60 replies to this topic

[Pete Wood]

I have asked the Acton History Group to see if they can come up with a period photo of the Memorial Plaque Factory.

But now that we have so many new members, I would appeal for some more assistance in this area. If you know of a picture or have come across records of workers at the factory, please let me know.

I must admit that, thanks to Steve Wright's research in the USA, some more information is coming to light about Manning Pike, the manager of the Acton factory, of which I am getting quite excited.

The TE Lawrence Society has come up with a few gems, with regards to the eccentricity of Manning Pike. Apparently he liked to strut around, with a stetson on his head - and shoot holes in the ceiling with his two revolvers (cowboy style). Wonderful!!

I'll keep you posted as things develop.

[Northern Soul]

The soldier was killed soon after and the family (the plaque is still in their hands) were given the plaque with his alias, rather than his real name. He was an Australian soldier and, as Sullivan pointed out earlier in this thread, the rules were very specific - in Australia anyway - that the plaque would be cast with the name that the soldier used when he joined-up.

Anyone come across a similar case...?

I would say that the Canadian authorities adopted the same stance. Frederick Eli Temp served under the alias "John F. Travers" (don't know why), and his memorial plaque is named to his alias rather than his real name.

Andy.

[peter garwood]

There is a picture of Roy Manning Pike at http://telsociety.or...s/journ14-1.htm taken in 1915. I am not sure which is which the man with the hat is this Nelson Pike and Roy is the balding man?

Interesting. I note Peter Woods is mentioned as writing an article on Plaques

Peter

[Jim Strawbridge]

I don't think that Pete Wood is on this Forum any more. A shame as I considered him my guru so far as memorial plaques are concerned.

[Jules 55002]

Pete Wood, on 04 November 2002 - 06:22 PM, said:

Paul, there must have been dozens of blank scrolls produced. Every single department which had an interest in the memorial plaque wanted their say, with regard to the plaque and scrolls.

The chairman of the memorial plaque committee, RM Brade, was moved to say "The views and wishes of the interests represented on my committee and sub committee was a long and rather troublesome business."

There were two blank scrolls in the PRO two years ago; one with the large GV letters and one with the small GV letters. Sadly, I noticed (about 12 months ago) that one has gone 'missing.' (I say this as an observation and not an accusation against Paul by the way!!).
There were 14 photographs taken of the winning design - and the runners up. Only one copy, taken by the photographer at the Victoria and Albert Museum just after the results of the memorial plaque competition, is known to have survived. That was in the 'safe hands' of the PRO. Sadly that too has now disappeared.

The wording of the scrolls did, as pointed out on earlier posts, require many subtle changes before approval. The secretary of state for war, Lord Derby, had a few choice words to say to Rudyard Kipling (who was still mourning the loss of his son, and was not at his 'best') at his proposed wording. The King also wanted to have his name included, which was ommited on the earliest pre-production (and never issued) versions of the text.

Paul, any chance of sending me a digital image of your blank scroll please?

Many thanks to the forum for all your private emails. I will try to write a decent article on the subject, I promise. There are just so many loose ends. But I think, with your help, we'll get there.......

Dear Pete,

I would really love to speak to you about the memorial plaque. I am interested in the amazing information you have uncovered and would like to ask you some further questions. Do you still post to this site? I am new to it so not quite sure how it works. Could I speak tto you re e-mail?
Thanks,

Julie

[robins2]

Pete Wood, on 30 August 2003 - 11:59 AM, said:

I thought this might be the case, with the cast letters. I just wanted confirmation.

In a way I will be relieved, not having to plunge the plaque in acid. But then I'll just be frustrated, cos I can't prove (or disprove) the theory....

as Tom stated, the acid/electrical treatment will only bring up stamped #'s/letters where the metal has been altered by the stamping

Bob R
. Ret. Police/Auto theft)

[Retlaw]

Sullivan, on 07 November 2002 - 05:57 AM, said:

Commercially made frames to mount the plaques were produced by a variety of manufacturers.

Two such frames are featured in Philip Dutton's article 'The Dead Man's Penny" on page 67, an octagonal and a round frame, one in Bakelite the other of metal.

I have loaded images of two other designs to my web pages for your interest, they are both metal and based on a cross theme.

Memorial Plaque Commercial Frames link.

This is the one for my uncle, the frame is made of wood & plaster of paris.
He was the last of the original Accrington Pals to be killed in action.

Retlaw.
scanning it has made it appear oval.

Attached Files

•  Walter Holmes Death Penny.2.JPG   99.15K   1 downloads

[Jules 55002]

Jim Strawbridge, on 09 October 2010 - 01:19 PM, said:

I don't think that Pete Wood is on this Forum any more. A shame as I considered him my guru so far as memorial plaques are concerned.

Dear Jim,

I dont suppose you know the whereabouts of Pete Wood or how he can be contacted? I would love to get in touch with him re the Penny.

Cheers, Julie

[Jules 55002]

Sullivan, on 08 November 2002 - 06:53 AM, said:

Was the Memorial Plaque 'Committee' short sighted.

The following appeared in 'The Times' under a headline -

'Memento for the Fallen. State Gift for Relatives'.

A General Committee, representative of both Houses of Parliament and of the Government Departments most concerned has been appointed to consider the question of a memorial to be distributed to relatives of soldiers and sailors who fall in the war...'.

The Committee was composed of the following -

Two Peers.
Six MP's. (two of whom held military rank).
Representatives for the Dominions.
The India Office.
The Colonial Office.
The Admiralty.
Sir Reginald Brade, Secretary of the War Office and Army Council,  was appointed Chairman.
Mr. W. Hutchinson, also of the War Office, was made Secretary.

Specialist Subcommittee.

The Director of the National Gallery, Sir Cecil Harcourt-Smith.
The Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sir Charles Holmes.
The Keeper of the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum,
George Francis Hill.

I have no argument with the design and the principal of a consolatory memorial, and the aim to perpetuate the name of the deceased, all were equal in death and there was no need for rank to be included with the name, however 'The Committee' overlooked to include a key that would allow future descendants of a family, military memorabilia collectors and other interested persons, to trace the military history of the deceased. Obviously many plaques are now without the accompanying scroll, over the years the scrolls have been lost and now there is no clue as to the deceased's regiment, although knowing the regiment is not always helpful due to common Christian names and Surname's within one regiment.

I receive many emails from various parts of the world, the theme is always similar to this example -,

'I have just discovered this medallion, it is the same as the one on your web page, can you tell me anything about the person, his name is John Smith'.

There are approximately 1,997 J. Smith's on the CWGC database, take your pick!!!.

Instead of the so called batch number, the most useful number in my mind would have been a regimental number stamped on reverse of plaque.

This posting prompted by frustration in researching a plaque with name of James Thompson. (aprox. 553 on CWGC database.)

Hi Sullivan,

Not sure if you are still on this forum. I cant access the link to plaque frames anymore and wondered if you still have any pictures?

Thanks in advance for your help, Jules

[Jim Strawbridge]

Jules 55002, on 31 December 2010 - 09:00 AM, said:

Dear Jim,

I dont suppose you know the whereabouts of Pete Wood or how he can be contacted? I would love to get in touch with him re the Penny.

Cheers, Julie

Hello Julie, He is a member of the British Medal Forum. Go into their web site, click on members (Rules*FAQ*Members*Search). Put a P in the "Username begins with" box. Peter is number 15 on the list. Click on his name and a screen will come up allowing you to PM him. You may need to sign up as a member to do this. If there is a limiting number of posts before you can PM him just let me have your email address and I will write to him and ask him to contact you. Jim

[Kitty VAD]

Can I ask for advice regarding an item I've seen, it looks very like a death plaque/penny but it has a soldier and sailor to the left of the name (engraved) it's smaller than a normal plaque and it is in a bakelite frame. (green)
Any ideas?
K