County: Northumberland
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 04/02/1902, bef. 24/05/1902, 13/09/1902
Number issued: c. 2
Dates of presentations: 04/02/1902, bef. 24/05/1902, 13/09/1902
Number issued: c. 2
Silver medals, to:
04/02/1902 presentation (medal not mentioned)
Border Regiment (Reserve) –
1152 Private [Corporal] Ralph AINSLEY
Corporal Ainsley received £5 at this reception; however, there is no mention of a medal.
This function was severely criticised in the Morpeth Herald (08/02/1902): "The function on Tuesday evening was another instance of a mismanaged job, for surely a few men meeting together to have a smoke and a drink was not the sort of reception due to a brave soldier, who has served his country well. Out of the £20 subscribed, it appears that £5 was Corporal AINSLEY’s share, which was handed to him by the secretary, and so ended the reception farce".
Bef. 24/05/1902 presentation
2nd Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (Reserve) –
2516 Corporal Thomas EMMERSON [A. Emmerson]
Presentation made by Mr James Miller, at the Steam Boat Inn, Amble.
13/09/1902 presentation
1st Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers (Reserve) –
1745 Private George CALDER
Presentation made by Mr T. Scott, at the Steam Boat Inn, Amble.
Each man also received a purse containing £5 in gold.
At least one Amble reserivist received a watch rather than a medal. On 21/03/1900 the Amble Reservists' Fund made a presentation of a silver lever watch to 1490 Private Daniel GAFFEY, 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards ("one of the heroes of Belmont"). See Shields Daily Gazette, 22/03/1900.
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Morpeth Herald, 8th February 1902
DOINGS AT AMBLE.
This week the Amble people have made a feeble attempt to honour a soldier back from the war, a war which, we are afraid, has not covered England with glory. This, however, is no business of “Tommy Atkins”, for, in spite of bad diplomacy, War Office blunders, etc., the British soldier has shown throughout this prolonged campaign that for indomitable pluck, perseverance, and endurance, he has few equals.
Private AINSLEY, a returned reservist, and a reserve man belonging to the Border Regiment, who was called out at the commencement of the war in South Africa, has seen a deal of fighting, and is now raised to the rank of corporal. Corporal AINSLEY’s was the stern call of duty, not the passing war fever, which has stimulated not a few, for, in his case, he left behind him a wife and large family to the tender mercies of the public. To honour a gallant soldier is the duty of all British citizens, but the method adopted at Amble is open to criticism. In the early stages of the war, a thoroughly energetic committee was appointed, at a public meeting, to look to the reservists’ wives and families. The large sum of nearly £1,000 passed through the hands of the committee, who also made provision to give a reception to returning soldiers. In the interval, however, a new committee came into existence, presuming to do the honours. They canvassed the town for subscriptions, with the result that the Reservist Committee, who had done the lion’s share of the work, found their occupation gone. The function on Tuesday evening was another instance of a mismanaged job, for surely a few men meeting together to have a smoke and a drink was not the sort of reception due to a brave soldier, who has served his country well. Out of the £20 subscribed, it appears that £5 was Corporal AINSLEY’s share, which was handed to him by the secretary, and so ended the reception farce.
Morpeth Herald, 24th May 1902
AMBLE RESERVISTS’ TESTIMONIAL FUND.
At a public meeting held at the Steamboat Inn, Amble, a very successful social evening was spent, the object being a presentation to Corporal EMMERSON, of the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, who lately returned home from South Africa after over two years service at the front. The presents were £5 in cash and a silver medal suitably inscribed, also a purse presented by Mrs Burton. Mr Tom Summerville presided and briefly stated the object of the fund, viz. – to give practical assistance to each one on his return home, also a medal as a memento of the occasion. The following programme was then gone through: – Violin solo, air and variations, “Home, Sweet Home”, Wm. Pearson; song, “We live together”, W. Emmerson; song, “Brave Old Guards”, Mr John Burton. The Secretary, Mr James Miller, in making the presentation to Corporal EMMERSON, in a little speech remarked upon his services in the war and also on his return home to Amble. Corporal EMMERSON suitably replied and thanked the people of Amble for their splendid welcome to himself and comrades, and if there was anything he could do he would do it willingly. Mandolin solo, “Soldiers of the Queen”, Mr William Summerville; song, “The Anchors Weighed”, Mr J. Miller; Gramophone solo, “Cock o’ the North”, Mr J. Cran; song, “Doon the Burn Davie, Lad”, J. Allan; recitation, “Private Williams”, A. Forbes. After a hearty vote of thanks to the host and hostess, Mr and Mrs Burton, the meeting closed, all having spent a most enjoyable evening.
Berwickshire News, 16th September 1902
Pte. George CALDER, of the K.O.S.B., has been made the recipient of a handsome present at the hands of Amble Reservist Committee. The presentation took place on Saturday last at the Steam Boat Inn, and was made by Mr T. Scott. It took the shape of £5 in gold, and a beautiful silver medal. Mr Scott said it was a recognition of the valuable services Pte. G. CALDER had rendered to his country, in the prolonged campaign in South Africa for two years and eight months. Pte. CALDER replied, and thanked them all for their kindness. The company afterwards had songs and recitations, the following taking part:- Messrs T. Harris, C.M. Calder, sen., G. Calder, and Mr Marshall; instrumental music was supplied by Messrs Pearson and Somerville, and a successful evening was spent.
