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When the news of the relief of Ladysmith reached Mount Gambier, South Australia, the whole town took to the streets in a frenzied demonstration of patriotism. Bands paraded the main thoroughfares, the Town Hall bells rang out, Union Jacks were hoisted and impromptu sports were held in Commercial Street.

It was decided on the day that the prize-winners of the various sports should be presented with commemorative medals, and Mr F. Burmeister of Adelaide was commissioned to supply these mementoes. First-prize medals were to be silver-gilt and second-prize medals silver. Additionally, a few winners are reported to have had solid gold examples struck by special arrangement. The souvenirs appear to have been distributed at the beginning of April, with individuals being given the option to have their medals named at a cost of one shilling each. As two teams of 60 each took part in the tug of war, this seems to suggest that 120 medals (60 silver & 60 silver-gilt) were issued for this event alone.

Below are two examples, one named and one unnamed.

T.J. Franklyn Bray was secretary of the Mount Gambier Ramblers’ Cycling Club, and Hon. Secretary of various other bodies, including the Soldiers’ Reception Committee, Peace Demonstration Committee and St Patrick’s Day Celebration Committee. "The tug of war, with about 60 contestants aside, caused great excitement. It was won by the East-enders, who pulled the West-enders over in about three minutes" (Adelaide Chronicle, 10 Mar 1900).










Portland Guardian, 7th March 1900

MOUNT GAMBIER.

A DAY OF REJOICING.

Friday was pre-eminently a day of rejoicing in Mount Gambier. Shortly before nine o’clock the news came through that Ladysmith was relieved. This soon spread, and the ringing of the Town Hall bell and the cheering in Commercial Street spread it wider still. Then followed a royal salute from a small cannon, the hoisting of flags, and the arrival of Mr Pascoe's band. Soon pretty well the whole population of the town were in the streets, and it was agreed that business should be suspended and all hands should have a general holiday. Mr James Scott turned out with his drag and four greys, and, picking up the band, drove them around the town playing martial music. He had soon a number of followers in other conveyances, who also supplied music and fired volleys. The State school children were turned out in procession, headed by their fife and drum band. Patriotic speeches were made to the children in front of the Town Hall. In the afternoon Commercial Street was given up to sports, in the evening the Volunteers and Friendly Societies paraded, and a street concert was held, and there was a bonfire in the vacant ground in front of Mac’s hotel. Never before was so much excitement and rejoicing crowded into 12 hours in Mount Gambier. Everybody appeared pleased, and if there were any Boer sympathisers about they did not make themselves conspicuous. A congratulate telegram was sent to Lord Roberts, and rounds of cheers were given for the Queen, Lords Roberts and Kitchener, Generals Buller, French, and Dundonald, the British Army, and the Australian contingents.


Adelaide Chronicle, Saturday, 10th March 1900.

RELIEF OF LADYSMITH.

REJOICINGS IN THE COUNTRY.

Mount Gambier, March 2.

The news of the relief of Ladysmith, was received here at 9 o'clock this morning, and there was a remarkable demonstration. Flags were soon flying on the principal business places, and a large crowd congregated at McKenzie's corner, where round after round of cheers was given. The public were gradually worked up to fever heat. All shops were closed and a public holiday was voluntarily proclaimed. Then the town band, under Mr Pascoe, was driven round the town in a drag by Mr Scott, followed by other four-in-hands. A small cannon was also resuscitated, and a salute of 21 guns was fired in the main street. A collection was quickly made to cable congratulations to General Buller. At 10 o'clock 460 school children marched through the town, under the direction of the head teacher, Mr Jones. They carried the school banner and the school band played. The youngsters were addressed in front of the Town Hall by the chairman of the board of advice and others. In the meanwhile, a meeting had been hastily convened, and it was decided to hold sports this afternoon in the main street. The gathering dispersed after midday, after it had nearly spent itself cheering for the army, Lord Roberts, Lord Kitchener, General Buller, Lord Dundonald, and General French. 'Rule Britannia', the 'National Anthem', and other patriotic songs were sung.

The patriotic demonstration was continued this afternoon, when a sports programme was carried out in Commercial Street, in the presence of a great crowd, numbering 2,000 people, and a tug of war, with about 60 contestants aside, caused great excitement. It was won by the East-enders, who pulled the West-enders over in about three minutes. Several bicycle and foot races were held, and the proceedings culminated in the evening, when a monster demonstration took place. The Mounted Rifles, the Infantry, the Oddfellows, the Foresters, the Rechabites, the Sons of Temperance, the fire brigade, and the cycling clubs, beaded by bands, marched up and down Commercial Street, the procession being over a quarter of a mile long. About 5,000 people lined the street, and made the town ring with their cheers. At 9 o’clock, the procession halted in front of the Town Hall, and Mr E.J. Maturin sang 'Soldiers of the Queen,' the chorus being taken up by the crowd, which dispersed after cheers had been given for the Queen and the 'National Anthem' had been sung. This outburst of patriotism is the most remarkable ever witnessed in Mount Gambier, the people fairly losing their heads in the excitement caused by the good news received today.


The Narracoorte Herald, 13th March 1900

MOUNT GAMBIER

March 4.

When the news arrived on Friday morning of the relief of Ladysmith the whole population of Mount Gambier became frenzied with delight. That of the inhabitants of the long-besieged town might be more deep-seated, but it could not be more demonstrative. As soon as the telegram was announced dozens of flags were run up all over the town; the town hall bell and the numerous other bells were rung again and again; Mr W.H. Pascoe’s signal gun was dragged out into Commercial Street, and a royal salute of 21 guns was fired from it; all the places of business were closed for the day; the town band, after playing in the street for an hour, surrounded by 1,500 people, was conveyed through the town in Mr J.C. Scott’s drag, drawn by four beautiful grey horses; the employees of Mr W. Barrett, Mount Gambier Foundry, in a waggonette decorated with the Union Jack, paraded the town, one of the men playing a cornet, another a drum, and a third a resonant bar of iron; the employees of Mr G. Truman, blacksmith and wheelwright, just as they rushed from work, paraded the streets in another vehicle with a brass instrument and two badly voiced bells; other traps crowded with young men singing “Soldiers of the Queen”, or that other song with the bulldog pup chorus, which is an insult to every other nation in the world, traversed the streets; eight or nine of the leading members of the Mount Gambier Gun Club, in another trap, rushed about firing volleys at intervals; bands of men walked up and down the street singing “Rule Britannia” or “The Soldiers of the Queen”; and the public school children – 300 of them – were granted a special holiday, and marched through the street in charge of their teachers with their drum and fife band leading and playing “Song of Australia” and other national music. All these proceedings were witnessed by nearly 2,000 people on the streets and the windows and balconies, and even the roofs of the buildings between the Town Hall and the E.S. and A. Bank were filled with sightseers. A programme of sports was improvised for the afternoon, and besides the traffic, the police regulations and the Corporation by-laws were suspended, and they were held in the streets. They consisted of bicycle and foot racing, a tug of war, and other events. Quite 2,000 people witnessed them. In the evening some of the large buildings were illuminated with designs, and a grand procession in which over 90 members of the military companies in uniform, the two fire brigades with their reels, and 130 members of the Oddfellows, Foresters, and Temperance Orders, took part, marched up and down the Commercial Street twice. The town band lead and the Salvation Army band occupied a position in the procession further back. Before they separated at the Town Hall Mr Maytum, standing on the balcony of the Hall, sang “The Soldiers of the Queen”, the crowd on the streets – quite 3,000 now – joining in the chorus, the military buglers playing a royal salute, and the band playing the National Anthem. The evening’s demonstration concluded with a bonfire on the vacant allotment opposite Mac’s Hotel, where on effigy of Oom Paul was burned amid the exultant cheers of hundreds of young loyalists. Nothing like Friday’s proceedings were ever witnessed in Mount Gambier before. The whole population left their employments and their pleasures and forgot their sorrows and their cares to hold general rejoicing at the relief of a town in far off Natal, and there was a heartiness and absence of formality about the proceedings that no pre-arranged programme would have possessed. In the morning, while the excitement was at its zenith, it was suggested that a telegram of congratulation should be sent to General Roberts and the other generals in South Africa. The idea was instantly and warmly accepted. The amount required, £6 3s, was raised in a quarter of an hour, and the telegram dispatched by 11 o’clock. It was worded as follows: –

"To Lord Roberts, Jacobsdal.
Hearty and heartfelt congratulations. Kindly pass on to Generals Buller. White, Dundonald, and Army generally.
Mount Gambier".

As the Mayor was not present it could not be sent as from the Mayor, a fact which many much regretted.

The members of Christ Church have decided to raise money for the purpose of erecting a memorial in the church for the late Lieutenant J.W. Powell, who was an active worker in the church and Sunday school.

On Wednesday a fancy-dress comic cricket match was played on Frew Park oval on behalf of the Patriotic and Bushmen's Contingent Funds. The total proceeds including tickets sold before the day, amounted to £26 5s.


Border Watch (Mount Gambier), 31st March 1900

LADYSMITH SOUVENIR.

When sports were held in the main street of Mount Gambier on the day news came through that Ladysmith had been relieved, it was decided that the prize-winners at the gathering should be presented with medals in commemoration of the day, Mr G.M. May sent the order for the medals to Mr F. Burmeister, of Adelaide, and he has now received a sample medal. It is of neat design, and is about the size of a shilling. On one side is the wording "Relief of Ladysmith", and on the other "Impromptu sports, held in the main street. Mount Gambier, March 2, 1900". A space is left on each of the medals so that those entitled to them may have their names engraved upon them if they wish. A charge or 1s is to be made to all who have their names engraved on the medal, and all who wish to have this done should communicate with Mr May at once. The first prize medals will be silver, thickly coated with gold, and the second prizes will be silver. A number of the winners, by special arrangement, are having their medals struck off in gold. In whatever form the medal is it will be an interesting souvenir of the day.



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Thomas Joseph Franklin Bray was about 32 years of age when he took part in the tug of war celebrating the Relief of Ladysmith. He might have had his mind on other matters as his second wife was seven months pregnant. His first wife had died after just six years of marriage and the union had produced no children. Thomas passed away in Melbourne in 1927. Here is the memorial tablet to the son who was born just under two months after the tug of war – it can be found in Lilydale Lawn Cemetery, Victoria (photo courtesy of Find a Grave).

Thank you, David.


As the sports were impromptu, it at first appears that this programme must have been printed after the event. However, the report below suggests that, surprisingly, it was almost certainly printed on the day. Image courtesy of the Les Hill Photographic Collection.

The list of winners at the end of the Border Watch article, shows that, discounting the tug-of-war, nine competitors came first, and seven second. Unfortunately, due to the chaotic nature of the tug-of-war, it is impossible to know how many of these men would have been entitled to medals. The original number of forty per team had almost doubled by the end of the event. Assuming the losing team in the tug-of-war was considered to have come second, the number of medals distributed could have been anything between 100 and 180.







Border Watch (Mount Gambier), 3rd March 1900

SPORTS IN THE AFTERNOON.

The enthusiastic rejoicings were resumed in the afternoon at 2, when an impromptu sports programme was carried out in Commercial Street. Before the sports started a procession was made by a number of conveyances along Commercial Street. First came Mr J.C. Scott's team and drag with the town band. Then came other conveyances, some ancient, some modern, but all loaded to their utmost, and on board every vehicle there was some instrument, musical or otherwise, but capable of producing a noise. Up and down the street they drove with a great flourish of trumpets for half an hour or so. Later on, there must have been nearly 2,000 people assembled at the junction of Commercial Street and the Bay Road, and the unusual event of sports in the main thoroughfare of the town is one that will be long remembered as giving some indication of the enthusiasm aroused by the prowess of British arms. When the idea of holding sports in honour of the relief of Ladysmith was mooted in the forenoon, the suggestion that they should be carried out in Commercial Street met with much approval. Mr H. Gaillard was the prime mover. At his invitation about a dozen gentlemen met at Messrs May and Morphett’s office to make arrangements, but the room being found too small an adjournment was made to the Council Chamber. About 30 gentlemen were present, and Mr Kennedy was voted to the Chair. The outcome was that it was decided to hold sports in Commercial Street and Messrs Kennedy, Yates, Keegan, Haig, and May were appointed a committee to carry them out. Nearly £12 was subscribed in the room to provide prizes. Some of the promoters favoured carrying out the programme on Frew Park. There is no doubt the park would have been more convenient, but Ladysmith is not relieved every day, and the desire for novelty and excitement and bustle prevailed.

The street was very dusty, and the crowding when an event was being brought off made it difficult to get a good view of the sports, but a joyous, good-humoured crowd heeded not these trifles. They laughed and cheered alternately. In their eagerness to see all that was going, the crowd occupied every point of vantage. All the upstairs windows of buildings at the main corner were occupied, every lamp post available seemed to have one or more boys clinging to its top, and the parapets of many of the shop fronts were crowded with sightseers.

The stewards at the sports were – Messrs G.M. May (Secretary), F.H. Daniel (judge), G. Richardson (starter), and E. Kuhl and Alfred Clark (handicappers). A programme of 10 items was submitted, and every event filled well. There was post entry for every event, and no nomination fee was charged. The prizes in all the events were trophies or medals, but these will be arranged later.

A tug-of-war, East v. West, was the opening event. The tug-of-war was to consist of forty men a-side, but the crowd was so great, and the applicants to pull so eager to take part, that it was with difficulty the event was got off. Eventually 60 or 70 aside attached themselves to the rope. The pistol was fired, but the eastern people were not ready, and they were immediately pulled over the line. It was determined to have another pull, and this time there were quite 80 men pulling on the western end of the rope. They had the advantage in the numbers, but it was not certain how many were pulling on the rope, because numbers joined in on both sides who had no right to do so. The pull was a better one this time, but in less than a minute the eastern haulers pulled their western friends over the mark, and won amid great cheering. The West Enders were not very satisfied, and wanted another pull of 20 men aside, but it was not arranged. Mr H. Gaillard captained the West End team, and Mr J. Keegan the East Enders.

Four bicycle races were brought off during the afternoon. One for boys under 17 years attracted three starters. The course was in Wehl Street, thence to Sturt Street, to Papworth's corner, round the South Australian Hotel corner and along Commercial Street to the starting point. There was some difficulty in keeping the public back to allow a pathway for the cyclists, but this trouble was overcome. Mr Vears, who had a long start, won easily. The course for the Open Bicycle Race was made somewhat longer. The competitors had to run to the Park Hotel corner, and come from Sturt Street onto Commercial Street at Studemann’s corner. Then there was a good run down the main street to the starting point. Dave McNamara soon overhauled the field and won easily. He had his bike arrayed in red, white, and blue, and he was given a cheer as he passed the post. A Slow Bicycle Race (riders in fancy costume) occasioned much excitement. It was from the main crossing to Jen’s Hotel, and the nine competitors were arrayed in every description of fancy dress. H. Chester (arrayed as a clown) won. W. Maddick was running him very closely when one of the spectators, who crowded behind the riders, touched his wheel, and he fell off. Perhaps the best bicycle race was that for old buffers (over 40 years). On an ordinary occasion it would be difficult to get representatives of the older generation into the arena, but circumstances alter cases. A light heart makes the body young, and six veterans faced the starter. Mr A.V. Lukey, who showed a good deal of pace, won easily from Messrs Newling and Fairweather. Mr J.I. Underwood would have run him closely had he not fallen at the start. An Old Buffers Foot Race, which was run from the Post Office to the main corner, brought out 10 runners. Mr James McArthur won from scratch. The Corporation dayman had a severe fall during the race. For boys’ races and girls’ races there were starters galore. As with all the other events they were carried on with the utmost enthusiasm. On the conclusion of the programme cheers were given for the Queen, etc., after which the gathering adjourned for tea.

Results of the sports were as follows: –

Tug of War, West v. East. – East End won.
Bike Race for Boys, under 17 years. – M. Vears 1, A. Chester 2, S. McNamara 3.
Old Buffers Flat Race, 75 yds (for men 50 years or older). – James McArthur 1, J. Delanty 2, J.I. Underwood 3. 10 started.
Open Handicap Bike Race. – Dave McNamara (scratch), 1; H. Chester (200 yds), 2; W.D. Maddick (180 yds), 3. Other starters – H. Pollock (150 yds), A. Anderson (150 yds), A.G. Morgan (160 yds), A. Hill (240 yds), and G. Smith (240 yds).
Girls’ Race, 50 yards (for girls under 13 years). – Alice Baker 1, Edie Bradford 2, Edie Carthy 3.
Boys’ Race, 100 yards (for boys under 13). – W. Haig 1, B. Criddle 2, E. Barrett 3.
Bike Race (old buffers 40 years and over). – A.V. Lukey (20 yds) 1, C.W. Newling (scratch) 2, J.I. Fairweather (30 yds) 3. J.I. Underwood (scratch), H. Gaillard (60 yds), and G. Watson (60 yds) also started.
Boys’ Race (over 12 and under 16). – L. Howlett 1, D. Steele 2, R. Gascoine 3.
Egg and Spoon Race, 50 yards. – R. Haig 1. None of the others finished.
Slow Bike Race (fancy costume). – H. Chester 1. None of the others finished.


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