Death Plaques

The First World War ended more than 100 years ago, and all the veterans have long since died, leaving behind artefacts such as the men’s medals, which are today traded as collectable items. Perhaps the saddest of mementoes are the named bronze discs known as Memorial Plaques, given to the next of kin of those British servicemen killed in the war as a token from a grateful government. Families of soldiers from Commonwealth and Dominion countries, such as Canada, India, and Australia, who were killed in the war, also received these Memorial Plaques. These plaques were often displayed in a prominent place alongside medals and a photograph, serving as a tribute to the memory of a beloved father or son.

A closer look
These bronze discs are today very collectable, and with computers giving access to service records of military personnel on sites such as www.findmypast.co.uk, www.ancestry.co.uk, and www.myheritage.com, it is possible to research the history of the individual named on the plaque.
The idea for a commemorative plaque had been considered by the government in early 1916, and by November that year, a committee had been convened to create the memorial, which was to be a personal tribute for the next of kin of those killed on active service. The Government Committee organised a public competition to find the final design, which would appear on the plaque, and competition details were carried in The Times newspaper on 13 August 1917. The winning entry was by Edward Carter Preston, a leading artist and sculptor, who was awarded £250, and it is his work that is seen on the plaques.
The Memorial Plaques, also known as either ‘Death Plaques’ or ‘Dead Man’s Pennies’, show a statuesque standing figure of Britannia holding a trident in her right hand and a victor’s laurel in her left hand, which is extended. She is barefoot, wearing a loose toga-style garment and a Greek-style helmet with a lion adornment below the crest. Behind her, rising up, is a dolphin, and another is shown level with her face and swimming towards her. A male lion stands beside her, both facing left and displaying their right profiles, completing the image. An inscription reading “HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR” in capital letters runs around the upper rim. To the right is an edged rectangular space, within which appears the name of the deceased, but no details of rank or regiment are mentioned. A special version for servicewomen with the inscription revised to include the word ‘SHE’ was produced.
The plaques, measuring 4.75” (121mm) in diameter and resembling a very large coin, were produced at a site in Acton from December 1918 and at the Morris Singer Bronze Casting Works in Frome, Somerset, before being moved to other production centres such as Woolwich Arsenal. The reverse sometimes bears a small pair of stylised initials such as ‘WA’, which denotes Woolwich Arsenal, and is stamped in no particular spot. Otherwise, it is blank, and the edge is left smooth.
The Memorial Plaque was usually posted to the next of kin of anyone who died whilst serving in the armed forces during the war, regardless of whether the deceased was serving at home or abroad at the time of their death. They continued to be presented until 1921, irrespective of whether death was due to wounds received in battle, illness or disease, and this included those who died during the Spanish Flu pandemic. Families of those killed while serving with the Imperial forces, such as the troops from India, also received the plaque. When posted, it was sent by registered post in a ‘four-tongued’ light brown, heavy-duty envelope. In total, around 1,350,000 plaques, accompanied by commemorative scrolls printed on parchment and bearing the Royal Cypher, were sent as messages of gratitude from King George V.

Collectables
Memorial Plaques have become very collectable, either as single items or with a medal group and commemorative scroll, which is more sought after but tends to increase the price. The examples used to illustrate this feature have been in my collection for many years and were awarded to Lance Corporal Alfred Gould, 12329 of the 7th Battalion Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) and his brother, Private Jack Henry Gould, serving with the Norfolk Regiment. Alfred Gould was killed on 1 June 1917 and is buried in Wancourt Cemetery in France. Jack was killed during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He has no known grave. They were the sons of George and Jane Gould, and their Memorial Plaques would have been delivered to the family home at 8 Bond Street,
Chiswick, London.
There are fakes on the market of varying quality. One was so good that it was only discovered when the collector tried to prise the plaque out of its display mounting. The whole thing snapped to reveal that it had been made as a single casting in resin and then sprayed to look real. Single items are not as heavy as an original, and the finish can be rough, which are tell-tale signs. Original examples can still be found at reasonable prices, but those accompanied by all the original paperwork and medals tend to be much more expensive. An example awarded to a servicewoman is extremely rare and very expensive, so be careful of fakes in this category. Otherwise, Memorial Plaques are nice items to add to a collection of WWI memorabilia, and they can be found at either a militaria fair or through a specialist auction.