Yellowed paper with King’s message printed with black ink reading: “I join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War.” At the top of the document is the royal coat of arms and the words: “BUCKINGHAM PALACE”, both embossed with red wax, and at the bottom below the message is printed the facsimile signature of King George V as: “George R.I.” (George Rex Imperator).

This document was given by the British government to families of soldiers who passed away during the war as part of a set of four items, with the others being a commemorative scroll, a Silver Cross and a Memorial plaque (nicknamed dead man’s penny).