Last Thursday, Australia marked Remembrance Day commemorating the signing of the Armistice between the Allies and Germany that ended World War One. It was signed at Compiègne in France at 5.45am and the cessation of hostilities took effect later that day at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. This article is Part 2 concerning Percy Ralph who was killed in action after he died of wounds on October, 1 1918. His family later received this Memorial Scroll seen here with this story, along with a copper plaque.
THIS Memorial Scroll, along with the plaque, were manufactured by the British Government and other Allied countries to commemorate those servicemen and women who gave their lives and to acknowledge their sacrifice.
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Authorities intended to hand these to close family members as a physical memorial of their lost loved one.
The committee responsible for the plaques decided that they would also issue a scroll with a commemorative message underneath the Royal Coat of Arms with a message paying tribute to the soldiers who gave up "their own lives that others might live in freedom".
The document had the rank, name and regiment of the fallen soldier handwritten in red calligraphic script.
The scroll was printed on high quality paper which measured 11 x 7 inches (27cm x 17cm) and was intended to be a treasured record of the sacrifice, which most were.
The committee found the choice of words exceedingly difficult and asked for advice from many well-known writers.
The final version was written by Dr Montague Rhodes James, Provost of King's College in Cambridge with a few changes being made.
Both the scroll and the plaque were typically framed or put away in drawers.
Some families had their plaques mounted on the walls of parish churches or added to memorials. Many families kept the scrolls and the plaque for 50 to 80 years at which time the younger generation began to discard them.
The round bronze Memorial Plaque shows the figure of Britannia and a lion on the front. It bears the inscription, "He died for freedom and honour".
The full name of the dead soldier was engraved on the right hand side of the plaque. Neither rank, unit or decorations are shown, befitting the equality of the sacrifice made by all casualties.
Due to the shape and appearance of the plaque it earned several nicknames such as the "Dead Man's Penny", the "Death Penny" or the "Widow's Penny".
The guidelines as to who received the Memorial Plaque and Scroll with the King's message included the immediate next of kin of all who died serving with the British and Empire forces in the First World War.
With nearly a million dead for the British Army alone, the plaques are today still commonly found though the fragile scrolls survive less often.
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, and possibly later, could still lead to the presentation of a plaque, if they were either still in service or the death was accepted as war-related.
It is thought that many British and Empire war dead had no plaques and scrolls issued, due to the inability by 1919-20 to trace addresses for the eligible next of kin.
This was as a result of the high incidences of short-term rented addresses, re-marriage, and that, if they died unmarried with parents' dead, there might be no dependants claiming a pension.
Looking for wartime photos
I AM organising the Bathurst Remembers World War Two exhibition and looking for service men and women who served in the Second World War.
If you have any original wartime photos, please give Alan McRae a ring on 63315404 to discuss what you might have.
I scan them and return your originals.
