WWI KIA | Kings Memorial Plaque KIA
- Description
- Tab
- Info
The King's Memorial Plaque was issued after the end of WW1 to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war. The plaques (more strictly described as plaquettes) were made of bronze, and hence popularly known as the "Dead Man’s Penny", because of the similarity in appearance to the somewhat smaller penny coin.
1,355,000 plaques were issued, which used a total of 450 tonnes of bronze, and continued to be issued into the 1930s to commemorate people who died as a consequence of the war.
The name of the recipient is engraved onto the plaque at no extra charge - only the full name was featured, without any service details or rank. The name will be engraved in capitals i.e. JOHN FRED DOE.
This content type will accept rich text to help with adding styles and links to additional pages or content. Use this to add supplementary information to help your buyers.
You can use product metafields to assign content to this tab that is unique to an individual product. Use tabs to highlight unique features, sizing information, or other sales information.
MEDAL SIZES
Medal Sizes
There are two medal sizes to choose from: Full Size and Miniature, along with a Ribbon Bar (also known as a riband) for uniform wear.
Full Size Medals
Full Size medals are the standard size traditionally worn at ANZAC Day ceremonies and other commemorative parades.
They’re the same size as those originally issued for the Imperial campaign and service medals of the First and Second World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and earlier conflicts.
When the Australian Honours & Awards system was established in 1975, the tradition evolved so that an original set now includes:
- one Full Size medal,
- one matching Miniature medal, and
- a Ribbon Bar (riband),
all housed together in a protective case.
Miniature Medals
Miniature medals are worn at formal events held after 6 pm — typically on mess kit, dinner dress, or other evening attire.
They’re exact scale replicas of the full-size medals, designed for occasions where the larger medals aren’t appropriate.
Ribbon Bars (Ribands)
Ribbon Bars, also known as ribands, represent the medals awarded and are traditionally worn on the uniform in place of the full-size set.
They allow a person’s service and decorations to be displayed on duty or in day-to-day uniform without risk of damaging the medals themselves.
Each ribbon bar corresponds to a full-size medal, mounted in the correct order of wear and reflecting the same precision and care given to every Foxhole set.
Full Size medals can also be engraved with the service person’s service number, initials, and surname, following the same convention used on the originals.
Large/Full Size or Original Set
Large or Full Size Medals are the size traditionally worn at ANZAC Day ceremonies. Full Size Medals are also able to be engraved with the service person's service number, initials and surname as the originals would have been.
Small or Miniature Set
Small or Miniature Medals are traditionally worn only after 6pm when mess kit, formal / evening dress / dinner jacket attire is worn by senior Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen / women or Officer ranks. There is also an increasing trend for replicas to be created in miniature sets for children to wear at ceremonies and marches.
MEDAL MOUNTING
Mount Style:
Court Mounted
Court-Mounted Medals are ready to wear on a brooch bar and have a backing board behind the medals to which each medal is sewn to minimise noise and movement.
This does obscure 2/3 of the reverse of the medals.
FAQ's
Is it legal to buy replica medals?
Yes, it is legal to buy replica medals.Generally, only one set of original medals is ever issued by the Governor General or Dept of Defence Honours & Awards. Because of this, it is common practice for recipients to put the original away safely and wear replicas so that they can be replaced if they are lost. This practice is endorsed and encouraged by the Dept of Defence Honours & Awards.
I have an existing set of replicas but have just received a new award. Do I need a new set of replicas?
You absolutely do not need to buy a brand new set of replicas- in fact you'll save yourself some money if you send your existing full size and miniature medals into us together with any pieces of ribbon bars with rosettes we can recycle for you.
Can I have the full size replica medals engraved with my family member's details?
Absolutely!We have a state-of-the-art computer engraving machine that is perfect for engraving your full size replica medals. The addition of engraving creates a beautiful heirloom set with moving sentimentality (many of our engraving customers confess shedding tears) as well as a starting point for future generations for family research, or simply a medal set that can be easily be returned to you post-ANZAC Day shenanigans.
Is a ribbon bar included with my purchase of full size medals?
No, you will need to order your ribbon bar separately to your full size medals unless you order the full Collection, which does include the ribbon bar as well as miniature medals and a case. We can arrange for each piece of your ribbon bar to be joined together at your request (or have plastic coating added if you work in Emergency Services).
How risky is sending medals in the post?
In 17 years of business, we have not lost one set of original medals that have been sent into us or sent out from us.We repeat: Not one set lost. Ever. [Touch wood.]
Read more about our shipping policies here.
Services
Professional medal services
I offer premium mounting & engraving services to complete your medal set.