By the time of the Vietnam War, some IDs spelled out the broad religious choices such as PROTESTANT and CATHOLIC, rather than using initials, and also began to show individual denominations such as "METHODIST" or "BAPTIST". [41] Tags did vary by service, however, such as the use of "CATH," not "CATHOLIC" on some Navy tags. For those with no religious affiliation and those who chose not to list an affiliation, either the space for religion was left blank or the words "NO PREFERENCE" or "NO RELIGIOUS PREF" (or the abbreviation "NO PREF") were included. [41] Tags similar to French Mle 1881 and/or British patterns issued. Occasionally tags similar to British “No.2” disc were encountered…quite often made of wood!

As has been detailed in the opening section of this book, Germany (more specifically Baden, Bavaria and the nations of the North German Confederation) was the first country to officially issue identity discs to its soldiers on a wide scale during the Franco-German War of 1870-71. This first disc (the 1869 pattern ‘Recognoscirungsmarke’), introduced in April 1869 and first issued in July 1870, was a pressed steel rectangle approximately 4cm by 3 cm in size. This disc always had rolled edges and certain regimental details pre-stamped during manufacture. The number of the regiment, along with company and personal numbers were hand-stamped upon issue and only issued during war-time (therefore there was only ever one issue of this disc before it was superseded in 1878…however – see the note regarding these discs at the end of this chapter).Dog tags of the Israel Defense Forces are designed to be broken in two. The information appears in three lines (twice): Is one of your relatives in the military? Support your soldier with a Military Family Dogtag. Not to be used for impersonation!

Aluminium, These chains look very similar to the steel chains but have a lower breaking strength, This can be useful if the tags are being worn in a situation where they may get caught on something and injure the wearer.this “1917 Pattern ” disc is not recognised by many collectors and historians as a separate pattern possibly because its issue was never officially regulated. Some manufacturers did, however, produce discs to the specifications suggested in 1917 and so, though, not really a radical pattern change, they do exist as a separate entity to the disc of 1916)

The British Army now use surgical stainless steel tags, one is on a 24" chain and the other is on a 4.5" chain. The tags are usually inscribed with service number, blood group, surname, initials and religion. Modern Dog Tags Thin aluminium discs were the first official types, typically made at Regimental depots on fairground-style machines, punching into the soft metal one letter at a time. The layout was rarely in perfect alignment.Due to a wartime shortage of brass, a zinc version was encountered from 1915. This was sealed by a clip and can also, along with the paper insert, include basic details stamped to the case (possibly in an attempt to continue the chance of identification even after the paperwork has become water/decay damaged post-burial. A final version was made in 1918. This was a much simplified version made of a single piece of cheap pressed tin. This had to be tied at the loop to keep it shut. Due to its frailty, not many examples of these survive today.