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identity disc, last wills or other documents of importance to the next of kin, money, and ingeneral all articles of an intrinsic or sentimental value, which are found on the dead. 137If there is only a single identity disc, it should remain with the body if the body is to beburied on land, so that the body may subsequently be identified as needed. 138 If the body is to beburied at sea, then the single identity disc itself should be collected and forwarded through theNational POW Information Bureau. 139These articles, together with unidentified articles, shall be sent in sealed packets,accompanied by statements giving all particulars necessary for the identification of the deceasedowners, as well as by a complete list of the contents of the parcel. 140The GPW also requires the forwarding of wills and all personal valuables left by POWs,including those who have died. 1417.7.3 Preparation and Forwarding of Death Certificates and Lists of the Dead. Parties tothe conflict shall prepare and forward to each other, through the National POW InformationBureau, certificates of death or duly authenticated lists of the dead. 142 Where applicable, thesecertificates or lists shall state the circumstances and reasons for cremation. 143The GPW provides further requirements for death certificates and lists of persons whodied as POWs. 144137 GWS art. 16 (“They shall likewise collect and forward through the same bureau one half of a double identitydisc, last wills or other documents of importance to the next of kin, money and in general all articles of an intrinsicor sentimental value, which are found on the dead.”); GWS-SEA art. 19 (“They shall likewise collect and forwardthrough the same bureau one half of the double identity disc, or the identity disc itself if it is a single disc, last willsor other documents of importance to the next of kin, money and in general all articles of an intrinsic or sentimentalvalue, which are found on the dead.”).138 Refer to § 7.7.4.2 (Burial on Land).139 See GWS-SEA COMMENTARY 144 (“Provision is still made for the possibility of military personnel being issuedwith single discs only, inscribed with the bare particulars. In the case of burial on land, such a disc must remainwith the body, so that the latter may be identifiable at any time. In the case of burial at sea, it must be removed andsent to the deceased’s home country, for a body buried at sea is usually wrapped in a weighted sailcloth bag and weknow of no instance of one having been washed ashore; there is therefore no question of subsequentidentification.”).140 GWS art. 16 (“These articles, together with unidentified articles, shall be sent in sealed packets, accompanied bystatements giving all particulars necessary for the identification of the deceased owners, as well as by a complete listof the contents of the parcel.”); GWS-SEA art. 19 (same).141 Refer to § 9.31.2.3 (Collection of Personal Valuables Left by POWs).142 GWS art. 16 (“Parties to the conflict shall prepare and forward to each other through the same bureau, certificatesof death or duly authenticated lists of the dead.”); GWS-SEA art. 19 (same).143 Refer to § 7.7.4.4 (Cremation).144 Refer to § 9.34.1 (Transmittal of Wills); § 9.34.2 (Death Certificates).432