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Picture courtesy of DNW

5th (A) Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment Tribute Medal, silver-gilt, 30x30mm. excluding loop and ring suspension, a cross pattée bearing a circular border with the arms of Manchester; rev: in relief an inscription in eight lines, ‘Presented by Col. Lloyd & Officers 5th (A) VBMR for services in South Africa’, integral loop and ring for suspension.

That's a very pretty little piece, I have not seen another similar example for a good few years.

Tribute Medal Database entry updated: Manchester - 5th (Ardwick) V.B. Manchester Regt


I have recently found a short article covering the presentation of these "Maltese cross watch pendants".


Manchester Evening News, 28th July 1902

Those members of the Ardwick battalion who have taken part in the war were, on Friday evening, at the drill hall, presented with souvenirs of their experience. The occasion was a smoking concert arranged as a welcome to the members of the Second Active Service Company, who, with Captain HEYES and Lieutenant STEVENS, returned from the Cape some time ago, and it was made an opportunity to distribute to these and other returned volunteers framed addresses, along with Maltese cross watch pendants, the gift (as inscribed on the back) of Colonel Lloyd and the officers of the Ardwick battalion. Colonel Lloyd, who presided, was supported by a great many officers, and the proceedings were thoroughly enjoyable.


Having trawled through the Manchester Volunteer service records, I estimate that just over 75 of these were presented. Interestingly, as "junior" battalions, the 5th and 6th V.B's were omitted from the original selection of men for the 1st Service Section. Eventually, ten Ardwick men were chosen to sail with the draft, in April/May 1900.


PROBABLE RECIPIENTS [MEN WHO JOINED FROM THE 5TH V.B.M.R.] (inevitably, a few men's attestation papers will be missing)

1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Manchester Regiment (DRAFT) –
7146 Lance-Sergeant William Henry SMITH
7132 Private William BROCK
7124 Private F.A. BROWNING
7159 Private Herbert DUNN
7138 Private William MALONEY
7116 Private Hugh McCLUGHAN
7139 Private John Edward STERLING
7114 Private Alfred Henry WALMSLEY
7120 Private John WEST
7118 Private M. WHITEHEAD (wounded, Standerton, 30/07/1900; subsequently served as 8225 Cpl. M. Whitehead, 2nd V.A.S.C.)

2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, Manchester Regiment –
Captain W.G. HEYS [Heyes]
Lieutenant I.M. STEVENS
7126 Sergeant Herbert GREENHALGH
7113 Sergeant William HOBSON
7151 Corporal Alexander Sinclair CRAWFORD
7153 Corporal Simeon HOLDEN
7146 Corporal William Henry SMITH
8225 Corporal M. WHITEHEAD (previously served as 7118 Pte. M. Whitehead, 1st V.A.S.C.)
7123 Lance-Corporal Joseph JERVIS
7127 Private James John BARBER
7140 Private Albert BENNETT
7161 Private Walter BROOMFIELD
7117 Private Thomas Valentine BROOMHEAD
8230 Private William BUTLER
7135 Private Albert CLARKE
7142 Private William Henry CORLETT [Corlette]
7144 Private John Charles DAVIES
8257 Private Henry Albert DAVIS
7131 Private Walter EDWARDS
7133 Private Albert Arthur ELSDEN
7141 Private George Edward FOSTER
7115 Private Thomas GIBSON
8234 Private John GLEESON
7148 Private William GRIFFIN
7130 Private John GUNSHON
8255 Private William Henry HARDY
7154 Private Walter HIGGINSON
8231 Private Arthur HOLMES
7150 Private John William HULME
7168 Private Harold HUME
7149 Private William JONES
7152 Private Joseph LEIGH
7155 Private James Albert LORD
8256 Private Robert McCARTHY
7121 Private Arthur McGOWAN
7156 Private George McMULLEN
7147 Private James Alfred PARK
8228 Private John Thomas PARMAN [Parmen]
7162 Private John Henry PARNELL
7137 Private John James PARRY
8254 Private Alfred PEACH
8235 Private James Thomas PRESTON
8232 Private Thomas PRITCHARD
7143 Private Jonathan REDMAN
7160 Private Abraham REEVES
8367 Private James SANGSTER
7145 Private John James SELLERS
7134 Private George Edward SHARPLES
7158 Private Albert SIMPSON
8226 Private James SMITH
7119 Private James TAPLIN
7164 Private John UNWIN
8229 Private Herbert WATERHOUSE
7167 Private Thomas WEST
7125 Private Henry WILLAN

3rd Volunteer Active Service Company, Manchester Regiment –
8358 Private Frederick John BRADE
8363 Private William BROWN
8236 Private John CARTER
8356 Robert William DOOLEY
8362 Private Richard Frederick FISH
8355 Private Thomas Edward JONES
8357 Private Samuel LEECH
8364 Private Robert Arthur MITCHELL
8366 Private John UNSWORTH
8360 Private Charles Henry WOOD
8359 Private Thomas WOODS

Presentation made during a smoking concert, held at the Ardwick Battalion Headquarters on 25th July 1902.

A gift from Colonel Lloyd and the officers of the 5th (Ardwick) Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment.


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