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Eckington is in Derbyshire, between Chesterfield and Sheffield. Twenty-two medals were distributed at a dinner.

"There was a representative attendance in the Eckington Assembly Rooms on Monday, when a hearty "welcome dinner" was given to a number of Eckington men who served in South Africa."

"The names of the recipients were as follow: Sergeant T. Downes, Sergeant Worthy Wigmore, Private G. Shaw, Private T. Caroline (now a policeman), Private C. Taylor, Private T. Rushby, Private W. Hatfield, Private J. Smith, Private W. Speck, Private G. Bennett, Private M. Nelson, Private G. Smith, Private J. W. Caroline, Private J. Shaw, Private A. Wooton, Private E. Tennant, Private H. Lewis, Private J. Whiting, Lance-Corporal Levick, Private S. Hatfield, Private W. Hollingworth, Private J. T. Westwood (who was killed, his medal being received by his father)."
The Derbyshire Times, Saturday 3.1.1903

I have the medal presented to Pte Westwood's father as reported in the Derbyshire Times. It has clearly had a hard life but is a very attractive tribute produced by the same company and similar to the Doncaster tribute medal.



The rather indistinct naming reads Pte Joseph Thomas Westwood.

Joseph Thomas Westwood attested for the 3rd Battalion Derbyshire Regiment (militia) in June 1896 having been born and lived all his life in Eckington near Chesterfield. He was wounded at Bank and subsequently died of his wounds at Krugersdorp on 31st December 1900.

The regimental history records

"A party of our Bank mounted men went out on the 27th to reconnoitre in the direction of the Gatsrand, when several of them were surrounded and had to surrender, while two or three others rode off to avoid capture, Private Westwood being knocked off his horse mortally wounded. He was at once taken to Krugersdorp on a passing train but was dead on arrival,"

South African War Record
1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters
1899-1902
Wylly
Hong Kong 1904
Pg 57-58

His name is on the memorial in St Mary's Church, Nottingham.

Many thanks for posting the medal. I couldn't find a report of John Westwood's death in the local press, though I found John Caroline, Pitt Street, Eckington, also of the Derbyshires, who was wounded at Vlakfontein.

Westwood's QSA is in my collection, with several others who were in the action at Bank.

For full list or recipients, etc., see Tribute Medal Database - ECKINGTON.

OLD STUBBORN wrote: Westwood's QSA is in my collection, with several others who were in the action at Bank.

Hi,
Did you see my PM regarding this qsa?
Regards
Paul