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Crucifix and cross, attached to identity tag of Sergeant Joseph Kerr

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Crucifix and cross, attached to identity tag of Sergeant Joseph Kerr
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This crucifix and bronze cross of the Church of England Missionary Society are attached to the identity tag of Sergeant Joseph Kerr of the 5th Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. Kerr was wearing these items around his neck when he was killed in action on the Western Front in 1915.

The Cameron Highlanders identity disc bears Kerr's name and number. The cross has on one side the initials C.E.M.S (for Church of England Missionary Society), and on the other the motto 'All in One'.

Soldiers have traditionally worn amulets or keepsakes as symbolising protection from harm by Divine Intervention. The uniting of amulets with the more modern identity tag unites both ancient and modern warfare and religious conviction with the more prosaic personal identity needed for the identification of corpses.

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