton, South Australia in 1874 and was a farmer on enlistment in the 4th Machine Gun Company on 24 February 1916 aged 41. He embarked for England on 18 July aboard HMAT Seang Bee as a member of 4 Machine Gun Company - 2 to 9 Reinforcements. Horner proceeded overseas to France on 1 December, arriving at the Machine Gun Base at Favreuil on 3 December. He was taken on strength by the 3rd Machine Gun Company on 18 December.

Horner was taken prisoner of war during the First Battle of Bullecourt on 11 April 1917 . He was reported missing in action by his Commanding Officer on 15 April and officially confirmed as a prisoner of war in Germany on 2 June. Horner was initially interned at Limburg before being transferred to Friedrichsfeld in November and then to Gustrow in January 1918. He was sent to work at Gustrow Sugar Factory for two weeks before entraining for Billenhagen where he worked in a forest collecting firewood. Horner was then sent to Tessin where he worked on a local farm feeding cattle, horses and collecting firewood.

Transferring to another farm in Weteindorf where he managed to escape, Horner soon handed himself in. He remained at Weteindorf until the end of the war.

Horner entrained back to the main military camp at Gustrow to await repatriation via Denmark. He arrived in Copenhagen in December 1918 and sailed for England aboard SS Frederick VIII, arriving on 30 December. He sailed for Australia aboard HMAT Marathon on 19 April 1919 arriving in Western Australia on 31 May.