Yes, it seems a mark of respect that he didn’t just throw them away. I wonder what was commonly done with enemy soldiers personal affects.
This is exactly what was often done. They were packed away, in boxes or a footlocker with other items. Found some last week, in fact; the lady had NO IDEA that they were there...her Dad brought them back.
Another time, we found what we still call the $5,000 shoe box...it held only four items. The Dad would NEVER talk about what had happened, but the daughter had ended up with the box. She hid it in her house for years, too embarrassed to call anyone.
Honestly, she would have taken $50 to have someone take it away. She ended up with over $4,000.
Her Dad broke down any time he talked about the War...mourning the losses on both sides that he saw "up close & personal." They DID keep these items, in most cases, as a sign of respect. In most cases they are not "named" to a particular soldier.