WW1 Death Plaques - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

gurkharifles · #1 17-03-23, 11:01 AM

A question on the WW1 Death Plaques. Where they only awarded to soldiers who were KIA or were they awarded to all casualties ( ie ones who died of disease or in training etc )

manchesters · #2 17-03-23, 11:03 AM

All

mike_vee · #3 17-03-23, 11:24 AM

From IWM website :

Quote:

Some of those recorded by plaques and scrolls were not eligible for service medals, for instance, those who did not serve overseas but who died in service through accident or illness. Deaths in the period 1919–1921 (possibly later) could still lead to the presentation of a plaque, if either still in service (and even from natural causes), or the death was accepted as war-related.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/first...-of-kin-plaque

.

gurkharifles · #4 17-03-23, 04:09 PM

So my question now is , if a “new” casualty is identified now, “in from the cold” - do they still manufacture them for the family?

manchesters · #5 17-03-23, 04:37 PM

No they dont

mike_vee · #6 17-03-23, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gurkharifles

So my question now is , if a “new” casualty is identified now, “in from the cold” - do they still manufacture them for the family?

While there may not be "official" ones today , Bigbury Mint Ltd produce and can engrave one.

https://bigburymint.com/product/memo...-death-plaque/

.

pioneercorps · #7 31-03-23, 02:14 PM

My great uncle died of wounds in WW1, I have his Death Plaque, Gerwyn

yorkstone · #8 31-03-23, 08:30 PM

£75 for a fake plaque from bigbury mint outrageous
Regard
Stephen

Alex Rice · #9 01-04-23, 06:37 AM

Sounds like an interesting story, do you have the details how a new casualty has been identified after over 100 years?
I is sometimes possible to find plaques which have been polished so the name is not readable, might be worth looking around and getting one of those to engrave. The other option could be to get a common name like 'John Smith' and have it removed and engraved. Not necessarily the best thing to do but there would be no way of identifying the original family anyway.
Cheers,
Alex

dumdum · #10 01-04-23, 09:05 AM

I recall reading a very interesting article on the making of the death plaques, possibly in that venerable publication Guns, Weapons & Militaria (probably long ago banned or given an R 18 classification...).

Fascinating genesis for the plaque and the production of the finished article. Am I correct when I say that at once stage they were being produced in a disused laundry by an American engineer or has my memory let me down...again?

Woolich Arsenal was also making them at some point with the marking W A in a circle to the reverse.

NEMO · #11 01-04-23, 09:58 AM

HI a friend of mine has a side collection of death plaques for guys not killed in direct combat one is for drowning during training a couple to Greta green train crash and a Guardsman killed in the Easter Rising Dublin , Interesting point u have raised

oc14 · #12 01-04-23, 01:21 PM

"Death Plaque" is one of those terms, like "Hate Belt" that I absolutely detest. the correct and more respectful term is "Memorial Plaque"......

Paul

Chacal · #13 01-04-23, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oc14

"Death Plaque" is one of those terms, like "Hate Belt" that I absolutely detest. the correct and more respectful term is "Memorial Plaque"......

Paul

Paul

I agree, but it is better than "Dead Man's Penny" or "Death Penny".

Graham

Artynut · #14 01-04-23, 03:28 PM

To Alex Rice, reference your post about identifying family remains. I was researching the ANSON Btn a few months ago when up popped a link to the C.W.G.C. And a story concerning two sets of soldiers remains unearthed during a construction project outside a Village in France. One set had identifiable clothing. The tunic had “ANSON” brass titles on the shoulder and RND titles (or title) in a pocket. DNA tests were done as well as other confirming details which resulted in a living nephew and family being invited to France to attend a ceremony after the re-interment into a British War Graves cemetery at which a Royal Navy firing party gave the salute. I believe this happened in 2021. Best regards, D.J.

Alex Rice · #15 02-04-23, 09:00 AM

Hi DJ
Ok, I understand. If they were casualties but with missing remains, ie: no known grave, the memorial plaque would have been already sent to the family, so they probably wouldn't have cause to get another. I don't think replacements were issued anyway. If the names are unique, it might be worth advertising on other forums as the original plaques may be sitting in a collection somewhere.
Cheers,
Alex