WWI identity disc - John (Jack) Soderic Hampton

John (Jack) Soderic Hampton was a clerk aged 18 when he enlisted with the 6th Reinforcement, 53rd Battalion, AIF on 25 April 1916 He required written approval from both parents to enlist due to his age. His service number was 2674.
Jack was the youngest of three brothers from Marrickville, NSW, who went to war. Warren and Syd both fought at Pozieres. Syd received a bullet to his chest on the first night of the offensive (22-23 July 1916) and was taken by his brother Warren to a dressing station and then Warloy Casualty Clearing Stattion, dying a week later. Warren was injured in the same action, but survived the war.
Jack embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 7 October 1916. He was wounded in action (gunshot wound to right hand and badly gassed) at Mont St Quentin on the Hindenberg Line in October 1918.
He returned to Australia on HMAT A54 Runic on 27 April 1919, and was discharged on 9 June 1919.

During the First World War there were three types of identity discs issued to those serving in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). The first was the British pattern 1907 (which this tag is). It was made from aluminium which was stamped or engraved with the soldier's details. In late 1916, the metal discs were replaced by two made from compressed fibre - an octagonal green disc (formally referred to as “Disc, identity, No. 1, green”), and a circular red disc (formally referred to as “Disc, identity, No.2, red”).
The compressed fibre discs were not trusted, especially by sailors who correctly believed that they would not prove durable in water. Many servicemen and women continued to wear personal means of ID as well as official – often the official around the neck, and the unofficial as a metal wrist bracelet.