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About
219234Able Sea. Michael Hughes
Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves HMS Anchusa
from:Liverpool
(d.16th July 1918)
I recently came into possession of a large and heavy metal disc (possibly bronze? Maybe copper?). It bears the inscription 'He Died For Freedom And Honour' and has the name of my great uncle, Michael Hughes, above the head of a lion and a woman in a Roman-style headdress. She is carrying a long three-pronged implement and there are dolphins around the edge of this five inch (12cm) disc. Is the disc a war medal? It seems too big but it does have a small hole at the top where a ribbon could be inserted (much like an Olympic medal). Michael served in the Royal Navy along with his brother James and both were killed on the Anchusa when it was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland in July 1918.
I was told when I was younger that the tragedy of two brothers being killed in war on the same ship caused a re-think and brothers are no longer allowed to serve together on board ship - is this correct?
Editors Note: The disc you have is a Death Penny, a bronze commemorative plaque issued to the next of kin of every name who died in the Great War.
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