Warpocketbooks and Identification tags

The warpocketbook and identification tag were issued upon induction. The soldier was required to carry these at all times. In the 1930s, the warpocketbook was a standard part of the personal equipment of Dutch conscripted soldiers. The booklet was issued upon induction and served as a means of identification and registration. It contained personal information such as name, date of birth, address, religion, marital status, occupation, and the names of the soldier’s parents. It also included military details, such as the regiment, draft year, clothing sizes, gas mask size, and vaccination records. The pocketbook was carried during refresher exercises and periods of mobilization.

The identification tag, often issued together with the pocketbook, was a zinc identification plate worn around the neck. During this period, the plate was still often etched with acid rather than stamped, which resulted in less durable legibility. Later, the tags were stamped. The plate typically listed the soldier’s name, date of birth, place of birth, and sometimes the unit. In the event that the soldier was killed, the plate was broken in half. The part attached to the cord remained with the soldier. The lower half of the plate, together with the warpocketbook, was sent to the Red Cross information bureau.