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medallion, commemorative

human history
  • Other Name

    Memorial Plaque, WW1 (descriptive name)

    McKay, James 21526 Rifleman James McKay, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, NZEF (associated name)

  • Description

    Memorial Plaque and folder, WW1

    Next-of-Kin Memorial Plaque commemorating the death of 21526 Rifleman James McKay, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, NZEF, killed in action on 26.10.1918.

    .1 plaque: large uniface bronze medallion

    obverse: figure of Britannia facing right, holding laurel wreath in left hand and trident in her right; dolphins on either side representing Britain's sea power; at her feet a lion facing right; on rhs a rectangular tablet containing name of deceased; legend around: HE + DIED + FOR + FREEDOM + AND + HONOUR; in exurgue a small lion pounces on an eagle symbolising the Central Powers

    named on tablet: JAMES MCKAY

    .2 folder: one-piece folder of heavy brown cardboard; triangular flaps on each side

  • Place
    England
  • Associated Place

    Le Cateau/France

  • Accession Date
    26 Oct 1927
  • Other Id

    W1345.3 (war)

    W0300 (war)

    BHMIII:4134 (British Historical Medals)

  • Department

    History

    War History

medallion, commemorative W1345

Images and documents

Images

  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345
  • medallion, commemorative W1345

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, W1345.3, W0300,
  • Primary Maker

     E. Carter Preston (Designer)

  • Place
    England
  • Date
    [1919-1920]
  • Associated Notes

    Memorial Plaque, WW1

    Next-of-Kin Memorial Plaque commemorating the death of 21526 Rifleman James McKay, 2nd Battalion 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, NZEF.

    James McKay of Auckland enlisted with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and embarked with the 7th Reinforcements on 20th August 1916. He was killed in action on 26 October 1918, Le Cateau, France, during the Rifle Brigade advance on Le Quesnoy, and is buried at the Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-au-Bois.

    At the time of his death James McKay had been back on the front line for barely a month from HM Prison where he was serving a 30 months sentence which had been suspended so that he could rejoin his unit. James McKay's whole military service was punctuated by a series of charges of drunkenness, being absent without leave, and in one instance was charged with desertion. On one occasion he was sentenced to twenty-eight days' Field Punishment No 2, and following a Court Martial in the field his sentence was 60 days' Field Punishment No 1.

  • Associated Event
    WW1; 1914-1918
  • Associated Person

     Rifleman James McKay

     1NZEF: New Zealand Rifle Brigade

  • Associated Place

    Le Cateau/France

  • Associated Date
    26 Oct 1918
  • Period

    World War 1, 1914-18/Wars

    George V (1910 - 1936)/House of Windsor/English reign

  • Signature/marks

    Note: some of the plaques bear a small WA monogram within a circle on the reverse indicating that it was manufactured at Woolwich Arsenal.

  • Media

    bronze/copper alloy/nonferrous metal/metal/inorganic material

  • Measurement Description
    diameter: 120mm
  • Measurement Reading

    120mm

  • Subject Category

    casualties/wars

    disease/wars

  • Classification

    medal, commemorative

    medal, commemorative

    medal

    Medal, Commemorative

    Commemorative

    Memorabilia

    08 Communication Artifacts

  • Last Update
    15 May 2023
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