Summary

Alternative Name(s): Death Plaque, The King's Penny, Dead Man's Penny

The bronze plaque, known colloquially as 'Dead Man's Penny', given by King George V to the next-of-kin of servicemen who died during World War I. This plaque was given to the parents of Cpl. Edwin Ivey Vincent Biggs, of Ballarat, formerly of Caulfield, who was killed in action in France during 1916.

Corporal Edwin Ivey Vincent Biggs, service number 1510, 21st Battalion AIF, was killed in action 26 August 1916. For some time he was thought a prisoner of war but extensive searches by the Australian Red Cross failed to find him.

Edwin's parents were William Augustus, a policeman, and E. Elizabeth Biggs. He was 18 years old when he enlisted on 24 April 1915, with the consent of his mother. His brother Aubrey also enlisted. Edwin fought in Gallipoli and France, and was promoted from Private to Corporal.

He was killed in action in France on 26 August 1916. It apparently took until 1924 to recover his remains from the battlefield, and when his identity disc was finally returned to his mother, it was 'greatly impaired...through long exposure'. His remains are buried at 189 Norfolk Cemetery Becordel-Becourt, France. In 1967 his sister Estella Biggs applied for the Gallipoli medal on his behalf.

Estella apparently never married, nursing her brother Aubrey, who had returned to Australia with 'gunshot wounds to the left chest, abdomen, eye and knee'. Estella recalled in 1986 that, 'his leg was so severely wounded and lacerated it didn't heal for years'. His war injuries eventually caused his premature death.

Physical Description

A circular bronze plaque with a small hole next to Britannia's helmet. It features Britannia, classically robed and helmeted, standing facing right, holding a modest laurel wreath crown in her extended left hand and supporting a trident by her right side with her right arm and hand. In the foreground a male lion stands facing right; the animal was originally described as 'striding forward in a menacing attitude' which may explain its unusually low profile. Above the lion's head is a rectangular panel containing the name of the deceased, EDWIN IVEY VINCENT BIGGS. To the right of Britannia's head and by the side of her right arm is a small dolphin, a reference to British sea-power. At the lower right edge is a branch of oak leaves and acorns. Around the edge, HE + DIED + FOR + FREEDOM + + AND + HONOUR. In exergue, in symbolic confrontation, a lion pounces on an eagle: a reference to the desired destruction of the Central Powers. The artist, E. Carter Preston's initials, ECRP, were embossed above the lion's right forepaw. There is a hole drilled in the plaque, perhaps indicating that it was on display at the home of the soldier.

Obverse Description

Britannia, classically robed and helmeted, standing facing right, holding a modest laurel wreath crown in her extended left hand and supporting a trident by her right side with her right arm and hand. In the foreground a male lion stands facing right; the animal was originally described as 'striding forward in a menacing attitude' which may explain its unusually low profile. Above the lion's head is a rectangular panel containing the name of the deceased, EDWIN IVEY VINCENT BIGGS. To the right of Britannia's head and by the side of her right arm are small dolphins, a reference to British sea-power. At the lower right edge is a branch of oak leaves and acorns. Around the edge, HE+DIED+FOR+FREEDOM+ +AND+HONOUR. In exergue, in symbolic confrontation, a lion pounces on an eagle: a reference to the desired destruction of the Central Powers. The artist, E. Carter Preston's initials were embossed above the lion's right forepaw. There is no number impressed by the animal's right rear paw (many plaques have a manufacturer's number there).

Reverse Description

Plain

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

Memorial plaques of this sort were devised by the British government during World War I to commemorate the fallen and boost lagging morale. In 1916 a committee was established by Secretary of State for War, David Lloyd George, to consider what form the memorial should take for those who died 'on active service'. The Committee included two peers, six Members of Parliament, and representatives for the Dominions, the India Office, the Colonial Office and the Admiralty. A specialist sub-committee assisted with artistic and technical detail, and included the directors of the National Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Keeper of the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum.

In August 1917 a public design competition was advertised, with a £500 prize pool. Entrants were advised that 'The design should comprehend a subject and a brief inscription. It is suggested that some symbolical figure subject should be chosen but the following inscription has been decided upon: 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' and this must form part of the design.' A space for the deceased's name was to be included. It was later decided that a scroll would also be presented. Over 800 entries were received from Britain and beyond. The first prize, of £250, for two model designs, was awarded on 24 January 1918 to Edward Carter Preston, Sandon Studios Society, Liverpool. The lion in his depiction was originally 'striding forward in a menacing attitude' but was later given a more benign posture.

Production of the plaques began in December 1918, but had a troubled history. The plaques were first made in London's 'Memorial Plaque Factory' managed by American engineer and entrepreneur Manning Pike, then his monopoly was terminated and the plaques began to be made Woolwich Arsenal and other former munitions factories. Production was finally was placed back in the hands of Pike, by which time standards had declined. It is estimated that about 1,150,000 specimens were made.

The plaques commemorated those men and women who died between 4 August 1914 and 10 January 1920, for Home Establishments, Western Europe and the Dominions. Deaths in other theatres of war (including Russia) or for those who died subsequently was 30 April 1920.

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