Unusual remembrance on a family grave

[June Underwood]

Has anyone seen this before? I found a death penny incorporated into stone on a family grave in North Bucks. I could easily have missed the grave but there was a poppy cross there which brought it to my notice.

23355 Pte Reginald West, Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) is remembered on the War Memorials at Clifton Reynes and Newport Pagnell and also on the Arras Memorial. He is the son of Thomas Henry & Fanny West and died 12 May 1917.

June

Close up of Death Penny showing name

[GrahamC]

Hi June

To answer your question - No, I haven't seen one like this that was not on the soldier's grave. I seem to remember a post on the Forum some months ago reporting a theft of the Plaques from graves such as this though.

Graham

[Terry Denham]

It is not unusual to see death plaques incorporated in family headstones in the UK. It was a reasonably common practice when the parents/wife of a casualty died later.

It is also not uncommon to see stones where the plaque has been removed - a circular hole and the green copper stains usually give it away. Sadly, these plaques are a target for thieves so you should be careful about identifying the sites of any you come across.

[June Underwood]

GrahamC and Terry

Thanks for the advice. I was aware of the threat of possible theft - that was why I omitted the place where I found it

June

[Terry_Reeves]

June

There are a number of these attached to headstones in a Midlands cemetery. Some years ago these were stolen, however through the good offices of a retired army officer replicas were obtained from India as replacements.

TR

[RaySearching]

Hi June

incorporating Death Penny's in Headstones was Quite Common in Yorkshire where I was Born

I know of 6 that have survived which I have photographed

sadly as Terry points out it is best to keep the location secret as they are targeted by thieves

I frequently come across headstones where they have been removed

Here is a link to my earlier post re stolen death pennys

death plaques stolen

regards Ray

[RaySearching]

Hi all

Here is a memorial stone I come Across early this year with a Death Plaque inset

Whilst all forum members i am sure are totally honest

the odd visitor to this site may not be you ,cannot be sure

so I have obliterated the name 's on the memorial for obvious reasons

Kind Regards RAY

[clive_hughes]

I know of a few in North Wales. One is attached to the WW2 grave of the man's brother, so both are in a sense commemorated together.

The Scottish War Graves Forum also has a thread about the practice north of the border.

http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/scottishwargraves-ftopic545.html&highlight=

LST_164

[Nigel Marshall]

Since none of them are still in situ, there is no harm in identifying the cemetery.

The old cemetery in Scarborough has many stones which bear the circular marks and stains of once having had Memorial Plaques mounted in them. All gone now though. Interestingly, none of the stones I have seen showed signs of damage, so it makes me wonder if the plaques were legitimately removed by families rather than them being prised off by theives.

I have seen the odd or two still in place elsewhere in the county too.

Cheers,

[Will O'Brien]

June

Strangely the only one I have seen is the one you have posted about, although I have like others have heard of others being stolen.

[johntanner]

June

Not been there for a couple of years now but there were originally two plaques for the Pedel brothers on their parents grave in Wendover Churchyard. Alfred's was missing when I started doing my research - more than 25 years ago now , but Frederick's was there. Should have bene in all the photographs I sent you a while back but drop me a line if it wasn't and I'll send you one.

John

[June Underwood]

Thank you all for your replies. It's obviously not as unusual as I thought.

John, I'm sending you a PM

June

[t1418w]

June

There is a small church in the Birmingham area with two plaques inlaid in the inside wall of the church. As I understand it these were the only lads from the church/village that never returned so no official memorial was put up.

Tony