Commemorative plaque

A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event. A monumental plaque or tablet commemorating a deceased person or persons, can be a simple form of church monument.

World War I

Main article: Memorial Plaque (medallion)

After the First World War, the families of British and British Empire (now Commonwealth) service men and women killed during the conflict were presented with bronze Memorial Plaques. The plaques, of about 125 millimetres (4.9 in) in diameter, were designed by the eminent sculptor and medallist, Edward Carter Preston.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, blue plaques are attached to buildings to commemorate their association with important occupants or events.

Theft

As the price of scrap metal has increased plaques have been the target of metal thieves wishing to resell the metal for cash.

Awards

Plaques are also given as awards instead of trophies or ribbons. Such plaques usually bear text describing the reason for the award and, often, the date of the award.

Examples

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  Plaque inside the Royal Military College of Canada

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  Plaque at Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma, near San Diego, CA

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  The plaque in the Hong Kong Park commemorating the park's opening by the Governor of Hong Kong in 1991

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  An award plaque made of wood with a printed metal plate and a medallion

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  An example of a plaque in Canberra, Australia

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  Plaque showing the historical coat of arms of Wolverhampton, England before 1898

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  First World War memorial plaque

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  Second World War memorial plaque

See also

• Parting stone

External links

• History of the First World War bronze memorial plaques
• WW I memorial plaques history
• Gallery of Commemorative Plaques carved by lettercutter Ieuan Rees