Three Brothers, One War A Remarkable WWI Family Group Comes to Auction

In our forthcoming Antiques, Gold, Fine Art, Collectors & Entertainment Auction on Sunday 26th April 2026, one lot stands out not just for its rarity, but for the powerful human story it represents.

Lot 1101: A Rare WWI Family Medal & Death Plaque Group

Lot 1101 is a cased and exceptionally rare collection of First World War medals and two death plaques, awarded to three brothers of the same family:

John Page – Private, Somerset Light Infantry, 1890–1918?
William Page – Private, West Riding Regiment and South Staffordshire Regiment, 1891–1958
Frederick Page – Private, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 1898–1918

This poignant grouping tells the story of a single family deeply affected by the First World War. Two brothers are believed to have fallen during the conflict, while the third survived, a stark reflection of the toll the war took on families across Britain.

The Significance of WWI Death Plaques

Included in this lot are two original WWI death plaques, often referred to as the “Dead Man’s Penny”.

Issued to the next of kin of British and Empire service personnel who died in the war, these plaques were cast in bronze and individually named. They were issued without rank, emphasising equality in sacrifice, and carried the inscription “He died for freedom and honour”.

The plaques were designed with the figure of Britannia and a lion, powerful symbols of the British Empire and remembrance. More than 1.3 million were issued after the war, but family groupings such as this, linking multiple brothers, are exceptionally scarce and highly sought after.

A Family Story That Resonates

What makes this lot particularly compelling is not just the medals or the plaques, but the shared story of three brothers drawn into the same global conflict.

Two brothers never returned home
One brother survived, carrying the legacy of loss
Their service spanned multiple regiments

Family medal groups like this provide a tangible connection to the past, not just military history, but the emotional reality experienced by thousands of households during the First World War.

Collecting & Historical Importance

For collectors and historians, pieces like this sit at the intersection of military history, genealogy and family research, and the social history of the First World War.

Complete and cased groups with clear family attribution are increasingly difficult to find. The presence of multiple named individuals from the same family, combined with death plaques, significantly enhances both historical and collector interest.