Looking for ‘death penny’ relatives
‘‘It has no sentimental significance for us. I am a bit of history buff and I know if it belonged to my family I would want it back.’’
Luca Van Dillen wants to return a ‘‘Dead Man’s Penny’’ to the relatives of Private James Joseph McGrath who died in World War I.
Now he might have that chance.
The Waterloo 14-year-old found the Memorial Plaque a couple of years ago when he was fossicking through the garage of his Lower Hutt family home.
Issued in 1924, the medallion – technically a plaquette – is in good condition and Luca says it should be with the McGrath family.
He grasped its significance when he went to Te Papa’s Gallipoli exhibition and saw a similar medallion.
When he told the family he had one at home, there was skepticism.
His mother, Sharon Titchener, said she she did not know what he was talking until they got home.
‘‘I just assumed it was some sort of copy.’’
After doing some research they quickly realised it was genuine.
The medallions were designed by Edward Carter Preston and were awarded to the families of British and Commonwealth servicemen who died as a result of the war.
Once they understood what they had, Luca and his mum set out to find McGrath’s relatives. On Monday morning Titchener heard a promising lead.
A woman from Wellington emailed her to say McGrath might be from her husband’s family. She needed to check some documents at her father-in-law’s house in Tauranga but Titchener was hopeful it was the right family.
McGrath worked for the Commissioner of Stamps and lived at 16 Windsor Plc, Wellington. He left New Zealand in March 1917 and was wounded in France in July of that year.
He died when he drowned at sea in August 1918, according to his file.
His mother was Julia McGrath of 20 Tinakori Rd, Wellington. A younger brother, Patrick Michael McGrath, returned safely from the war and went to the US in 1920.
The family applied for the medallion, which reads ‘‘He Died for Freedom and Honour’’ in 1924.
On March 30, it’s 100 years since McGrath went overseas,
Millions of medallions
1.35 million medallions were issued, using 450 tonnes of bronze. They were issued in the 1930s to commemorate those who died as a consequence of thewar. Only 600 were issued to women.
The design features Britannia holding a trident and standing on a lion.
Rankwas not included, to reflect the viewtherewas distinction in the sacrifice made by all those who died in thewar.
Two dolphins swim around Britannia, symbolising Britain’s sea power, and at the bottom a second lion is tearing apart the German eagle. and Titchener says it would be nice to return it to his family to mark the anniversary.
‘‘It has no sentimental significance for us.
‘‘I am a bit of history buff and I know if it belonged to my family I would want it back.’’