| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL45480 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Bronze |
| Maker |
Royal Arsenal Woolwich Royal Arsenal Woolwich |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London |
| Date made | c 1921 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Next of kin plaque : Private E Diaper, 6th Battalion, Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment
Description
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 'EDWARD DIAPER'. A checker's mark, '1', is impressed behind the lion's rear right paw and tail.
History / Summary
This next of kin plaque was presented to Simon and Harriet Diaper of Upper Woodford, Salisbury, the parents of 1004 Private E J Diaper, who served with A Company, 6 Infantry Battalion, The Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment.
The battalion, raised in Dublin in August 1914, was attached to the 29th Brigade, 10th Irish Division. After training, the battalion embarked at Liverpool on 9 July 1915 on board RMS Mauretania, and sailed to Gallipoli via Mudros.
Diaper landed at Anzac Cove with his battalion at 9pm on 5 August 1915 to take part in the Allied August offensive. The battalion was initially in reserve on the south side of Shrapnel Gully. On 7 August the battalion moved towards Russell's Top and joined 1st Australian Division. On 9 August the battalion was attached to the New Zealand Brigade and moved north to Rhododendron Ridge where they encountered heavy shell fire, resulting in 12 deaths and 35 wounded.
On 10 August the battalion encountered a fierce Turkish counter-attack at day-break. A Company held the line with D Company at the foot of the ridge, backed by B and C Companies. Eye witness accounts record that a New Zealander running down the hill yelled 'fix your bayonets boys, they're coming!'. They engaged the Turks in a series of bayonet charges and hand to hand combat which lasted into the night. Diaper was killed during this assault. Aged 19, his body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated at the Helles Memorial.