County: Inverness-shire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 00/04/1901
Number issued: 15 [?]
KINGUSSIE GAVE PART OF THEIR LOCAL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO INVERNESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING BADGES/MEDALS. IT SEEMS INVERNESS FAILED TO DO THIS.
"Commemorative medals", to:
Volunteer Active Service Company, Cameron Highlanders –
Lieutenant John CAMPBELL
Colour-Sergeant W. MACDONALD
Colour-Sergeant Peter STUART (absent - in S. Africa)
Sergeant D. CAMERON
Sergeant ANGUS
Sergeant G. MACPHERSON (absent - in S. Africa)
Corporal DOUGLAS
Private SELLAR
Private MACLEAN
Private MACKINTOSH
Private MACDONALD
Private MACKENZIE
and two unnamed privates (both absent - in S. Africa)
Lovat's Scouts –
1 unnamed volunteer
"It was resolved to co-operate with the Town Council of Inverness with the view of raising local funds to meet the expense of presenting commemorative medals".
"So much of the contributions that might be raised should be sent to the central fund at Inverness to meet the cost of a commemorative badge or medal to each member of the Cameron Service Volunteers and Lovat Scouts"
"Some of the speakers at the meeting thought the proceedings in connection with the Badenoch Section should be of a local character and that local badges be given, but the preponderance of opinion was in favour of co-operating with Inverness"
From reports it seems clear that there was a faction within Kingussie Council who would have preferred that badges to be sourced and presented locally. However, their wishes were overruled, faith instead being put in Inverness to oversee this aspect of the volunteers’ reception. To this end, part of the subscriptions of Kingussie was given to Inverness with the understanding that the money would be used to purchase badges. Unfortunately, Inverness appears to have failed in this task, as there is no evidence that such mementoes were ever distributed.
As of April 2022, I have been unable to find any evidence that badges/medals were presented by either Inverness or Kingussie. A medal presented in the numbers required (for 74 volunteers and several Lovat Scouts) should be seen as frequently as the Harrogate medal, yet none have surfaced.
SEE ALSO: INVERNESS
Elgin Courant, 23/04/1901
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Aberdeen Press & Journal, 22nd April 1901
KINGUSSIE AND THE RETURNING VOLUNTEERS.
At a largely attended meeting held under the auspices of the provost, magistrates, and town council of Kingussie, and presided over by Provost Macpherson, it was resolved to co-operate with the Town Council of Inverness with the view of raising local funds to meet the expense of presenting commemorative medals to these volunteers and Lovats Scouts returning from the campaign in South Africa, and also that the members of the Badenoch section of the Cameron Highlanders should be entertained to a banquet in Kingussie. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. A considerable diversity of opinion was maintained at the meeting as to the manner in which honours should be shown, and the proceedings were somewhat lively. From the Badenoch section of the Cameron Volunteers there are at the front Lieut. John CAMPBELL, Kingussie; one colour-sergeant, Drill-Instructor MACDONALD, three sergeants, and several privates.
Elgin Courant, 23rd April 1901
BADENOCH.
PROPOSED HONOUR TO SERVICE VOLUNTEERS.
Under the auspices of the Town Council of Kingussie a well-attended public meeting was held on Friday evening to consider as to the most fitting manner in which to honour the volunteers on their return from the war in South Africa. From the Badenoch Company there were at the war a lieutenant (John CAMPBELL), four sergeants, and a number of privates, while there is one local man in the Lovat Scouts. Provost Macpherson was called upon to preside, and, in opening the proceedings, read a circular that he had received from the Town Clerk of Inverness on the subject. The Provost expressed the confident hope that all Badenoch people would heartily co-operate in giving an enthusiastic reception to the district section of the Service Company on their return. While at the war they had done their duty bravely and well, and did credit to their native district – (cheers). They were all glad that not a single death had occurred amongst them, and that they were now on their way home – (applause). He then invited expressions of views from the meeting. A somewhat lively discussion followed, a considerable diversity of opinion being manifested as to the best course to be adopted. In the result, a motion, proposed by ex-Provost Mackintosh, and seconded by ex-Provost Crerar, was adopted, to the effect that subscription lists be opened at both the Kingussie banks, and that so much of the contributions that might be raised should be sent to the central fund at Inverness to meet the cost of a commemorative badge or medal to each member of the Cameron Service Volunteers and Lovat Scouts, and that the Badenoch Section should be entertained to a public banquet in Kingussie on a date to be afterwards fixed. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. Some of the speakers at the meeting thought the proceedings in connection with the Badenoch Section should be of a local character and that local badges be given, but the preponderance of opinion was in favour of co-operating with Inverness in giving the coming honours a general county character, and there was unanimity of feeling in favour of a banquet in Kingussie.
Highland News, 4th May 1901
BADENOCH.
The contingent of the Badenoch company of the Volunteers returned to Kingussie on Wednesday afternoon, and were accorded a very enthusiastic welcome. A twelvemonth ago 14 members of the company went out, including Lieutenant John CAMPBELL, Colour-Sergeant W. MACDONALD, Cameron Highlanders drill instructor; one colour-sergeant, two sergeants, and nine men. Of the 14 four have remained in South Africa – Colour-Sergeant Peter STUART, rural postman, Kingussie; Sergeant G. MACPHERSON, mason, Newtonmore; and two privates – these having received appointments under Government at the theatre of war. Of the 14 who went away 10 have returned, but Colour-Sergeant W. MACDONALD, the drill instructor, of the Badenoch company, was detained at Inverness. The Badenoch district had contributed to the county fund under the auspices of the Inverness Town Council, but it was decided by the Town Council of Kingussie that there should be a local reception. This took the form of a reception in the Dell where the Highland games are held, and where, for the occasion, the grandstand was utilised. On the arrival of the Volunteers, a procession was arranged and marched through the principal streets of Kingussie and thence to the Dell. Provost Macpherson occupied the chair on the grandstand, and in the course of the proceedings speeches were delivered by the chairman, Colonel Macpherson of Glentruim; Dr Mackenzie, Kingussie; Lieutenant John CAMPBELL, and others. Games were afterwards engaged in, and the weather being delightful the proceedings proved most enjoyable.
