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WWI Bronze Memorial Plaque Joh J. T. Hollidge RN
This is a WWI Bronze Memorial Plaque or dean man's penny as they were referred to at the time, due to their resemblance to a penny coin. This plaque was awarded to his parents in memory of their son John James Thomas Hollidge, who perished at 11.20 p.m. on 9th July, 1917, when the dreadnought battleship HMS Vanguard blew up in Scapa Flow in the Orkneys. John was an Officer's Steward 4rd Class, whose Royal Navy service number was L/9189. This was the worst Naval accident of the entire war.
HMS Vanguard was one of three St Vincent-class dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She spent her career assigned to the Home and Grand Fleets. Aside from participating in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and the inconclusive action of 19 August several months later, her service during World War I mostly consisted of routine patrols and training in the North Sea.
Shortly before midnight on 9 July 1917 at Scapa Flow, Vanguard suffered a series of magazine explosions. She sank almost instantly, killing 843 of the 845 men aboard. The wreck was heavily salvaged after the war, but was eventually protected as a war grave in 1984. It was designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, and diving on the wreck is generally forbidden.
There is a great deal more information about the disaster online.
John James t. Hollidge was born on 3rd April, 1899 in Greenwich and was baptised at Christ Church Greenwich on 20th April 1899. He was the son of John James Hollidge (1862-1920) a Thames lighterman and his wife Pamela Jane Minnie Hollidge (nee Webb) (1863-?), who were married in 1882. He was the second youngest of eight children. At the time of the tragedy, John's parents were residing at 63 Church Street, Greenwich, London SE10. Unfortunately, John's body wasn't recovered, although a small number were and are buried at Lyness Cemetery on Orkney, where there was a centenary memorial in 2017.
The Memorial Plaque was issued after the First World War to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war.
The plaques (which could be described as large plaquettes) about 4.75 inches (120 mm) in diameter, were cast in bronze, and came to be known as the "Dead Man’s Penny", because of the similarity in appearance to the much smaller penny coin which itself had a diameter of only 1.215 inches (30.9 mm). 1,355,000 plaques were issued, which used a total of 450 tons of bronze, and continued to be issued into the 1930s to commemorate people who died as a consequence of the war.
t was decided that the design of the plaque, was to be chosen from submissions made in a public competition. Over 800 designs were submitted and the competition was won by the sculptor and medallist Edward Carter Preston using the pseudonym Pyramus, receiving two first place prizes of £250 for his winning and also an alternative design. The name Pyramus comes from the story of Pyramus and Thisbē which is part of Ovid's Metamorphoses, a Roman tragedy narrative poem.
Carter Preston's winning design includes an image of Britannia holding a trident and standing with a lion. The designer's initials, E.CR.P., appear above the front paw. In her outstretched left hand Britannia holds an olive wreath above the rectangular tablet bearing the deceased's name cast in raised letters. Below the name tablet, to the right of the lion, is an oak spray with acorns. The name does not include the rank since there was to be no distinction between sacrifices made by different individuals. Two dolphins swim around Britannia, symbolizing Britain's sea power, and at the bottom a second lion is tearing apart the German eagle. The reverse is blank, making it a plaquette rather than a table medal. Around the picture the legend reads (in capitals) "He died for freedom and honour", or for the 1500 plaques issued to commemorate women, "She died for freedom and honour".
They were initially made at the Memorial Plaque Factory, 54/56 Church Road, Acton, W3, London from 1919. Early Acton-made plaques did not have a number stamped on them but later ones have a number stamped behind the lion's back leg.
In December 1920 manufacture was shifted to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Plaques manufactured here can be identified by a circle containing the initials "WA" on the back (the "A" being formed by a bar between the two upward strokes of the "W") and by a number stamped between the tail and leg (in place of the number stamped behind the lion's back leg).
The design was altered slightly during manufacture at Woolwich by Carter Preston since there was insufficient space in the original design between the lion's back paw and the H in "HE" to allow an "S" to be inserted to read "SHE" for the female plaques. The modification was to make the H slightly narrower to allow the S to be inserted. After around 1500 female plaques had been manufactured the moulds were modified to produce the male version by removing the S.
The plaques were issued in a pack with a commemorative scroll from King George V though sometimes the letter and scroll were sent first.
The plaque will be supplied with all the printed information that we have been able to download about John, including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate confirmation his remembrance on the Chatham War Memorial, his service record, death record and one Census record from 1911.
Size: 4 3/4 iinches in diameter.
Condition: In very good unpolished condition with no damage.
SellerStudio RT Ltd
View all stock from
Studio RT Ltd
Private Art dealer
By appointment only
Kent
England, UK
Tel : 01622 812556
Non UK callers : +44 1622 812556
HMS Vanguard was one of three St Vincent-class dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She spent her career assigned to the Home and Grand Fleets. Aside from participating in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and the inconclusive action of 19 August several months later, her service during World War I mostly consisted of routine patrols and training in the North Sea.
Shortly before midnight on 9 July 1917 at Scapa Flow, Vanguard suffered a series of magazine explosions. She sank almost instantly, killing 843 of the 845 men aboard. The wreck was heavily salvaged after the war, but was eventually protected as a war grave in 1984. It was designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, and diving on the wreck is generally forbidden.
There is a great deal more information about the disaster online.
John James t. Hollidge was born on 3rd April, 1899 in Greenwich and was baptised at Christ Church Greenwich on 20th April 1899. He was the son of John James Hollidge (1862-1920) a Thames lighterman and his wife Pamela Jane Minnie Hollidge (nee Webb) (1863-?), who were married in 1882. He was the second youngest of eight children. At the time of the tragedy, John's parents were residing at 63 Church Street, Greenwich, London SE10. Unfortunately, John's body wasn't recovered, although a small number were and are buried at Lyness Cemetery on Orkney, where there was a centenary memorial in 2017.
The Memorial Plaque was issued after the First World War to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war.
The plaques (which could be described as large plaquettes) about 4.75 inches (120 mm) in diameter, were cast in bronze, and came to be known as the "Dead Man’s Penny", because of the similarity in appearance to the much smaller penny coin which itself had a diameter of only 1.215 inches (30.9 mm). 1,355,000 plaques were issued, which used a total of 450 tons of bronze, and continued to be issued into the 1930s to commemorate people who died as a consequence of the war.
t was decided that the design of the plaque, was to be chosen from submissions made in a public competition. Over 800 designs were submitted and the competition was won by the sculptor and medallist Edward Carter Preston using the pseudonym Pyramus, receiving two first place prizes of £250 for his winning and also an alternative design. The name Pyramus comes from the story of Pyramus and Thisbē which is part of Ovid's Metamorphoses, a Roman tragedy narrative poem.
Carter Preston's winning design includes an image of Britannia holding a trident and standing with a lion. The designer's initials, E.CR.P., appear above the front paw. In her outstretched left hand Britannia holds an olive wreath above the rectangular tablet bearing the deceased's name cast in raised letters. Below the name tablet, to the right of the lion, is an oak spray with acorns. The name does not include the rank since there was to be no distinction between sacrifices made by different individuals. Two dolphins swim around Britannia, symbolizing Britain's sea power, and at the bottom a second lion is tearing apart the German eagle. The reverse is blank, making it a plaquette rather than a table medal. Around the picture the legend reads (in capitals) "He died for freedom and honour", or for the 1500 plaques issued to commemorate women, "She died for freedom and honour".
They were initially made at the Memorial Plaque Factory, 54/56 Church Road, Acton, W3, London from 1919. Early Acton-made plaques did not have a number stamped on them but later ones have a number stamped behind the lion's back leg.
In December 1920 manufacture was shifted to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Plaques manufactured here can be identified by a circle containing the initials "WA" on the back (the "A" being formed by a bar between the two upward strokes of the "W") and by a number stamped between the tail and leg (in place of the number stamped behind the lion's back leg).
The design was altered slightly during manufacture at Woolwich by Carter Preston since there was insufficient space in the original design between the lion's back paw and the H in "HE" to allow an "S" to be inserted to read "SHE" for the female plaques. The modification was to make the H slightly narrower to allow the S to be inserted. After around 1500 female plaques had been manufactured the moulds were modified to produce the male version by removing the S.
The plaques were issued in a pack with a commemorative scroll from King George V though sometimes the letter and scroll were sent first.
The plaque will be supplied with all the printed information that we have been able to download about John, including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate confirmation his remembrance on the Chatham War Memorial, his service record, death record and one Census record from 1911.
Size: 4 3/4 iinches in diameter.
Condition: In very good unpolished condition with no damage.
Price The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 23/DEC/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer. Sold. Sold prices are confidential, so please don't ask.
Category Antique Arms and Militaria
Period 1910s Antiques
Material Bronze
Origin English
Item code as237a2131
Status Sold
£0 
$0.00 
€0.00 
$
€
Conversion rates as of 23/DEC/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer. Sold. Sold prices are confidential, so please don't ask.
View all stock from
Studio RT Ltd
Private Art dealerBy appointment only
Kent
England, UK
Tel : 01622 812556
Non UK callers : +44 1622 812556
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Edward VII 1897 pattern Infantry Officers sword
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