WW1 BRITISH DEATH PENNY W/ DOCUMENTS RGA 1917 KIA

A poignant grouping of a WW1 British soldier who died for his Country. Albert Victor Cass Was born in Dover, Kent on the 25th of January 1887. Was married to Florence Maud Craddock in 1915 just before going off to War. Joined British Army as a Gunner #353653 in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Was Killed in Action on 24TH of September 1917 at the battle of the Somme France. He is burred at Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy CWGC Cemetery/Memorial Somme France. Grouping consist of his named Death Penny with cardboard box. Accompanying the Death Penny are all three documents that were given to the family along with this memorialized coin. All three documents bear his name. Excellent It was decided that the design of the plaque was to be chosen from submissions made in a public competition. Over 800 designs were submitted and the competition was won by the sculptor and medallist Edward Carter Preston using the pseudonym Pyramus, receiving two first place prizes of £250 for his winning and also an alternative design. Carter Preston's winning design includes an image of Britannia holding a trident and standing with a lion. The designer's initials, E.CR.P., appear above the front paw. In her outstretched left hand Britannia holds an olive wreath above the rectangular tablet bearing the deceased's name cast in raised letters. Below the name tablet, to the right of the lion, is an oak spray with acorns. The name does not include the rank since there was to be no distinction between sacrifices made by different individuals.[1] Two dolphins swim around Britannia, symbolizing Britain's sea power, and at the bottom a second lion is tearing apart the German eagle. The reverse is blank, making it a plaquette rather than a table medal. Around the picture the legend reads (in capitals) "He died for freedom and honour", or for the 1500 plaques issued to commemorate women, "She died for freedom and honour". They were initially made at the Memorial Plaque Factory, 54/56 Church Road, Acton, W3, London from 1919. Early Acton-made plaques did not have a number stamped on them but later ones have a number stamped behind the lion's back leg. In December 1920 manufacture was shifted to the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Plaques manufactured here can be identified by a circle containing the initials "WA" on the back[1] (the "A" being formed by a bar between the two upward strokes of the "W") and by a number stamped between the tail and leg (in place of the number stamped behind the lion's back leg). The design was altered slightly during manufacture at Woolwich by Carter Preston since there was insufficient space in the original design between the lion's back paw and the H in "HE" to allow an "S" to be inserted to read "SHE" for the female plaques. The modification was to make the H slightly narrower to allow the S to be inserted. After around 1500 female plaques had been manufactured the moulds were modified to produce the male version by removing the S. The plaques were issued in a pack with a commemorative scroll from King George V; though sometimes the letter and scroll were sent first.