A Calgary thrift shop has helped protect a piece of First World War history and recognize a fallen soldier. A memorial plaque known as a “Death Penny” was found in a box of donations at a Calgary Goodwill centre, and the charity has now turned the heirloom over to Calgary Military Family Resource Centre so it can be preserved and honoured. “It was immediately a thought of ours that this is bigger than just any other donated item, this is something we need to see through and find a right place for,” said Simone Pohl with Goodwill Industries of Alberta. The British government issued 1.35 million of the plaques to families of the people killed during WWI from 1914 to 1920. The bronze discs are about four-times wider and much heavier than a typical penny, and were also known as a “Dead Man’s Penny” or a “Widow’s Penny.” William Edward Why is the name inscribed on the memorial plaque Goodwill donated to The Calgary Military Family Resource Centre, which has never received a death penny before. “We were grateful that it did, so we could immediately stand in for that very important person who sacrificed his life for our freedom,” said Barbara Pohl, executive director for the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre. “We will stand in for that soldier’s family so long as we are needed to do so.” Pohl said if Why’s next of kin is found the memorial plaque will go to them, but for now it will be put in a public place in their southwest facility for anyone to view. Kent Griffiths, a retired major and curator of the Calgary Highlanders Regimental Museum and Archives, says he conducted some research and found out Stoker First Class Why has no grave because he was on His Majesty’s Ship Strongbow, which was sunk in the North Sea when it was shelled by the enemy. All the hands were lost at sea. “This is the memory of a sailor who made the greatest sacrifice, giving up his life, giving up all his tomorrows for our today,” Griffiths said. He says the death penny was likely presented to his parents then handed down generations and perhaps unknowingly donated. The plaques included the name of the fallen soldier but not the rank and unit, so that every life lost is honoured equally. Engravings on the discs depict a lion and woman depicting Britannia, two dolphins representing naval power and another lion tearing apart the German eagle. It’s not the first time a piece of history has turned up in a donation box and then handed over to be protected. Goodwill says it has received many war medallions, uniforms and military memorabilia over the years, and strives to find the proper way to honour the people who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Alberta branch of Goodwill says it is proud to serve the community, adding there can be no dedication to Canada’s future without a knowledge of its past. “I know it will be appreciated and honoured, and I know the person will not be forgotten,” Pohl said about the donated death penny.
