London Docks identity card

A red identity card with a photograph of a man with a moustache

London Docks Identity Card • Tower Hamlets

This London Docks identity card from Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives is part of the personal collections that tell the stories of families in the area. This particular family archive belongs to the Rosenbergs of St George in the East of the district and was given to the organisation in 1988.

Head of the family was Israel Rosenberg. Previously known as Israel Eickman/Eichman the collection includes this identity card which was issued under the Aliens Restriction (Consolidation) Order, 1916. These cards were issued to immigrants from the outbreak of World War 1. Israel would have had to report to the Metropolitan Police and the archive also includes his identity card that contains the stamps from the police. His occupation was listed as ‘Boot maker for Cohen and Company of Hanbury Street’ and there’s even his thumbprint. He is described as of Russian nationality and unable to write his name.

Heritage Officer (Archives) Annette Mackin says, “We are still actively collecting, and this is the kind of material we really want to encourage people to donate to us. We really want to impress upon people that we really want everything about that family or that person, all the bits of ephemera, photos, and documentation to continue to build our collections. We are really keen to meet people and build connections to deposit with us and continue to capture the presence of the Jewish East End.”