A short guide the the WW1 memorial plaque using Private Frank Pettitt's as an example.
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| The WW1 memorial plaque issued to Frank Pettitt's next-of-kin. |
Production
of the memorial plaque began after the end of the First World War.
They were given to the next-of-kin of all male and female service
personnel who were killed as a result of the war. The plaque is also
known as the "Dead Man’s Penny", due to it's similarity
in design to the old one penny piece. In total 1,355,000 plaques
were issued between 1920 and 1930, when production ceased. (1500 were cast for the families of 600 Women) The next
of kin of the 306 British and Commonwealth military personnel who
were executed following a Court Martial did not receive a memorial
plaque. The plaques have roughly a 5inch (12cm) diameter. A total of
450 tonnes of bronze, was used in their manufacture.
Design
The
design of the plaque was decided by public competition. Over 800
designs were submitted. The competition was won by the sculptor and
medallist Edward Carter Preston, who entered using the pseudonym
Pyramus. Carter earned two first place prizes of £250 for his
winning and also an alternative design.
Carter
Preston's winning entry includes an image of Britannia holding a
trident and standing with a lion. his initials, E.CR.P.,
appear above the front paw.
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| Edward Cart Preston's initials |
In her
left outstretched left hand, Britannia holds an oak wreath above the rectangular tablet bearing the
deceased's name cast in raised letters. The name does not include the
rank since there was to be no distinction between sacrifices made by
different individuals.
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| Name Plate |
Two dolphins swim around Britannia,
symbolizing Britain's sea power, and at the bottom a second lion is
tearing apart the German eagle. The reverse is blank, making it a
plaquette rather than a table medal. Around the picture the legend
reads"He died for freedom and honour", plaques issued to
commemorate women read, "She died for freedom and honour".
Manufacture
The
plaques were initially made at the Memorial Plaque Factory located at
54/56 Church Road, Acton, W3, London. Early Acton-made plaques did
not have a number stamped on them but later ones have a number
stamped behind the lion's back leg. In December 1920 production was
moved to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.
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| Woolwich mark on the reverse side. Actual mark is about 5mm wide |
We can tell Frank Pettitt's
death penny was made in Woolwich by the initials 'WA' stamped on the
reverse. The 'A' is formed by a bar between the two upward stokes of
the "W". Woolwich plaques also have a batch number stamped
between the lion's tail and leg. Frank's is number 57.
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| The number 57 just visible between the back paw & tail |
The
design was altered slightly during manufacture at Woolwich by Carter
Preston since there was insufficient space in the original design
between the lion's back paw and the H in "HE" to allow an
"S" to be inserted to read "SHE" for the female
plaques. The modification was to make the H slightly narrower to
allow the S to be inserted.
Scroll
The
plaques were issued in a pack with a commemorative scroll from King
George V; though sometimes the letter and scroll were sent first. In order to claim a
scroll and memorial plaque, the deceased soldier's family were
required to fill in and return Army Form W.5080. The document also
needed to be counter-signed and dated by a minister or magistrate as
a declaration of the true statement of the information provided. The form Frank's family returned can be found in his service record (available on Ancestry.co.uk) Unfortunately due to copyright reasons I can't display it in my blog.
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