Royal Naval Identity Disc

[Positivethinker]

I want to replace a small gold disc which I have lost and which I bought in an antique shop. I'm not sure what it was. Someone told me it was an identity disc worn by sailors in the Royal Navy, possibly during WWII. It had some decoration around the edge possibly a chain or rope, and a plain raised centre. Does anyone know what this could have been?

[woofgang]

If it was real gold, even 9 carat, even pated or rolled, I doubt if it was statutory issue, the cost would have been enormous

[Positivethinker]

Thanks woofgang you have a point! I'm sure it was real gold so I wonder what it was.

[ladyalex]

My FIL was in the RN in WWII and he certainly never had anything like that.He would certainly have kept it as we have all of his service records etc in their special covering.
Sorry cannot help you with what your disc is. Hope you find it. :-))

[retrocop]

This is a pure shot in the dark.
Many years before WW11 sailors of both the Merchant Marine and Royal Navy wore a solid gold earring.If they were washed overboard,drowned and washed up on land the hope was that some god fearing person would give the deceased sailor a decent burial and the gold earring was a contribution towards costs or a thank you.As your disc was solid gold maybe this served the same purpose for someone who did'nt like the idea of their ears being pierced

[woofgang]

it would have to be pretty old retrocop. My fil was in the RN and earring wearing wasn't allowed. My late DH was in the merc, and he, and therefore I know a fair bit about merc traditions and that is a new one on me. you'd be talking maybe 16th/17th c and even then while its a "belief" there is no verifiable proof. personally I think its a good story but not true. It would need to be a very important man indeed to be carried home if he died at sea because the body would need to be preserved in spirit, like Nelson, which was an expensive business. If he was shipwrecked and drowned at sea then the earlobes would not be likely to survive long in the water because they are soft and fleshy (use your imagination).

[shoota]

Perhaps it was a 'sweetheart' pendant that might be worn by the lady left behind to show her man was at sea.
My mother wore my fathers badge of rank for that purpose and I have a silver set of miniature RAF wings that also served that purpose.
Did it have RN insignia on it?

[shoota]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/victorian-royal-navy-button-sweetheart-brooch-/200891967268?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item2ec6182724

[woofgang]

the Op says that the centre is blank.

[Positivethinker]

Thanks for replies. I think the earring story is originally a gypsy one. I haven't checked but I always understood that Romany gypsies wore an earring to pay for their funerals.

[woofgang]

I suspect it more practical that that, simply a traditional way of carrying your wealth around and also showing it off.

[xstitcher]

In the 70's it was very "in" to go with an gold ID tag and many wore these all the time. I would guess this is where yours comes from. The navy had metal tags the same as the army and airforce....Dad was in the army, I was in the navy and hubby the airforce...so that's how I know.

[Positivethinker]

Thanks xstitcher that's what I thought was probably the case. Still hasn't been found so I'm having to order a plain boring one now! Was nice thinking someone wore it in service and I wore it every day with medical details engraved. Thanks everyone for ideas.