'Dead Man's Penny' - Lest We Forget
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
An easy cache with a purpose. Container is a camouflaged ammobox with a short 4 minute walk from an approach.
This cache is a reminder of those who fought for our country, our rights and freedoms that we enjoy. Let's never forget those who paid the ultimate price with their lives.
To properly log a find you must sign the cache log, drop off a poppy (which can be a real poppy, plastic poppy, hand made, drawn or printed) You get the idea. The idea isn't to make it hard, just to put a couple moments of thought into what the cache is for.
There are a few Canada stickers in the cache for trade but no other swag. If you wish to leave items please do so but nothing too big and try to keep to the theme.
Original Contents: Log, Dead Man's Penny info + Picture in actual size, Canadian Bravery Quarter, Canadian Pride Quarter, Veterans Bookmark, Several Poppies and a hand made poppy bracelet my son made.
I was unable to locate a Canadian Poppy Quarter which would have been perfect but if you do place one in the cache maybe tape it to the info sheet with the other quarters.
Cache was muggled and taken:
New contents are: log book, poppies, note, navy bracelet, army braclet. It would be great to get a couple of the special quarters in there.
Location: I thought a good location to place it near the Dundurn Military Camp. It is not on or close to the Military property. It should be accessible in the winter provided the snow doesn't get too high. Check hint for landmark location for an easy find.
My family went out shortly after the 11am ceremonies and placed the cache - November 11 / 2008
Firesong
Have you heard of a Dead Man's Penny?
Here's some information :
*****************************************************
The history of the Dead Man's Penny began in 1916 with the realisation by the British Government that some form of an official token of gratitude should be given to the fallen service men and women's bereaved next of kin. The enormous casualty figures not anticipated at the start of WWI back in 1914 prompted this gesture of recognition. In 1917, the government announced a competition to design a suitable plaque with a prize of 250 pounds. There were 800 entries from all over the Empire, the Dominions, and even from the troops on the Western Front. Mr E. Carter Preston of Liverpool, England, was the eventual winner.
The selected design was a 12-centimetre disk cast in bronze gunmetal, which incorporated the following; an image of Britannia and a lion, two dolphins representing Britain's sea power and the emblem of Imperial Germany's eagle being torn to pieces by another lion. Britannia is holding an oak spray with leaves and acorns. Beneath this was a rectangular tablet where the deceased individual's name was cast into the plaque. No rank was given as it was intended to show equality in their sacrifice. On the outer edge of the disk, the words, 'He died for freedom and honour'.
A scroll, 27 x 17 centimetres made of slightly darkened parchment headed by the Royal Coat of Arms accompanied the plaque with a carefully chosen passage written in old English script,
'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 sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others may live in freedom.
Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten.'
Beneath this passage, written in the same style, was the name, and rank and service details of the deceased. To accompany the scroll, again in old English script, a personal message from King George V.'
'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 plaques were packaged in stiff cardboard wrapping folded like an envelope and sent to the next of kin. Production of the plaques and scrolls, which was supposed to be financed by German reparation money, began in 1919 with approximately 1,150,000 issued. They commemorated those who fell between 4 August 1914 and 10 January 1920 for home, Western Europe and the Dominions whilst the final date for the other theatres of war or for those died of attributable causes was 30 April 1920. Unfortunately, the production and delivery of the plaques was not a complete success and the scheme ended before all the families or next of kin of the deceased received the official recognition they should have. Of course, nothing can replace a life lost, but for those 'Dead Man's Pennies' that are in private or public collections, museums and national archives, they are a constant reminder of the ultimate price paid by the men and women of the armed services during the Great war of 1914-1918.
*************************************************
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq gur ynetr sraprcbfg naq gerr ba gur abegu raq bs gur ohfurf. Sbyybj gur envy genpxf sebz gur cnexvat nern.