Charles Fry – Medals

Charles was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Posthumously, he was also awarded the Next of Kin Memorial Plaque, also known as the Dead Man’s Penny. This is in the safe hands of Charles’ niece, Vera Muir.

What are the Next of Kin Memorial Plaque, Scroll and King’s Message?

The Next of Kin Memorial Plaque is a bronze plaque approximately 11 cms or 4½  inches diameter with the name of someone who died serving with the British and Empire forces in the First World War. This was issued to the Next of Kin of the casualty along with the scroll. They were posted out separately, typically in 1919 and 1920, and a ‘King’s message’ was enclosed with both, containing a facsimile signature of the King.

 

The British War Medal 1914-1918
The medal takes the form of a solid silver medal with an image of a mounted figure of St George trampling the shield of the central powers with the dates 1914 and 1918 thereon. At the base is a skull and crossbones, symbolic of death, whilst above is the rising sun of victory. The reverse has the coinage head of George V.

Victory Medal 1914 – 1919
It was decided amongst the Allies that a common theme would be adopted and that each country would produce a medal to commemorate the Victory. This medal took various forms according to the country but a common item was the rainbow coloured ribbon. The British medal shows the winged victory on the front holding a palm branch in her right hand with the left outstretched. The reverse has the words “The Great War for Civilisation” surrounded by a laurel wreath.

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