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Corporal Ernest C. Wrightson, of the Eastern Province Horse, died on 8th August 1900, from wounds received in action in May. He was a Old Boy of King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, and the following year his father offered the school a bronze medal of honour in memory of his son.

The school possesses three Wrightson Medals.

The Ernest Wrightson Medal for Shooting, won by R. Richard Godfrey, 1925.



The Ernest Wrightson Medal for Honor, won by N. Squier (later a headmaster at the school), 1905.



The Ernest Wrightson Medal for Shooting, won by Cadet J. Sayers, 1929.





Corporal E. Wrightson fell last year in the South African Campaign. His father was wishful to perpetuate the memory of his son, who was an old boy of this School. He requested and obtained permission from the Governors to offer a medal of honour in memory of his son, which was to be given to the youth who in the opinion of his schoolfellows was the most honourable boy in the School.
The result of the voting was that Headland, D., the silver medallist of 1899, and brother of this year’s medallist and of a former medallist, has been awarded this honourable distinction by 32 votes, the next youth receiving 17 votes.
Essex County Chronicle, Friday 16th August 1901

Thursday was "Speech Day" at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, and it was observed with the customary entertainment and distribution of medals and good book prizes. The chairman of the governors, Mr. W. W. Duffield, occupied the chair, and the distribution of prizes was made by the Rev. Canon Lake, rector of Chelmsford, as follows: -
……..The Wrightson Memorial Medal for Honour, N. Squier.
The Essex Newsman, Saturday 29th July 1905

In 1903, four boys were nominated, but the result of the voting was so close that it was decided that in future there should be an absolute majority. Over the ensuing years, the voting process, and perhaps also the difficulty in defining "honour," led to disputes, and two governors attended the vote in 1908.
The following year, 1909, Mr. Wrightson recommended that the medal in future be awarded for shooting and drill, with the expense of altering the inscription on the medal being borne by the governors. In 1923 the award became The Wrightson Medal for Shooting, and in 1932 the Wrightson connection disappeared, with another parent, a Mr. Dains, endowing the Shooting Medal prize. Since the late 1960s, when competition for shooting became less keen, the Dains Medal was awarded to the senior NCO of the cadet corps in recognition of his long service. This prize is now sponsored by another individual.

Ernest Wrightson is also remembered at the school as one of the two names on a stained-glass window.

My thanks to Mrs. B. E. Gray, the school's Honorary Archivist, and to Lindsey Thompson, PR & Marketing Manager at KEGS, for information on the medals, and for the photos.

Thank You Berniece...…

I have been trying to find out who these were awarded to with no luck as of yet as there in no place for a name to be engraved...…

My Thread: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/20-tribute-me...-lothrop-borden#3814

and a thread by Elmarie: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-...lothrop-borden#49571

Mike

If you can discover which school Harold Lothrop Borden went to, then that might be the source of the medal. Or possibly a volunteer battalion which he had been a member of.

I was in two minds as to whether to put my top post in 'tribute medals' (and posted it there initially), but, as it's a direct memorial for Ernest Wrightson, I changed my mind and switched it to here.

I guess you can say that this is a memorial piece as well.....

This was put out by his Father who was a Member of the Privy Council and for the Dominion Rifle Association so therefore it most likely went to the 1st Prize Shooter in each area of the DRA...…

Mike

Not having the prize winners' individual names on the Borden medals would have been more cost effective. The Wrightson medals having individual names, and only one each year between 1901 and 1931, makes each one unique.

Attached are two photographs of an example of the Dains Medal, which succeeded the Wrightson Medal. Once again, my thanks to Mrs. B. E. Gray, KEGS's Honorary Archivist.