Saddened And Somewhat Ashamed

[ttfn]

In an episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip this week the Death Penny or Plaque was featured. These were given to the families of those killed in active service in WWI.

I recalled that my father had brought one home nearly 50 years ago. It was something of a curiosity for me as it sat in the hearth for many a year. I always remembered the name on the plaque - Lily Scammell.

I searched her name and found that she was an early member of the WRAF and died on 22nd August 1918. Her final resting place is now marked by a gravestone erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission less than 5 miles from my home.

How my father came by this item I know not. Nor do I know where it is now. I fervently wish I still had this commemorative item and could return it to her family.

http://www.pooleatwar...h/ref/R3FAD04EF1769D/

[mccfluff]

maybe its already found its way home

[NOX]

Well her family seem aware of her so maybe it might be a nice idea to get in touch, maybe they know why your father had it?


http://www.flickr.com...orsetbays/1506925086/

[ttfn]

Somehow I doubt it, fluff.

Nox - I have already emailed the gov website asking them to pass on the information to the family. Seems apposite at this time of year and maybe the family have wondered what happened to the plaque.

[craft1948]

I looked her up in the 1911 census ...............amazing she's killed in the WRAF 7 years after she is shown as a Housemaid Domestic.

[ttfn]

Cheers craft. Not what one would expect, is it? When I googled her name it looked like she was born on the Isle of Wight and I may have come across her photo at a family wedding.

[craft1948]

She was actually born in Tytherley, Hampshire.

[ttfn]

Ta for that - looking at the wrong family then

[craft1948]

You'll do well to trace any of the family ttfn...........from what I can see her brothers only had daughters so the Scammell name for that particular family will have died out............

[NOX]

Well the name of the people with the flickr account who cite her as their great aunt are Stephen and Helen Jones and you can actually simply just contact them through flickr, so should be easy enough tbh:)