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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Death Plaques


Wayne Saillard

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I am looking for high resolution photographs that show unusual ways some of the First World War Death Plaques have been embedded/mounted/incorporated into other items like pews, gravestones, etc.

The photographs should only show enough of the item they are embedded/mounted in so as to provide an example of that particular type. This will also safeguard against giving away their geographical location - for obvious reasons.

Thanks & regards

Wayne

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Here's one, in the end of a pew. I have deleted the name on this version, but can send you a large image file if you like.

If you publish the images you receive, how will you protect their locations?

Michael

post-3328-1159821656.jpg

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Guest KevinEndon

there is a photo on here somewhere of a complete fireplace made up of gonner gongs. But like most things can I find it. I will keep hunting.

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Hello Michael !

Thank you for the image. I would like the large image file and will contact you privately to give you my email address for that purpose.

With regards your question concerning the protection of their location, I can assure you that I have no plans whatsoever to publish these images - and do not want (or need) to know this information myself. All I am interested in is the various unusual ways Death Plaques have been embeded/mounted/incorporated.

However, having stated this and to avoid any misconceptions, I would also like to cover all eventualities by advising the following.

Over the past few years, the Australian High Commission to Malta has invited me on five occasions, to mount a small display (on a voluntary basis and at my own expense), to serve as a backdrop for the local Anzac Day reception.

Should I be invited to do so again, there could perhaps be an occasion where I might consider using these pictures in conjunction with an actual plaque. This is the only 'public' use I would ever consider to make of them.

Regards

Wayne

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Hello Spike and KevinakaPP !

Thank you for coming forward to help. I look forward to seeing these images.

Regards

Wayne

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Here's the picture, it's actually the soldier's fathers grave, with his sons plaque fixed on to it ( I've smudged the names ), but they will be on the large version- please PM me yor email addy if you want the pics.

Spike

post-1137-1159911449.jpg

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This is a really interesting thread. Does anybody know if there was a specific use that memorial plaques were intended for? I've seen them in frames with the medals, or framed themselves. After all of this time collecting, seeing the above photos has me wondering just what they were for. I always thought that they were supposed to be table medalions, but they sure have other uses.....

-Ski

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Hello Ski !

The sole intended purpose of the Memorial Plaque was to commemorate the deseased serviceman/woman and was issued to their Next of Kin. It was then entirely up to them to decide what to do with it.

Around the same time that the Memorial Plaques were being issued, some private parties manufactured special frames in which to mount the Plaque for display on walls, etc.

As you can see by the examples on this post, some people decided to perpetuate the memory of their relative in unusual ways. My favorite is the one in the pew.

Regards

Wayne

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