Percy Metcalfe CVO RDI (1895 - 1970)

Born 14 Jan 1895 in Alverthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Died 9 Oct 1970 at age 75 in Fulham, Middlesex, England

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Biography

Percy Metcalfe CVO RDI is Notable.

Percy was born in 1895. Percy Metcalfe's birth was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1895 in the Wakefield district.^[1] He is the son of John Metcalfe and his wife Hannah Thorpe, whose marriage was registered in 1891 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England.^{[2] [3]} Percy Metcalfe, child of John Metcalfe & Hannah Metcalfe, was born on 14 January 1895 and christened on 11 July 1897.^[4] At the time of his christening, the family was living in Longfield Terrace, Alverthorpe, and his father was working as a mechanic.

In the 1901 census Percy Metcalfe (age 6) was the son of John Metcalfe in Alverthorpe Road, Longfield Terrace, Wakefield, Yorkshire & Yorkshire (West Riding), England.^[5]

John Metcalfe Head Married M 35 Engine fitter Darley, Yorkshire, England

Hannah Metcalfe Wife Married F 36 Barnsley, Yorkshire, England

John H Metcalfe Son Single M 7 Alverthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Percy Metcalfe Son Single M 6 Alverthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Willie Metcalfe Son Single M 4 Alverthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Albert Thorpe Brother-in-law Single M 35 Driller on borer in engine shop Barnsley, Yorkshire, England

From 1910 until 1914, Percy took a general course at the Leeds School of Art.

In the 1911 census Percy Metcalfe (age 16), Art student, was the single son of John Metcalfe at 13 Bowling Garth Terrace, Upper Wortley, Leeds, Yorkshire, England.^[6]

John Metcalfe Head Married M 45 Engineer fireclay Darley Yorkshire

Hannah Metcalfe Wife Married F 46 Barnsley Yorkshire

John Harold Metcalfe Son Single M 17 Electrical apprentice Alverthorpe Yorkshire

Percy Metcalfe Son Single M 16 Art student Alverthorpe Yorkshire

Willie Metcalfe Son Single M 14 Apprentice engineering Alverthorpe Yorkshire

Albert Metcalfe Son Single M 7 School boy Leeds Yorkshire

In 1914, he won a royal exhibition scholarship to the Royal College of Art in South Kensington, London.

During the First World War, Percy served in the Royal Field Artillery (service number 5806).^[7] He was demobbed in 1919.

Percy Metcalfe's marriage to Eveline M[abel] Smith was registered in the Jul-Aug-Sep quarter of 1920 in the Kensington district of London, England.^[8]

Their children included:

1. Helen Metcalfe's birth was registered in the Apr-May-Jun quarter of 1921 in the Richmond district.^[9]
2. Jeanne Metcalfe's birth was registered in the Apr-May-Jun quarter of 1921 in the Richmond district.^[10]

In 1921, he won a scholarship enabling him to travel, and he went to Paris. Eveline may have accompanied him, since she doesn’t appear in England in the 1921 census, however she would have been heavily pregnant at that time.

Percy Metcalfe 2s Irish Coin

Percy Metcalfe 2s 6d Irish Coin

Percy continued to study at the Royal College of Art, where he became an Associate of the College. He worked primarily as a sculptor, engraver and designer, his largest successes coming in his accepted designs for coins, medals and Great Seals. His designs were chosen for the coinage for the Irish Free State introduced in 1927/8. ^[11]

1948 Olympic Games stamp by Percy Metcalfe

1949 Universal Postal Union stamp by Percy Metcalfe

Some of his designs were also used on British stamps, including the 1948 Olympic Games 2 1⁄2d, the 1949 Universal Postal Union 3d, and the 10/- and £1 definitives of 1951.^[12]

In 1937, he was awarded the title “Royal Designer for Industry” (RDI) by the RSA. ^[13] The RDI is the highest accolade for designers in the UK. Only 200 designers can hold the title. ^[14]

In the 1939 register Percy Metcalfe (age 44), Sculptor Medallist Industrial Designer, was recorded as married in By East End, Mottisfont, East Tytherley, Romsey and Stockbridge R.D., Hampshire, England.^[15]

Percy Metcalfe Married M 14 Jan 1895 Sculptor Medallist Industrial Designer

Eveline M Metcalfe Married F 14 Apr 1892 Unpaid Domestic Duties

Closed Record

Helen Metcalfe Single F 23 May 1921 At School Of Art

Percy Metcalfe died on 9 October 1970 in Fulham, London ^[16] and his estate passed probate on 27 January 1971 in London.^[17] His last known residence was 70 Madrid Road, Barnes, London.

Research Notes

His works included:

British Empire Exhibition (1924-25) medals

Irish Free State coinage of 1928

Second Great Seal for George V in 1930

Voluntary Medical Service Medal 1931

Everest Flight Medal 1933^[18]

the reverse of the 1935 Crown, featuring a modern depiction of Saint George and the Dragon.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Metcalfe, Percy (Mother's maiden name: Thorpe).
   GRO Reference: 1895 Jan-Feb-Mar in Wakefield Volume 09C Page 85.
2. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England & Wales Marriage Index"
   FreeBMD Entry Information (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Metcalfe, John.
   GRO Reference: 1891 Apr-May-Jun in Dewsbury Volume 9b Page 943.
3. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England & Wales Marriage Index"
   FreeBMD Entry Information (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Thorpe, Hannah.
   GRO Reference: 1891 Apr-May-Jun in Dewsbury Volume 9b Page 943.
4. ↑ Baptism: "West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985"
   C10/4/1; Reel Number: Ackworth, Adwalton, Badsworth, Batley, Beal, Brackenhill, Darrington, Ferrbridge, Pontefract,…; WC28; Reference Number: C10/4/1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2268 #132055 (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Percy Metcalfe baptism on 11 Jul 1897 (born 14 Jan 1895), child of John Metcalfe & Hannah Metcalfe.
5. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census"
   Reference: RG13; Piece number: 4289; Folio: 38; Page: 27; Schedule: 171
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Percy Metcalfe (6), single son, in household of John Metcalfe (35) in Alverthorpe Road Longfield Terrace in Wakefield registration district in England. Born in England.
6. ↑ 1911 Census: "1911 Census For England & Wales"
   Series: RG14; Piece number: 26874; Schedule: 224
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Percy Metcalfe (16), single son, Art student, in household of John Metcalfe (45) at 13 Bowling Garth Terrace Upper Wortley Leeds, Armley and Bramley, Yorkshire & Yorkshire (West Riding) in Bramley registration district in England. Born in Alverthorpe Yorkshire.
7. ↑ Military: "UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923"
   Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 048/0291/MEN-MET
   Ancestry uk Record 61588 #2201399 (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Next of Kin: Percy Metcalfe
   Evelyn Mabel Metcalfe Widow; Rank: Bdr; Record Type: Card; Corps, Regiment or Unit: Royal Field Artillery; Service Number: 5806; Name: Percy Metcalfe; Title: WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Description: Widows and Dependents of Other Ranks Died Menzies - Metcalfe RA; Death Date: 9 Oct 1970.
8. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England & Wales Marriage Index"
   FreeBMD Entry Information (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Metcalfe, Percy.
   GRO Reference: 1920 Jul-Aug-Sep in Kensington Volume 1a Page 520.
9. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
   GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 6 February 2023)
   Metcalfe, Helen (Mother's maiden name: Smith).
   GRO Reference: 1921 Apr-May-Jun in Richmond Volume 02A Page 1017.
10. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office"
    GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 8 February 2023)
    Metcalfe, Jeanne (Mother's maiden name: Smith).
    GRO Reference: 1921 Apr-May-Jun in Richmond Volume 02A Page 1017.
11. ↑ https://oldcurrencyexchange.com/2020/01/03/obrien-coin-guide-percy-metcalfes-irish-coin-designs-1927/
12. ↑ https://www.postalmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Stamp-History-1949-Universal-Postal-Union-Anniversary.pdf
13. ↑ https://www.thersa.org/about/royal-designers-for-industry/past-royal-designers-for-industry CVO Medals & Coinage 1937
14. ↑ https://www.thersa.org/about/royal-designers-for-industry
15. ↑ 1939 Register: "1939 Register"
    Reference: RG101/2403A/004/19; Piece number: 2403A; Schedule: 13
    FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 6 February 2023)
    Percy Metcalfe (born 14 Jan 1895), married, Sculptor Medallist Industrial Designer, in By East End,Mottisfont, East Tytherley, Romsey and Stockbridge R.D., Hampshire, England.
16. ↑ Death Registration: "England & Wales Death Index"
    FreeBMD Entry Information (accessed 6 February 2023)
    Metcalfe, Percy (Date of birth: 14 Ja 1895).
    GRO Reference: 1970 Oct-Nov-Dec in Fulham Volume 5b Page 753.
17. ↑ Probate: "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995"
    Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 1904 #73927516 (accessed 6 February 2023)
    Percy Metcalfe probate on 27 Jan 1971 in London. Died 9 Oct 1970 in London.
18. ↑ https://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/journal/people/percy-metcalfe/

See also:

• Wikipedia Entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Metcalfe
• Dictionary of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/biography/metcalfe-percy-a5805
• 'Percy Metcalfe', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 accessed 06 Feb 2023
• Blue plaque unveiled to Wakefield’s ‘unknown artist’ https://wakefieldcivicsociety.org.uk/blue-plaque-unveiled-to-wakefields-unknown-artist/