WWI identity disc made from a coin for John Stephen Shimmin, N.Z.E.F.

John Stephen Shimmin was born on 6 June 1895 at Andreas, Ayre, Isle of Man, England. Prior to World War One, he emigrated to New Zealand, and it was from there that he enlisted as a Rifleman with the 4th New Zealand Rifle Brigade, New Zealand Expeditionary Force (N.Z.E.F.) on 6 March 1916.
According to his service record, he served in the Western European theatre of war between 1916 and 1918, returning home aboard the transport ship H.M.N.Z. Maunganui which departed on 23 June 1919 and returned to New Zealand on 25 October 1919, when he was discharged.
John Stephen Shimmin reenlisted with the New Zealand Home Guard in World War Two.

The 1912 British One Penny coin from which the identity disc was made is from the beginning of the reign of King George V (1911-1936).
This identity disc is one of a large number of items in the collection made from coins. These include jewellery such as brooches and bracelets, small photo frames,and other bric a brac.
Many of these items were made by servicemen and could be called trench art. This is sometimes confirmed (as in this case) by engraving on the reverse side of the coins.