POW WW1?

[Postwarden]

It has been suggested that this is some form of identity mark worn on uniforms by British Prisoners of War held by the Germans in WW1.

Is this true or is it something else - in which case what?

Suggestions please.

Jon

Hi Jon,
First off, i don't know, but i will check my family POW cards to see if the numeral reference bears resemblance.
A photo of my great uncle in captivity attached, repatriated in 1919, his cousin was not so lucky, shot whilst trying to escape. Regards Mark

Jon, nothing jumps out from the POW cards either, sorry can't be of more help. Regards Mark


Edit: both serving in CEF, both held in Germany.

[peter monahan]

I think I remember the Stalags, at least in WWII, being numbered using Roman Numeral - such as 'XI/I.

In WWI, the XI Army Corps (Cassel) had three camps, one for officers and the other two of which held 25,000 enlisted men.

I wonder if the badge indicates camp: XI/I , compound or division or some such: 5 / 3, and prisoner number: 289?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...r-of-war_camps)

[Hawthorn]

This is a useful site for WW1 POW's with a function for searching individual Prisoners.

Haven't had a chance to look myself but might be worth trying the details on the patch to see if a match is possible.

https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/

Simon

[Alex Rice]

I have a lot of photos of prisoners in Guben POW camp and none have tags like that on their uniforms.
Cheers,
Alex

[Postwarden]

The attached which shows a similar badge/label appeared in the July 2016 issue of The Formation Sign, Journal of the Military Heraldry Society.

Jon