WW2 Japanese Dog tag for POW # 435

 This lot is for one very rare POW dog tag to a “WAR PRISONER,” Number 435.

We do not yet know who this man was. However, initial, albeit cursory, research indicates that the Japanese, like Allied & German, kept meticulous records of their prisoners.

One critical record was an “index card” which contained information about individual POWs. The records were kept on a standard printed form with both Japanese & English language entries.  We have added examples of such cards here  

Of note is the fact that each index card has an entry for No. (number) in the upper right as you can see.

In briefly reviewing on-line records, it is apparent that blocks of serial numbers were assigned to a particular camp rather than to an individual.

This practice is consistent with Japanese Army practice where dog tags did not bear the name of the soldier to whom it was issued. Instead, the standard wartime Japanese soldier dog tag typically bore only the unit number and the man’s number within that unit. In order to identify the man, the serial number would be compared to name on the numbered unit roster.

We have seen examples of Japanese POW index cards with two, three or even four serial numbers for a single POW. This is because many POWs were moved from camp to camp to camp during the war.

Each time they left one camp, the POW’s index card would be sent along with the POW to the receiving camp. These service number changes are reflected on the POWs index card in the upper right. On arrival at the new camp, the receiving POW camp clerk simply line out the old number and write in the new one.

In addition to these index cards, the Japanese prepared a dog tag which corresponded to the service number on the card. These POW dog tags were made like standard Japanese army issue dog tag blanks but the brass was thinner gauge and has some apparent iron content.

POW dog tag simply said “War Prisoner” and had a serial number.  Japanese made POW tags were necessary because, upon capture, Japanese soldiers routinely took the dog tags of Allied POWs as souvenirs, much like GIs took the dog tags of enemy soldiers as souvenirs.

We have found no photographic evidence that POWs actually wore these Japanese dog tags. We have not yet found evidence they knew they had a Japanese issued dog tag. However, we do know that POWs were aware they had a  Japanese prisoner number. It appears in some POW mail and in photos as shown here. 

Regardless, if one considers the purpose of a dog tag, that is: to identify a deceased service member, days, years or decades after burial, it makes sense that the Japanese would create such an object given the high number of deaths that occurred at Japanese POW camps.

If a POW died, the index card would be lined out with a red line as shown. The body would be buried with the assigned dog tag.  

As to how these came to the States, it is hard to be sure. Likely, they were liberated by either the POW upon rescue, or by a member of the rescue party as a souvenir. In either case, we are pleased to offer these here.

We have seen POW index cards with lower numbers issued to British and Australian POWs captured in early 1942. These bore early low numbers for British, Australian or other SE Asian Commonwealth allies captured in the first three months of 1942. In this time, the Japanese conquered Malaya, Singapore (called Shonan Island by the Imperial Japanese) Java, Indonesia, etc.

US, British and Commonwealth POWs were often held in the colony where captured. However, thousands upon thousands were sent on “hell ships” to permanent POW camps located all over Japan to act as manpower in factories and mines performing manual labor.

Those who stayed regionally worked in unbearable conditions such as those depicted in famous movies such as “Bridge on the River Kwai” & “King Rat.”

The fact these came to us simultaneously from a single vendor tells us that they were liberated together, either from a POW or a rescuer.

Because we have not completely researched to whom they were issued we can say these would make a wonderful research project given the abundance of information found on line.