Arthur Russell - Dead Man's Penny

Last Friday's Barnsley Chronicle featured an article about a dead man's penny, that came into my possession after it had been taken in to a scrapyard near my home. The death penny is a five inch solid bronze plaque modeled on the back of an old style penny. These plaques were given to the families of  over a million soldiers who died during the first world war. This one belonged to a man named Arthur Russell. Despite their being several Arthur Russells who died in WWI, my research found only one possible local candidate, and he is remembered on the Cross Street memorial at Monk Bretton.

Barnsley Chronicle 15th July 1916
Clipping from the Barnsley Archives.
With thanks to Linda Hutton for finding it.

According to a letter printed in the Barnsley Chronicle on July 15th 1916, Arthur was awarded the military medal while serving as a stretcher bearer with the 14th battalion of the York and Lancaster regiment. This is one of Barnsley Pals battalions. (Arthur is in fact mentioned briefly in Jon Cooksey's book the Barnsley Pals.) The letter is even signed by two soldiers from the Wombwell war memorial - W. R Elleway and Samuel Ellis.  Arthur was however serving with the Durham Light Infantry at the time of his death. It was very sad to learn during the course of my research that his mother had only two children, both of whom died during the war. Of course we can never know for certain that it is the same Arthur Russell as on the death penny, but I feel that it is highly likely.

The plaque is now in the safe keeping of Councillor Steve Green and The Friends of Monk Bretton War Memorial. After speaking with Councillor Green and hearing his plans for the Monk Bretton war memorial. Which include involving the local school children in it's upkeep and decoration. I am confident I made the right decision to donate it to his group.  I think it is only right that the plaque should go home to Monk Bretton.