Memorial plaque - Isaac Lipman

From the exhibition 'The Art of War – Posters & Propaganda from the First World War' [23 February – 28 May 2016]

Dead Man's Penny

Over 9 million soldiers died during the First World War and most were buried where they fell or have no known grave. From March 1915, the return home of bodies was banned for the duration of the war. This was a result of the sheer numbers and distance from places like India and South Africa making it impossible to bring back the dead. Not being able to access a grave, mourners had to focus their grief with other mementos.

The Memorial Plaque, popularly known as the ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ was issued to the next-of-kin of all 1.3 million British and Empire servicemen and women who were killed in the war. There is no rank given with the name on the plaque, so there would be no distinction between the sacrifices of different individuals.

This plaque was given to Isaac Lipman’s family. There was a large Jewish community in Hackney at the time and many men from it enlisted to fight for ‘King and Country’.