1914–1918 Memorial Scroll and plaque

Memorial Scroll

In 1922 a Memorial Scroll was presented to the next of kin of those soldiers, sailors, and nurses who died while serving in the Australian Imperial Force or Royal Australian Navy during the First World War. Later they were presented with a Next of Kin Memorial Plaque.

The Memorial Scroll bears the Royal Coat of Arms and a message paying tribute to the soldiers who gave up "their own lives that others might live in freedom".

 

Collection Item C1245002

Accession Number: REL41097.004

Memorial scroll, Sergeant M P McCall, 56 Battalion, AIF.  C1245002

Memorial Plaque

The round bronze Memorial Plaque is 120mm in diameter. It shows Britannia and a lion on the front and bears the inscription: "He died for freedom and honour". The full name of the dead soldier is engraved on the right hand side of the plaque. No rank, unit or decorations are shown, befitting the equality of the sacrifice made by all casualties.

The shape and appearance of the plaque earned it nicknames such as the "Dead Man's Penny", the "Death Penny", and the "Widow's Penny".

Bronze plaque showing Britannia and a lion with the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. The embossed name 'JAMES GREIG' appears in a rectangle with a raised edge. History / Summary Associated with 5458 Private James Greig. Greig enlisted at Granville, New South Wales on 17 July 1915. He served with 20 Battalion and was killed in action on 7 April 1918. He is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France.

Bronze plaque showing Britannia and a lion with the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. The embossed name 'JAMES GREIG' appears in a rectangle with a raised edge.

Sources

    • Julie Dunne, "Dead Man's Penny: a biography of the First World War bronze memorial plaque" in Nicholas J. Saunders (ed.), "Beyond the dead horizon": studies in modern conflict archeology,  Oxbow, Oxford, 2012, pp. 1—13
    • Philip Dutton, "The Dead Man's Penny: a short history of the Next of Kin Memorial Plaque", The Medal 29, Autumn 1996, pp. 62–71
    • Hal Giblin, "The Memorial Plaque", Medal News, April 1990, p. 20

Further Information

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