Framed Memorial Plaques

These framed memorial plaques commemorate brothers Robert Duncan and James Hume Duncan who both served with the 7th Cameron Highlanders. Both brothers were killed in action during the First World War. Their memorial plaques and scrolls were given to Dumfries Museum in 1980.   Soon after the war ended, the British government began production of individually named memorial plaques to be sent out to the next of kin - the closest living relative - of every serviceman and woman who had lost their lives. Bereaved families received them through the post in a cardboard envelope, with a printed message from the King. Commemorative scrolls were also sent. An estimated 1,360,000 of these bronze plaques were issued from 1919 onwards. The design was by the artist Edward Carter Preston. It shows symbols of British identity, power and victory: the figure of Britannia holding a wreath, the lion, dolphins to represent British sea power and, at the base, a lion devouring the eagle of Germany.  Each plaque was individually named. It was decided that no ranks or service units would be shown. Each life lost was represented as being of equal value.