WW1 Death Plaque – John Philip Clarke
100 % genuine. Unique name.
Plaque comes with an old BDV Cigarette Silk depicting the insignia of the East Surrey Regiment, 31st & 70th Foot.
Rank: Private
Service No: 17811
Date of Death: 06/03/1917 Died of wounds
Age: 25 Born: 1891
Born: Hartest Green, Suffolk
Enlisted: Bury St. Edmunds
Theatre of war : France & Flanders
Regiment/Service: East Surrey Regiment
Battalion: 1st Battalion.
Grave Reference: VI. B. 86.
Cemetery :      BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY  
Additional Information: Son of Maria (Smith) Clarke, of Church Gate, Harvest Green, Bury St. Edmund's. Born at Harvest.
Father: John Clarke
Brothers: William Charles, Frederick John, Stephen and Frank
Sister: May Annie


The Bronze Memorial Plaque was issued to the next of kin of servicemen/women who had fallen in the Great War.
Measures 121mm (4.76”) diameter, weighing approx 333 grams, cast in bronze incorporating the following:
Britannia holding a Laurel Wreath in her left hand and a Trident in her right hand.
An imperial lion.
2 dolphins representing Britain's sea power.
The emblem of Imperial Germany's eagle being torn to pieces by another lion.
A rectangle containing the serviceman/womans name.
No rank was given as it was intended to show equality in their sacrifice.
Around the edge of the plaque inscribed " He/She Died For Freedom And Honour"
These plaques are sometimes referred to as –
DEAD MANS PENNY, MEMORIAL PLAQUE , WIDOWS PENNY ,
DEATH PENNY , DEATH PLAQUE  .