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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2000-11 > 0973404043


From: Iain Kerr <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] Issue of Commemorative Plaques
Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2000 06:00:43 +0000
In-Reply-To: <008b01c046a5$aa1dc600$7dc7883e@oemcomputer>


At 21:24 04/11/00, wendy Linham wrote:
>Hello,
>I'm afraid I have some more questions. Please could someone tell me if a
>record exists regarding the issue of commemorative plaques to the families
>of soldiers who died in WW1 (did everyone get one?) and also whether medals
>would have been issued at time of death?

Wendy,

The British government issued a Memorial Plaque and parchment scroll to the
next of kin of those who lost their lives on active service during World
War I. The Memorial Plaque was sent to the relatives of the men and women
(the female version is very rare) who died on active service in the Great
War and various other related actions and engagements up to July 1922. The
120 mm bronze plaque was designed by Edward Carter Preston from
Liverpool. The plaque shows his initials "ECP" alongside the lion's front
right paw. The Government held a design competition in 1916 and Preston won.

The plaque was made in an extremely difficult casting process - each one
cast with the individual's full name - the whole operation was fraught with
difficulties. In fact, an American, Manning Pike, was engaged to oversee
operations, but progress was so slow that the War Office fired him and
appointed some Staff Officers instead. Within six months they went back
to Manning Pike and persuaded him to return.

The records show that Plaques were issued to the over 1,355,000 next of kin
of males and 600 to next of kin of females who were entitled to
them. However, it is possible that only about 80% were actually forwarded
to the bereaved before the project limped to a halt. An illuminated Scroll
with the deceased's name and unit together with a message from King George
V was accompanied the plaque. [The "Soldiers Died in the Great War" CD-ROM
now allows printing of a replica of this scroll.]

To my knowledge, there is no list of the next of kin to whom the plaques
were sent. The best method of tracing a serviceman or woman killed in
World War I is through such publications as "Soldiers Died in the Great
War" or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission "Debt of Honour" Register.

Yours aye,

Iain Kerr
In Windsor, Berkshire
Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm
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