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Sutton Coldfield News, 1st June 1901
THE RETURN OF THE SUTTON VOLUNTEERS.
Dinner at the Royal Hotel.
On Friday evening, the 24th ult. – “Victoria Day” – the volunteers from the Sutton Company of the 1st Stafford Volunteer Battalion, who on the preceding evening on their return from the front, received such an enthusiastic official welcome from the Mayor and Corporation and the people of the Royal Town, were, along with the local reservists, entertained to dinner in the Assembly Room of the Royal Hotel. The gathering was a thoroughly representative one, the Church, the Army, and, it is needless to say, the Volunteers, the Corporation and Corporation officials, the magistracy, the trade of the town, and the general public all finding representatives. But for the absence of the Rev. F.W. Collyer, who sent a letter of apology for non-attendance, the local Nonconformist ministry would also have been represented. The Mayor (Alderman J.T. Glover) occupied the chair, and was supported on his immediate right by the Rector of Sutton Coldfield (the Rev. W.C.R. Bedford, M.A.) and the Deputy Mayor (Alderman S.C. Emery, J.P.), and on his left by Major-General Arbuthnot, J.P., and Mr S.A. Taylor, J.P.
……. The guests of the evening, Volunteers and Reservists, to whom the middle three tables running from the main table at which the Mayor was seated was reserved, comprised: Corporals E.M. BRAWN, L.C. SECKER, and E. MERRIFIELD, Privates BLEWITT, G.A. STEVENTON, and F.T. TURNER, Trooper F. GREENER (Imperial Yeomanry), Trooper H.S. PARKES (Natal Mounted Rifles), G. PICKERILL (Imperial Military Railways), Private M. LARKIN (2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment), Private T. RONAN (2nd Battalion Royal Warwicks), Private E. HICKIN (1st South Staffordshire), Sergeant J. BRADFORD (Royal Garrison Regiment, late Royal Guards Reserve), Corporal T. STALLWOOD (2nd Scottish Rifles), and Sergeant G. BRANT (Royal Field Artillery), an old veteran, whose appearance and medals attracted a considerable amount of attention.
After the repast, which was served in a manner worthy of the reputation of the Royal Hotel, the Mayor rose to give the customary loyal toasts. …….
……. The Mayor next proposed “Success and Welcome Home to the Returning Volunteers and Reservists from the Front”. They were assembled that evening, he said, to welcome home those among them who had responded to the call of their country at a time when it was in need, for they must all remember there was at one time a great crisis in South African affairs. They responded nobly to that call, and these loyal, brave, and conscientious men voluntarily left patents – and no doubt most of them sweethearts – and all the luxuries and comforts of home in order to defend and uphold the honour and interests of the British Empire. (Applause). What prayers must have been put up for their safe return, and, thank God, with the exception of one, an answer had been returned, and they were here again safe and sound. With all his relatives they deeply mourned the loss of their brave comrade, but he reminded them that in his case there was as much glory in dying from the effects of disease in the cause for which he went out as if he had actually fallen by a bullet. (Hear, hear). They would all remember the joy which was occasioned on the receipt of the news of the relief of Kimberley, and later of Ladysmith and of Mafeking. It would be impossible for those brave soldiers to have known at the front of the rejoicings which took place back home, but if they had known of them it would have stimulated and roused them to greater exertions. The English nation had shown the whole world that England’s sons were always ready to protect her interests, and, if needs were, to lay down their lives in her defence. (Applause). Might it be a long time before they were again called upon to do so! He congratulated Captain STONE on being in command of such a Company and on having such members as those who had returned from the front. Our great poet, Shakespeare, he would remind them, had placed on record the name of Sutton Coldfield in connection with Volunteers. He was much pleased to hear from the Rector that it was intended to erect a tablet in the Parish Church with the names of the Sutton Volunteers inscribed thereon. That would be another lasting memorial of their gallant conduct. In the name of the burgesses of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield he again congratulated them on their safe return. Long might they live to tell their children, and, if possible, their children’s children, the story of their gallant and noble deeds. (Applause).
……. Private BLEWITT, in replying on behalf of the Volunteers and Reservists, said it would be difficult to tell their real feelings, and he could not think of the words which would convey their sense of the grand reception they had had. The Mayor had spoken in the most flattering way of their services. He could only say they had tried to do their duty. They had their choice of going out, and he was very pleased that they did go. Now that they had got back, it would be to them the proudest event in their lives. Private BLEWITT went on to relate how one night when both officers and man had lost their way in the veldt, the word was passed down the ranks that Mafeking had been relieved. That was how they heard it. They dared not say a word, but they thought a great deal. That night they had one great regret, namely, that they had left behind a comrade. He was a fine fellow and a thoroughly good companion and comrade. They thanked them all heartily that evening. As for themselves, they had simply done what everyone would have done in their place, and they would never forget the reception accorded to them.
Trooper PARKES also thanked them very much for the handsome way in which they had received him and the Company, his old comrades, as he was proud to call them. As for the enthusiasm at home which the Mayor had referred, they did get at times pieces of news. They heard of the great enthusiasm at home, and it was that which carried them through. They felt that the nation was behind them. He thanked them as representing more than the public of Sutton, but as representing the whole country.
The Mayor then presented silver medals to each of the volunteers. The medals bore on the face a portrait of the King, and also the name of the recipient, and on the obverse portraits of Lord Roberts, General Buller, and General Baden-Powell, surmounted by shields, one bearing the borough arms and the other the Tudor Rose.
In presenting a medal specially struck, to Mr G. PICKERILL, the Mayor alluded to PICKERILL’s gallant feat in saving the train, of which he was driver, from the Boers.
Mr G. PICKERILL having briefly thanked the Mayor for his kindness, Captain STONE said he should like to thank the Mayor in the name of the Company for the enthusiastic reception accorded to them. They knew the men would do their duty, and they had done it very loyally. It spoke very well for the Volunteer force that they were so well thought of in their own town.
SEE:
SUTTON COLDFIELD TRIBUTE MEDAL
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