A WW1 Memorial Group to Percy Ridgley and Shropshire Light Infantry
This lot comprises a WW1 Bronze Memorial Plaque, commonly known as the Death Penny, issued to the family of Percy Ridgley, together with a Victory Medal and a British War Medal named to Ridgley, and a brass regimental locker, kitbag or bedplate tag inscribed to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. The bronze memorial plaque bears the familiar design of Britannia with a lion and the inscription “He Died for Freedom and Honour”, with the name PERCY RIDGLEY set in a raised cartouche on the field. The Victory Medal carries the winged figure of Victory on its reverse, with a rainbow ribbon, and the British War Medal shows the portrait of King George V in silver with its inscription around the rim. The rim of the British War Medal is engraved “8091 PTE A RIDGLEY” with a partly visible unit reference. The brass tag is stamped “KINGS SHROPSHIRE”, “L I” and “A RIDGLEY 8091”, and it has two slots for fitting to a locker, kitbag or bedplate. Catalogue note: the medal and tag details are recorded here as seen on the lot, and the hint attributes the Victory Medal to Pte P Ridgley, Ox and Bucks Light Infantry. Prospective buyers should research the naming and service records before bidding.
Condition, Originality and Collector Interest
The bronze plaque shows an attractive dark brown patina with some areas of green verdigris, particularly around the lion and the lower edge, and the raised lettering remains clear. The brass tag has an aged, mottled surface with scratches and minor marks, which is consistent with long-term use and storage, and the stamped lettering is readable. The Victory Medal and British War Medal show general wear, toning and surface marks, with the ribbons showing fading and handling, though both appear to be present as originally issued. Every item in this group is original to the period, and it is offered as found, with no restoration or cleaning noted. This group will appeal to collectors of First World War memorial items, as the combination of a Death Penny, campaign medals and a regimental identity tag provides a strong sense of one family’s connection to the war. It also offers good research potential for those tracing the Ridgley name through service records.
