question about an ID tag

[geluveld]

Today, whilst working, I found an ID tag.

Very difficult to read, but the following information can be read on it:

Bdr W. WILK?

L31712 (last digit seems like a 2)

CE

B.Batty

179 (or 479) BDG RFA

So it looks like a bombardier of the Royal Field Artillery, Church of England of religion.

Could anyone help out with some more info on the possible former owner of this bit of kit

(I do add that the thing has been found whilst working, and NO human remain were found, not during the work or near to the tag!!!)

thanks in advance

[LarsA]

There is a L31712 Walter Wicking, RFA, that might fit. Not on CWGC though. MIC found.

ATB,

Lars

[geluveld]

Hi Lars

I have cleaned the tag a bit, and the only letter that seems to be missing (where the tag is broken off) would be the H on his last name.

So Walter Wicking it is

As I'm totally not familiar with the MIC, could you help me out with what's on it?

Thanks very much in advance

Kind regards

Ramses

[geluveld]

Found out so far that if is is 179th Brigade RFA (raised by the Thames Ironworks Company), then he would have been in the 39th Division.

Place where it was found is in the Boezinge region, and that fits with the 1917 battle of Pilckem Ridge where it was involved in.

However the CLXXIX Brigade was broken up on 18 january 1917, which is well before the fore-mentionned battle.

Could the man been transferred to another unit in the Brigade, and retained (or chucked away) his old ID tag?

[geluveld]

Lars

found out about the MIC.

Will order it asap to put it together with the tag.

thanks very much for the help

[JOVE23]

Far be it from me to tell you what to do with the item you found, but I would be curious to see if Mr. Wicking has any descendants that would like to have his dog tag returned to them.