DEATHS, CASUALTIES & PRISONERS OF WAR:
BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH DEATHS

After the First World War, the next-of-kin of all British and Commonwealth service personnel who had lost their lives as a result of the War received a Commemorative Scroll from King George V, accompanied with a letter that read:
"I join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War. George R.I.".

The Scroll read: "He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten."

They received separately a Memorial Plaque, also accompanied by a similar letter from King George V. The plaque was made of bronze, and popularly known as the "Dead Man’s Penny" because of its similarity with the penny coin although it was about 5 inches in diameter.

It bears an image of Britannia holding a trident in her right hand, standing with a lion. In her outstretched left hand she holds an oak wreath above the deceased's name, any rank being omitted to show equality of sacrifice. Two dolphins around her symbolize Britain's sea power and at the bottom a second lion is tearing apart the German eagle. Around the image the legend reads: "HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR".
 

The plaques issued commemorated those men and women who died between 4 August 1914 and 10 January 1920, for Home Establishments, Western Europe and the Dominions. The final date for other theatres of war (including Russia) or for those who died subsequently from attributable causes was 30 April 1920.
 

The Next of Kin of UK Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism are now awarded the Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll in national recognition of their loss and sacrifice.

The Memorial Scroll is on parchment style paper, headed with the Royal Coat of Arms, and bearing the signature of Her Majesty The Queen in the upper left hand corner. It reads:"This Scroll Commemorates (rank, name and service details of individual) who gave his (or her) life for Queen and Country on (date of death)".

Eligible personnel to be remembered in this way are those who were serving with, or former members of, the Regular and Reserve Armed Forces or the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the following categories after 1 January 1948, or as a result of service in Palestine since 27 September 1945. (With the exception of Palestine, deaths up to 1 January 1948 are attributed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to World War II service.):

Those who died from whatever cause whilst serving on an operation in which deployed personnel received a Campaign Medal, General Service Medal or Operational Service Medal which demonstrated the risk and rigour involved. Operations where a UN, NATO or other international body or other nations’ campaign medal was accepted for wear in the absence of a UK medal also qualify.

Those who died as a result of an act of terrorism where the available evidence suggests that the Service person, whether on or off duty, was targeted because of his or her membership of the UK Armed Forces.

Those who died on a non-medal earning operational task where death has been caused by the inherent high risk of the task.

Those who died a subsequent and premature death as a result of an injury or illness attributed to one of the preceding circumstances.
 

The Elizabeth Cross is not a posthumous medal for the fallen but an emblem demonstrating tangible national recognition for Service families for their loss. The arms of the Cross bear floral symbols representing England (Rose), Scotland (Thistle), Ireland (Shamrock) and Wales (Daffodil). The centre of the Cross bears the crowned Cypher of Her Majesty The Queen. The reverse of the Cross is engraved with the name of the Service person in whose memory it is granted.

The Elizabeth Cross, accompanied by a miniature version, is presented in a black leather style presentation box with the Royal Cypher on the lid and the Royal Coat of Arms on the inner silk lining.