We’ve Acquired a ‘Death Penny’

With the help of the Friends of the Museum, we’ve just been able to buy a ‘Death Penny’ relating to a locally born man who died in the First World War. It’s a large object, as wide as a man’s hand.  

We’ve long wanted to acquire one of these objects but not many local ones appear to survive.  A ‘Death Penny’, as it was colloquially known, was issued to the family of a person who had died in the war. It was not always received with gratitude or greatly esteemed.  A ‘Death Penny’ seemed small acknowledgement of a man’s life and it acted as a physical reminder of the man’s death rather than his life.

We were recently contacted by a collector who, thirty years or so ago, had bought the ‘Death Penny’ and two medals relating to Thomas Ernest Underhill. The Friends have generously given us the money to buy these objects.

Thomas Underhill, according to the entry about him on our sister website, Thornbury Roots, was baptised in Thornbury on 4 September 1887, the son of Joseph Underhill, a labourer, and his wife Louisa.  They lived in Kington near Thornbury.

By the Census of 1911, Thomas Underhill was a boarder in Gelligaer, Glamorganshire, where he was working as a haulier in a colliery.  Thomas enlisted in Bargoed in Monmouthshire.  He served as a Driver in the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery.  He died of disease in Italy on 1 November 1918 aged 31.  He was buried at Giavera British Cemetery The museum researchers are unsure of the circumstances of his death and would be glad to hear more.

When we put on our ‘Hatches, Matches and Dispatches’ exhibition next February, focusing on births, marriages and deaths as they are reflected in the museum’s collection,  Thomas Underhill’s ‘Death Penny’ and medals will feature in the exhibition, together with any new information we have discovered by then.

Do get in touch if you know anything about Thomas Underhill or are aware of any other local ‘Death Pennies’.