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    I'll give your name and number to the Nazgyl. So Orcs have serial numbers?
    – Peter M
    Commented Jul 2, 2018 at 16:12
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    Maybe the number of the group he was in. Just like the Roman legions.
    – Mixxiphoid
    Commented Jul 2, 2018 at 16:21
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    There's a passage where the guards (I think its near Cirith Ungol, just outside Shelob's cave) are talking about going off on their own and raiding "like in the old days". I don't have my books atm so I can't post a proper answer, but I'm sure some one has it. Commented Jul 2, 2018 at 18:07
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    @PeterM Actually cellphone number so they can contact him.
    – pipe
    Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 8:49
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    @PeterM. Tolkien served in the British army during WW1. Even then, every soldier had a number for identification. This is where "name, rank and number" comes from. It is reasonable to suppose that Sauron had a similar system for the same reasons. (I wonder what it was like being the orc company clerk though). Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 16:43