I know it's not exactly a "Halifax" question but what suspended an airman's service "dog tags" around their necks and how many tags did the airman wear?

I was told they were made of a material that was damage resistant even from fire and it does appear they are some sort of stamped fibre.

I have one which is round and another which is octagonal and it is stamped "Do Not Remove". It seems the tags convey: Country of Origin, Service No., Initials & Surname, Religious denomination and Service Branch. I presume one was to be left attached as an identifier and the other removed?

I've seen both a leather string and a wooven cord tie used but wonder what material would be close to original as issued. Perhaps there was an official way to tie and suspend the "dog tags" in terms of knots.

Interestingly enough "dog tags" have become fashionable again as youth jewellery.

It'd be great if someone knew or could relate the protocol ...

Thanks.

You are right, I had two tags, one round and one octagonal. I seem to remember that one was a darker reddish colour. The info, as far as I recollect, was: name, service number, and Faith (CofE, etc)

I think the tie was a leather bootlace, we tied them so that we could just get them off over our heads. No special knots.

my father flew from snaith in 51 squadron - his dog tags were as you described - and the original cord was of a natural fibre as you described. My father did not trust that they would not burn and so added a metal disc with his details on it