Help With Japanese Identity Tag

[ghp95134]

Hello Forum Experts!

I seek your help to identify the unit on this ID tag.
西八一 Nishi 81; West 81
第一二〇四九＊ No. 12049 [last kanji might be 号 .... or not ]



Many thanks!
-- Guy

[Nick Komiya]

West 81 was the 2nd Signals Regiment Reserves 電信第二補充連隊. That is where the drafted soldier went to be trained. 12049, the field unit he got assigned to normally should be punched as the rightmost line. That number, however, is missing from the 1946 compiled listing, but it should have been some kind of a signals unit nonetheless. Position-wise, 12049 actually would have been his personal ID number, so it could also mean that the war ended while he was still under training at the signals reserve regiment.

[ghp95134]

Thanks so much, Nick. I really appreciate your quick answer.

Cheers!
-- Guy