1900 -
A welcome home in Leicester for men invalided from South Africa.
....That the citizens of Leicester were ready to seize the first opportunity of expressing their enthusiastic admiration of Leicestershire soldiers in South Africa was amply demonstrated last (Thursday) evening, when, in spite of the damp and cheerless weather, enormous crowds assembled at the railway station, in the Market-place, and the Newarke to welcome the men, who, thanks to the kindly forethought of the Mayoress (Mrs Windley), were invited to a dinner at the Drill Hall. In view of the probability that the First Battalion Leicestershire Regiment would at the conclusion of the Boer War be ordered out to India, the Mayoress and other friends, who have on various occasions shown a kindiy and practical interest in the welfare of the local men at the front, felt that some sort of public recognition should at once be made of the splendid part which the territorial regiment have taken in the campaign, commencing with their participation in the earlier battles in Natal, followed by their privations and sufferings in the siege of Ladysmith, and, more recently, the great and conspicuous gallantry in the successful operations around Lydenburg. The present proved an excellent opportunity, for the First Leicesters are just now represented at Glen Parva Barracks by something like 180 non-commissioned officers and men, sick and wounded, who have been invalided home, whilst there are also in the town some 70 or 80 invalided soldiers from other regiments, who it was considered should not be forgotten in the formal welcome home. The returned Leicesters had, unfortunately, not received the gifts of woollen underclothing, etc., provided through the medium of the Mayoress's fund, and duly forwarded to South Africa some months ago, but the Mayoress, determined that the brave fellows should not be deprived of these comforts, and thanks to the generosity of a number of local manufacturers, she was enabled to have a parcel, similar to those sent out, ready for presentation to every man last night. Invitations were also extended to 18 men of the Leicester Ambulance Corps, recently returned from the front. The arrangements were that the Glen Parva men should come in by train and march down Granby-street to the Market-place, and after being welcomed there by the Mayor, accompanied by a guard of honour formed of volunteers, proceed to the Drill Hall for dinner. The men of other regiments now resident in the town were instructed to muster at the Cook Memorial Hall and join their comrades of the Leicestershire Regiment at the Market-place.
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AT THE MIDLAND STATION.
....The scene at the Midland Station just prior to the arrival of the contingent from Glen Parva was an animated one. About half-past five about 250 men of the Leicester Volunteers marched to the station headed by the battalion band. They took up their stand near the station gates as a guard of honour. Colonel Stone. V.D., was in command, the other officers on parade being Captain and Adjutant Haycock, Captains Hewlings and Ward, Lieutenants Evans. Harrison, Brown, Toller, and Gee. By six o'clock a dense throng had assembled in the roadway, but a strong force of police, under the personal supervision of Chief-Constable Lumley, maintained excellent order. The general public were not permitted on the platform, and inside the statfon gates barriers of ropes kept back the crowd. The men were due to arrive by the train reaching Leicester at 5.47, but owing to unforeseen circumstances a delay of about half-an-hour occurred, and it was not until 6.15 that a burst of cheering announced the fact that the men, who numbered about 90, had detrained, and were leaving the platform. The apearance of the South African heroes was the signal for renewed lusty cheering. The men rapidly formed up, and headed by the band and volunteers marched to the Market-place via Granby-street. The soldiers of course received a tremendous ovation. Dense crowds lined the route, and gave vent to their patriotic feelings by vociferous cheers. As the procession surged along fireworks were exploded freely, while a sudden blaze of coloured fire, emitted from an upper window at the Wyvern Hotel, lit up the vast throng with weird effect. The tradesmen had made a capital response to an invitation to deck out their premises in honour of the occasion, flags, decorations, and appropriate illuminations being conspicuous everywhere, and available windows overlooking the streets on the route were packed with enthusiastic onlookers.
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COOK MEMORIAL HALL.
....Despite the inclement weather which was depressing and cheerless enough pains had been taken to do honour to the occasion in the locality of the Cook Memorial Hall, where it had been arranged the men resident in Leicester should congregate prior to marching to the Market-place. Belgrave-gate was decorated with flags and streamers, the national flag predominating, and a large crowd assembled near the hall as the soldiers appeared, preparatory to joining their comrades from Glen Parva. About seventy men paraded, representing all arms of the service, but chiefly infantrymen, some attired in the now familiar khaki, but most in the uniforms proper to their representative regiments. Among the battalions represented were the Black Watch, the Northumberland Fusiliers, King's Royal Rifles, and the Royal Scots; Lincolnshires, Gloucesters, Devons, Derbyshires, Northamptons, and the Durham and Yorkshire Light Infantry. There were a few cavalrymen among them, 10th Hussars and 12th Lancers, and artillerymen, members of the Iocal St. John Ambulance Corps (who had volunteered their services during the war), and units from the Army Service Corps were also there. A soldier of the Kimberley Horse, a Leicester man who had enlisted in that corps at East London, was also present with the rest. The men having formed up, headed by the Borough Police Band, marched to the Market-place, by way of Orchard-street and Belgrave-gate, being greeted with the greatest enthusiasm by enormous crowds that lined the route.
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IN THE MARKET-PLACE.
....The crowd was large and enthusiastic. A temporary stand had been erected in front of the Corn Exchange, and the Mayor and Mayoress, supported by a number of ladies and gentlemen, received the volunteers when they entered the square. The men fell into line, and awaited the contingent from Glen Parva, which arrived shortly afterwards, and were greeted with cheers. When they had been drawn up in front of the stand, the Mayor stepped forward and said:—
...."Men of the Leicestershire Regiment and Leicester men of other regiments, about a year ago you were called upon as soldiers of the Queen to go on active service in South Africa. You responded to the call with the enthusiasm, spirit, and devotion which ever distinguished the British soldier. and you went out resolved to do your duty to Queen and country. We in Leicester looked for news of your whereabouts, and we heard of you getting locked up in Ladysmith. During the days, weeks, and months of that terrible siege we looked for news of your relief, and at last we were delighted to hear that General Buller had reached you.
....Some of my enthusiastic friends came and rung me up at midnight to tell me the good news. Some of you were wounded in the war; many of you were laid low by that worst of foes, disease, and at length were invalided home. We are glad to see you here, and I am pleased, in the name of the people of Leicester, to give you all a hearty welcome. I hope this great concourse will assure you of the interest we take in your regiments, how we admire your bravery. Let this meeting help you to forget your sufferings, cheer you now, and encourage you in all your future career. Again I congratulate you on your safe return, and wish you well in future." This kindly and sympathetic little speech was received with cheers from the assembled people, and the word having been given, the men moved off, headed by the Volunteer Band, and followed by the spectators. The route to the Newarke was lined with people, who showed their appreciation of the hardships and sufferings the men have undergone since they left the county a few months since. In the crowd of Leicester citizens were many who have lost relatives and friends at the front, who, reminded of what the war had cost in British lives, watched the soldiers pass in silence, and there were others, in who the sight of the khaki and scarlet-clad warriors aroused only feelings of pride in their countrymen and exultation in their irresistible courage and splendid fighting qualities. Others felt sympathy and compassion for such numbers of men whose return to their country was owing to sickness and wounds. With such conflicting emotions, it is not surprising that the reception of the men was quieter and more subdued, and that the wild excitement which prevailed when the men went away was sobered down.
Leicester Chronicle, Saturday 20th October 1900
