Next of kin plaque : Private Thomas Scrimgeour, 29th Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'THOMAS SCRIMGEOUR'. The plaque is contained in its original cardboard packaging.

Born in Colac, Victoria, Thomas Scrimgeour was employed as a labourer at Terang when he enlisted in the AIF on 29 June 1915, with the consent of his widowed mother, Mary. After initial training he was posted a private, service number 2137, to the 3rd Reinforcements for 29th Battalion. He embarked for overseas service from Melbourne, aboard HMAT Ballarat.

Scrimgeour joined D Company of his battalion in Egypt on 1 April 1916. The unit left for France for service on the Western Front on 16 June. During its first major action, at Fromelles on 19/20 July, the battalion initially acted in support but was drawn into the fierce fighting on the evening of the first day. Scrimgeour was seriously wounded early in the morning of the 20th and left on the battle field where he was taken prisoner by the Germans who transported him to Valenciennes. He died there on 23 July from a shrapnel wound to the chest, as well as paralysis, according to a German report sent to Britain through the Red Cross. He was 21 years old. Scrimgeour is buried in the St Roch Communal Cemetery at Valenciennes.

This commemorative plaque was sent to his mother, Mary Doolan, in August 1922. She had remarried in 1920. Thomas's elder brother, James Scrimgeour, served with 58th Battalion and survived the war.