Discovery of Dead Man's Penny

Research into Family History recently brought Metheringham resident Pam Brook closer to the uncle she never knew. The story goes back 50 years when a plumber found what is known as a "Dead Man's Penny" in a rubbish skip in Shoreditch, London.

It was decided during World War One that all next of kin of service personnel who lost their lives as a result of the war would be presented with a memorial plaque and commemorative scroll from the King and country. The plaques (to become known as a Dead Man's Penny) were cast in bronze and were approximately five inches (125 mm) in diameter. On the plaque no rank was recorded as the intention was to show equality in their sacrifice.

The name on the "plaque" in question was in honour of Henry Vivian Drew from Sampford Courtney, Devon - a soldier with the 10th Royal Fusilliers who had fought and died on Flanders fields on St George's Day (23 April), 1917.

As said, 50 years had passed when the plumber's daughter, Jill Gumble, a pub landlady from Widford, Ware, Hertfordshire, who used to polish the metal plaque as a child, decided she wanted to try and find out if Henry still had any living relatives. With help from friends an exhausting trawling of History websites followed with such sites as Great War Forum and Genes Reunited visited. This saw an involvement of some 20 people until the search led to Roger Brooks of Metheringham who had, three years earlier, started to research the family history of his wife Pam. It turned out that Pam's father John Vivian Drew was in actual fact the twin brother of Henry Vivian Drew, the sons of Henry Vivian Drew Snr. and Caroline Hexter, born in 1897 in Sampford Courtney. When old enough the brothers had gone up to Stockton on Tees to join up with the merchant navy but ended up in the Army with Henry a Fusillier and John, known as Jack, a machine gunner.

Unfortunately Henry was killed on 23 April 1917 and is buried in Chille Trench, Chavelle, France while Pam's father John was fortunate to come through the conflict. In addition, as a merchant naval engineering officer her father also came through the second world war, despite twice being torpedoed by German U-boats. Pam never knew anything of her uncle until Roger started delving into her past, as her father had never mentioned him. Pam was emotionally moved when the memorial arrived, to think that this would have been received in such sad circumstances by her grandmother all those years ago. Pam expresses gratitude to husband Roger for his efforts in researching her ancestors but the Brooks are eternally grateful to Jill Grumble and friend Jackie Craig who had worked tirelessly to ensure the memorial returned to the family and now it takes pride of place in their home. Pam even says goodnight to it for luck before going to bed each evening.