Israelis who found British soldier's WW2 ID bracelet in field search for his family

Amateur archaeologists who unearthed Lt James Clark's bracelet near Hadera have asked for help to return it to his descendants

Amateur Israeli archaeologists are asking for help in tracing the family of a British Second World War Sergeant Major after they found his identity bracelet in a field near the Israeli city of Hadera.

Gan Erez, 51, is part of an archaeology group who found the bracelet of Lieutenant James Clark, an ex-Company Sergeant Major and Quartermaster in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

“I’m asking for help,” he said, describing the metal detector find 28 miles north of Tel Aviv. “I believe it is our collective duty as human beings to find Lt. Clark’s family and give them back the bracelet we found. Imagine how happy they’d be to receive such an amazing memory of him.”

Erez said Clark’s military identification number (202637) is “clearly shown on the bracelet”, adding that this can help to match to civilian ID numbers belonging to Clark or his relatives. “From there, it should be much easier to find him or his family.”

The Israeli said he had been in touch with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Museum in Stirling, Scotland, who helped by providing a photograph of Lt. Clark, but said “more information has been difficult to come by”.

The appeal follows Erez having spent “considerable time” trawling through social media sites in pursuit of more information regarding Lt. Clark’s family. “Sadly, such efforts have not brought any more information,” he said.

“Please, whoever can help us find Lt. James Clark’s family, please help, so we can give his family a wonderful New Year’s present.”