Medals and awards

Dundee Evening Telegraph, 27th February 1901

PRESENTED WITH COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS.

Last night Lieutenant ROSS and the seventeen men of the second service company 7th Volunteer Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were entertained to supper in the Victoria Hotel, Alloa, by Colonel Moyes, the commanding officer, and officers of the battalion, and subsequently banqueted in the Drill Hall, when the men were presented with commemorative medals, six being the gifts of Alloa Town Council, and the others from officers of the battalion. Lieutenant ROSS received a revolver from his brother officers.

Alloa Advertiser, 2nd March 1901

……. The Provost then presented SILVER medals, suitably inscribed and encased, to the following :-

Private W. CAMPBELL

The men were loudly cheered as they marched to and from the platform …….

……. The following are the names of the men who received GOLD charms :-

Private HESSELL

Alloa Advertiser, 2nd March 1901

At one time it certainly looked as if Lieutenant ROSS and the 17 men of the County Battalion, who had volunteered for active service in South Africa, were to be allowed to leave the district without any public recognition, but thanks to Colonel Moyes, and the other officers of the Battalion, such an act of unpatriotism has happily been avoided. In another column an account is given of the hearty send-off which the gallant young fellows received on Tuesday evening. They were first of all entertained to supper by the Battalion officers, and subsequently banqueted in the Drill Hall, and presented with commemorative medals. At both functions, and especially the latter, there was no lack of demonstrative enthusiasm. The healths of the men were duly honoured, and befitting public recognition made of their gallantry in voluntarily exchanging the comforts of home for the hardships and dangers of the battlefield. The general public also showed appreciation of the men’s gallant conduct by turning out in large numbers, despite the inclemency of the weather, and accompanying them from the Drill Hall to the Station, where the parting god-bye was one of the most hearty and intensely enthusiastic that could well be imagined. Lieutenant ROSS and his men will doubtless long remember the popular demonstration of enthusiasm which characterised their departure from Alloa, preparatory to their embarkation for South Africa.

Dundee Evening Telegraph, 2nd May 1901

SCOTTISH CYCLYSTS.

HEARTY SEND-OFF TO ALLOA MEN.

Last night the 16 volunteers from the 7th Volunteer Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who have volunteered for active service with the Scottish Cyclists’ Corps in South Africa were banqueted in the Victoria Hotel, Alloa, by the officers of the battalion. Thereafter a public presentation took place in the Drill Hall, which was packed to the door. Ten of the men drawn from the Alloa companies received gold badges from Dean of Guild Cousin on behalf of Alloa Town Council, and the six from the other companies of the battalion also received gold badges, the gifts of the officers of the battalion. Speeches were made by Colonel Moyes, commanding; Mr George Younger, Convener of the County (who proposed the health of the men); and by the Earl of Mar and Kellie, Lord Lieutenant of the County and Honorary Colonel of the Battalion. Afterwards the men left for and had an enthusiastic send-off at the station.

Alloa Advertiser, 4th May 1901

On Wednesday evening, the third quota of Volunteers from the 7th V.B. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders to leave here for active service in South Africa were banqueted in the Victoria Hotel by the officers of the Battalion, and afterwards publicly presented with gold badges in the Drill Hall. The presentation ceremony took place at 7.30. …….

……. The Colonel concluded by calling upon Dean of Guild Cousin, who handed over beautiful gold badges to the men as follows:

Private R. DRUMMOND

Colonel Moyes proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Dean of Guild Cousin for presenting the badges – (cheers) – and requested him to convey to the Provost, Magistrates and Town Councillors the thanks of the Battalion and of the friends assembled that night for their kindness in providing the badges. (Cheers). Continuing, the Colonel said it would appear slightly unbecoming on their part were they to allow the other six cyclists, who were going to South Africa, to go without a badge, so the officers of the Battalion had arranged to present the badges to the other six members of the section. (Cheers). The badges were then handed to the men as follows :-

Private W, BLACKWOOD

As the men stepped forward to receive their badges, they were warmly cheered by their friends in the hall. 

Alloa Advertiser, 15th February 1902