TOPIC:

HAWARDEN SILVER PRESENTATION POCKET WATCH

HAWARDEN is a small town in Flintshire, North Wales.

Taken from "The Cheshire Observer," dated 3rd January 1903, page 5;

"HAWARDEN.

WELCOME HOME DINNER -The final dinner organised by the Hawarden Welcome Home Committee was held at the Fox Hotel, Hawarden on Friday evening. Among those present were Mr. T. Wright (chairman of the Parish Council), Captains Mayhew, Swetenham and Hurlbit, Messrs H. Cunningham, T. H. Gibson, F. Green, J. Hampson, A. Potter, G. Moore, H. Dickinson, Sergt. Major Claridge, Staff Sergeant Haswell, Sergeants W. Jones, W. Newton, W. Nunns, Bailey etc. Probably no village, and certainly no volunteer company, in the United Kingdom responded to the call for volunteers during the dark days of the South African war with greater alacrity than did the inhabitants of Hawarden, and the D Company, 2nd V. B. W. R. F., no fewer than twenty five of whom left Hawarden for active service. Three, alas! Privates S. Bailey, and Troopers Toller and Fox, found, as many others brave lads have found a soldier's grave. With his charismatic energy, Mr. Thomas Wright, chairman of the Parish Council, organised a Welcome Home Committee when the news first arrived of the return of the earliest sections, and ably assisted by Messrs. Cunningham, Gibson and Adkins (joint secretaries), Captain Swetenham, Mr. T. B. Barnett, Mr. A. Potter and Sergeant Jones, obtained subscriptions amounting to over £60, for the purpose of presenting to each member on his return a silver hunting watch with suitable inscription. The dinner on Friday was the occasion of the final presentation. A company of over 60 sat down to an excellently provided dinner. At the conclusion the convivial meeting was presided over by Mr. T. Wright. After the toast of "King and Royal Family", Mr. Green proposed "His Majesty's Force", which was responded to by Captains Swetenham and Hurlbit, 2nd V. B. R. W. F. , and Staff Sergeant Haswell, 3rd Duke of Wellington's. The toast of"Our Guests" was ably proposed by Colour Sergeant Newton and seconded in felicitous terms by Colour Sergeant Jones. This was briefly responded to by Captain Mayhew, Corporal Russell and Trooper Fennah. . The chairman then, on behalf of the inhabitants of Hawarden, presented watches to the following; Captain Mayhew, Corporal Russell, Privatex Jones, Durham and Bithell, Troopers Davis and Fennah. In the course of his remarks he dwltt on the regret which all must feel that three of their comrades could never return, but their memories would never fade from the inhabitants of Hawarden Each recipient returned thanks . Captain Swetenham proposed the " Industries of the Neighborhood" , and congratulated the district on the new outlet for labour rising along the banks of the Dee, Mr. Hampson on responding on behalf of the mining industry , spoke of the probable development of the coal resources of the neighborhood, and Mr. A. Potter also responded to the toast of "The Secretaries" , and gave a short abstract of the expenditure. He stated that the funds had been administered openly and impartially, and the accounts could be examined by any subscriber. Incidentally, he added, that the War Relief Fund, which had practically the same officials, now had a sum of over £100 in the bank, after relief had been distributed to all necessitous cases. The ultimate destination of this would shortly be decided by the subscribers. Mr. Cunningham, co secretary, also responded . The toast of "The Chairman", was happily proposed by Mr. Gibson, and seconded by Mr. Cunningham. Each speaker dwelt on the energy and zeal which Mr. Wright had displayed, not only in this instance, but also in connection with anything which had for it's object the furtherance of any good object in Hawarden. The toast was drunk with musical honours, and the chairman suitably responded. Yhe
toast of "The Host and the Hostess" ,vwas acknowledged by Mr. Jones. During the evening songs were sung by Captain Hurlbut (Dolly Gray"Captain Swetenham ("Jolly Post Boys"), Mr. E. Ellis ("Far Away "), Sergeant major Claridge ("Good Old Jeff"), the Chairman ("The Englishman"), Mr. H. Hughes ("Drinking Song"), Mr. W. Murrells ("The hat my father wore"), and recitations were given by Mr. F. Green (" The Kissing Cup"), and ("Ode to the Sun"), and Staff Sergeant Haswell ("Drunk and Assaulting the Guard ") and ("The Row in Silver Street."



Silver pocket watch presented to 8000 Private Thomas Bithell of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Engraved as follows:
"PRESENTED TO PTE THOS BITHELL BY THE INHABITANTS OF HAWARDEN PARISH ON HIS RETURN HOME FROM ACTIVE SERVICE IN S. AFRICA WITH THE ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS 1902."


Closing mechanism is still working and the watch will just about wind and run. But I would not trust it to keep accurate time!


Glass bezel is missing. Maybe I can get it replaced by a suitable watch repairer?

Are there any more surviving examples out there?

More on 8000 Private Thomas Bithell in the next post on this thread.

I believe 22 of these watches were presented, at five separate ceremonies.

I have the example given to Private Evans.

Silver half hunter watch, retailed by "Russells Limited, 18, Church Street, Liverpool". Case with Swiss hallmarks, silver purity "0.935", and serial number 1128933. Inner cuvette engraved: "Swiss Made". 48mm diameter.

Inscribed: PRESENTED TO / PTE JOHN EVANS, / BY THE INHABITANTS OF / HAWARDEN PARISH, / ON HIS RETURN HOME FROM / ACTIVE SERVICE IN S.AFRICA, / WITH THE / ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS. / 1900 -1901.


11 May 1901 presentation

1st Volunteer Active Service Company, 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers –
7421 Private Joseph CATHERALL
7392 Private John EVANS
7380 Private George Harry HUGHES
???? Private H. JONES
7356 Private Harry JONES
7381 Private Samuel MORRIS
7358 Private John "Edward" WRIGHT

Presentation made by Mrs S.E. Gladstone (wife of the Rector), on Hawarden Castle terrace.
Supplied by Russells Ltd., Liverpool.


15 June 1901 presentation

71st (Sharpshooters) Company, 18th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
12762 Trooper Henry DARBYSHIRE

Presentation made by "little" Miss Lyttelton (youngest daughter of General Lyttelton), on a platform at the "Golden Wedding" fountain, Hawarden.


1 March 1902 presentation

1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Welsh Fusiliers –
7382 Private W. COOPER (joined Warren's Horse)

2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Welsh Fusiliers –
7508 Private Frederick MOLYNEUX (invalided 27/11/1901)

Presentation made by Mr Thomas Wright, at the Glynne Arms Hotel.
Private W. Cooper transferred from the 1st Service Company to Warren's Horse - hence the late return home.


31 May 1902 presentation

2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Welsh Fusiliers –
7577 Bugler Bernard FENWICK
7549 Private Walter DAVIES
7550 Private Charles JONES
7556 Private Frederick MOLYNEUX [Robert on QSA Roll; Frederick on Service Record]
7547 Private Robert Shelbourne POWNALL

Presentation made by Mr Thomas Wright, on a temporary platform at the "Golden Wedding" fountain, in the centre of Hawarden.


26 December 1902 presentation

4th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment (attached) –
Captain Horace Dickson MAYHEW

3rd Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Welsh Fusiliers –
8000 Private T. BITHELL
8020 Private Robert JONES

1st Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Cheshire Regiment –
7402 Private John FENNAH

22nd (Cheshire) Company, 2nd Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
29932 Trooper George DAVIES

Composite Cyclist Corps –
7599 Cyclist George DURHAM

Unknown Regiment –
???? Corporal A. RUSSELL

Presentation made by Mr Thomas Wright, at the Fox Hotel, Hawarden.


KNOWN EXAMPLES HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN



Chester Courant, 01/05/1901
London Evening Standard, 13/05/1901
Chester Courant, 15/05/1901
Towyn-on-Sea Times, 16/05/1901
Sussex Agricultural Express, 13/07/1901
Chester Courant, 19/06/1901
Cheshire Observer, 08/03/1902
Chester Courant, 04/06/1902
Chester Courant, 31/12/1902
Cheshire Observer, 03/01/1903



..

8000 PRIVATE THOMAS BITHELL: VOLUNTEER BATTALION ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS. Recipient of the Hawarden presentation pocket watch.


The above lot all came together, so assumption is that the young gentleman in uniform is Thomas Bithell.

Impressed naming to the rim of QSA to 8000 Private Thomas Bithell (misspelt on the medal as Bethell).

Impressed regimental naming to the rim.

Thomas Bithell was born in Saughall, near Chester, Cheshire just a very short stone's throw over the border from Wales in England.
A Collier aged 20 years and 1 month, Thomas attested to the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Wrexham on 7th February 1902.
He stood 5' 7 1/4", weighed 125 lbs, had a healthy chest range of 34" to 36 1/2", of fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.
His religious denomination he declared to be Wesleyan.

His term of military service was short at just 185 days, of which 132 were on posting to South Africa.
However, this was enough to entitle him to the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and date clasp South Africa 1902 as detailed on the Medal Roll WO100/181.
It would appear that Thomas returned home unscathed after his wartime experience having done his patriotic duty.
No doubt his next of kin, father William Bithell of Buckley Common, West Chester was delighted that his boy came home safely and was no doubt present when his son was presented with his tribute pocket watch by the grateful folk of Hawarden..