Death Plaque
Pouch Cove Museum and Heritage Centre
Tous droits réservés.
| Nom de l'objet : | Death Plaque |
| Type de l'objet : | Plaque |
| Catégorie de l'objet : | Communication Artefact |
| Sous-catégorie de l'objet : | Ceremonial Artefact |
| Matériaux : | Bronze |
| Technique de fabrication : | Cast |
| Numéro d'accession : | 143 |
| Fabricant : | Woolwich Arsenal |
| Pays d'origine : | England |
| Province d'utilisation : | Pre-confederation Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Pays d'utilisation : | Canada Dominion of Newfoundland |
| Date de début de production : | 1918 |
| Période : | Early 20th Century |
| Description : | This artefact is a British Great War Death Plaque. Cast in bronze, the plaque was made to resemble a penny. It depicts the figure of Britannia holding a wreath in her extended left hand and a trident in her right. To the right and left of her head is a small dolphin. At her feet is a lion in an aggressive stance. To the right of the lion is a combination of oak leaves and an acorn while under the main image is a lion atop an eagle. Around the edge of the plaque is the line "He Died For Freedom And Honour." In the space on the right of the plaque is a rectangle with border. Cast in the rectangle is the name Levi Williams. In the space between the lion's back leg and tail is a small engraved "11." The plaque has been placed in a frame that has been specially made. |
| Commentaires : | In 1916 the British Government decided that it would issue a memorial to the families of all men who died in service to the empire during the ongoing war. By 1917 it was decided that a plaque would be designed and issued to each family. To select the design of the plaque the Government set up a competition that was won by Edward Carter Preston. The design was transformed into a mould and production began in 1918. The first plaques were cast at Acton in West London, but production was later moved to the Woolwich Arsenal. Plaques cast at Acton had a thin 'H' in the Text "He Died For Freedom And Honour" and an engraved number outside the lions leg, while those cast at Woolwich had a broad 'H' and a number engraved inside the lions leg between the leg and tail. During its production run more than 1 million plaques were produced for men who died between August 4th 1914 and April 30th 1920. The end date extended 2 years past the actual end of the war to include men who died as a direct result of injuries they received during the war. Levi Williams enlisted with the Newfoundland Regiment on December 12th 1916. Issued with the regimental number 3328, Williams was 20 years of age, five foot four, and was making a living as a fisherman when he enlisted in St. John's. He died in Windsor Nova Scotia at Mill Barracks on February 15th 1917 while on his way with the Newfoundland Draft to England for further training. On February 12th Williams reported as sick and stayed in Barracks. By the 14th he had passed into unconsciousness and was unable to be woken. At one in the afternoon on the 15th Williams died. An autopsy was ordered and Williams was found to have died from cerebrospinal meningitis as a result of influenza. His family was notified of his sickness and subsequent death and asked the Colonial Secretary in Newfoundland to enquire about the return of his body for burial in Newfoundland. The Secretary telegraphed the Windsor Barracks on the 17th with the request and received a reply on the 20th that stated that due to the infectious nature of Williams' sickness the medical authority had ordered the body buried immediately in Nova Scotia. A letter was written to Rev. C. Jeffery of Pouch Cove that outlined the nature of Williams' death and informed him that the Archdeacon Martell had read over Williams' bed before he died. Levi's father John received his son's death plaque on May 5th 1922. |
| Fonctions : | The Death Plaque was issued to the family of all men who died in service to the British Empire during the Great War. This plaque was issued to the family of Levi Williams of Pouch Cove who served with the Newfoundland Regiment. |
| Hauteur : | 12 |
| Largeur : | 12 |
| Unité de mesure linéaire : | cm |
| Étiquette ou poinçon : | Levi Williams 11 He Died For Freedom And Honour |
| Établissement : | Pouch Cove Museum and Heritage Centre |
| Ville de l'établissement : | Pouch Cove |
| Province de l'établissement : | Newfoundland and Labrador |
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