"Mid way through the First World War it was announced that next of kin of all soldiers from within the British Commonwealth, whose deaths were attributable to the War would receive a memorial plaque and scroll.

In 1917 a competition was announced to obtain a suitable design and 800 entries were eventually received. The winner, Mr. E. Carter Preston of Liverpool England was chosen in 1918. He was awarded a prize of 250 pounds sterling currency.

A Mr. Manning Pike directed manufacture of the memorial plaques at the 'Memorial Plaque Factory' set up at Acton London England. Some later plaques were made at Woolwich Arsenal London. Each plaque had the name of the soldier commemorated, individually embossed (although later some were engraved) as part of the design. The soldiers full name was given without any indication of rank or honours to show equality of sacrifice of all those who lost their lives.

A scroll seven inches wide by eleven inches in height was designed to accompany the plaque and was of thick paper bearing the following message -

'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 the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten.'"

Source : Trenches On The Web