Among the Martinborough Museum’s collection is a Dead Man’s Penny, known officially as The New Zealand Memorial Plaque.
These were given to the next-of-kin of WWI soldiers who were killed or subsequently died of their wounds. It carries the name George Luis. We know he was killed in action at the Somme in 1916, aged 34, and that he is buried in the British Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France. His name is inscribed on the Memorial Gates in The Square here in Martinborough.
These pennies would have been of great sentimental value to the families and were not likely to have been given away lightly. Yet this one was passed to the museum many years ago by an unknown person. This is where the mystery begins.
We have no pictures of George posing proudly in the uniform of the NZ Rifle Brigade. There aren’t any birth or marriage records and when he enlisted in May 1916, his next-of-kin was listed only as a friend, “Campbell of Stone Creek”. At that time George was a labourer but had earlier worked as a gumdigger where he had a brush with the law over a financial dispute with another digger. His surname is typically of Spanish or Portuguese origin so he probably immigrated to New Zealand but there are no confirmed records of where he came from or when.
Sadly, like many itinerant people without family, his personal story has been lost to the world. There is no one to mourn him; he is just a name on our local war memorial. But once a year, on ANZAC Day, his sacrifice, and that of his comrades, is still remembered and honoured by the community. ”Unknown” perhaps, but not forgotten.
Martinborough Museum is open 10.30-2.30 Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Admission is free but donation/koha is very much appreciated.
