County: Forfarshire
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 24/08/1901, 09/08/1902
Number issued: 34
24/08/1901 presentation
9160 Trooper John Cameron ROBB
7627 Private David OAKLEY
09/08/1902 presentation
23376 Trooper James R. STEVEN
8945 Private William SMITH
9110 Private David SMITH
9082 Private Robert W. NELSON
Type 2 (1902).
Medals designed & supplied by Mr Low, West Port.
Surgeon-Captain Thomas Finlayson DEWAR
Troopers George Francis, John Robb and David Low, I.Y.
Trooper Charles Steven example in the Constantine Collection.
ARBROATH AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN VOLUNTEERS.
VOLUNTEERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF ARBROATH.
A great demonstration was held in Arbroath on Saturday to welcome the yeomanry and volunteers in Arbroath and district who have been on active service in South Africa. The Townhouse and other public buildings were brilliantly decorated. The freedom of the burgh was presented in the Public Hall by Provost Grant to the following townsmen who have returned from the front: –
Surgeon-Captain DEWAR and Troopers George FRANCIS, John ROBB, and T.D. LOW, of the Imperial Yeomanry (Fife and Forfar Light Horse); and Privates OAKLEY and NICHOLL, of the Arbroath (headquarters) detachment of the 2nd V.B.R.H.
A handsome medal, the gift of the Corporation, was also presented to each of the newly-made burgesses. The medals were inscribed with the Arbroath coat-of-arms and the name and battalion of the receiver of the gift.
The proceedings were witnessed by a large assemblage, and enthusiastic cheers were given for the burgesses and for the King.
In the afternoon a great gathering was held at the Hospitalfield, near Arbroath, where copies of “The Muster Roll of Angus”, an interesting work dealing with the volunteers and soldiers of the county who have served or are serving in South Africa, were presented to some 40 men who have returned to the county from the front. The Earl of Strathmore, Lord-Lieutenant of the County, presided, and the presentations were made by Lady Airlie, whose husband, the Earl of Airlie, fell in the war last year.
HONOURING ARBROATH VOLUNTEERS.
Mr Macdonald then read the minute as follows: -
At Arbroath, the twenty-fourth day of August, 1901, which day Surgeon-Captain Thomas Finlayson DEWAR, of the sixth battalion Imperial Yeomanry, and Troopers George Airth FRANCIS, John Cameron ROBB, and David Thomson LOW, of the 20th Company Imperial Yeomanry, and Privates John NICOLL and David OAKLEY, both of the Volunteer Company of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), were by the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of Aberbrothwick, admitted Free Burgesses of the said burgh with all sundry liberties, privileges, and amenities thereto belonging, in testimony of the high patriotic spirit evinced by them in volunteering for the war in South Africa, and as a recognition of their good services while taking part in the war: the said Thomas Finlayson DEWAR, George Airth FRANCIS, John Cameron ROBB, David Thomson LOW, John NICOLL, and David OAKLEY being bound to discharge every civil duty incumbent by law on true and faithful burgesses. (Signed) Colin Grant, Provost. (Applause).
THE MEDALS AND PARCHMENT.
The burgess ticket was in the form of a parchment, on which was engrossed the name of the recipient, and an extract from the Council’s minute, which was read. The parchments were enclosed in red cylinder-shaped boxes.
ARBROATH TOWN COUNCIL.
HONOURS FOR THE RETURNED SOUTH AFRICAN VOLUNTEERS.
FREEDOM OF BURGH TO VOLUNTEERS.
The minutes submitted included a minute of a special meeting of the Council at which it was unanimously resolved that the honorary freedom of the burgh should be conferred on the following persons who had gone direct from Arbroath as volunteers to South Africa, and who had now returned therefrom, in testimony of their appreciation of the high and patriotic spirit evinced by them in volunteering for the war in South Africa, and as a recognition of their good services while taking part in the war; and that along with the burgess ticket there should be presented to each a silver medal with a suitable inscription thereon: –
Bugler David DOIG, 27 St Mary Street; and Privates George B. LOW, 7 Lochland Street; David MITCHELL, 9½ Applegate; Alexander W. MURRAY, 4 Hope Street; George SMITH, 7 Elliot Street; William SMITH, 4 Lochland Street; Samuel CHRISTIE, 16 Kyd Street; and John SMITH, 9 Ladyloan, all of the Second Volunteer Service Company of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE BURGH TO RETURNED VOLUNTEERS.
The Provost said that they had arrived at a very important part of the afternoon’s proceedings, that of presenting the freedom of the Burgh to the returned members of the South African Volunteers. (Applause). The Town Council were unanimous in a resolution to confer the highest honour they could upon those citizens who had so readily offered their services to their country in her hour of need. Only a very few men had been enrolled during the past century as burgesses, and amongst these he might mention Andrew Lowson and their much lamented friend, Colonel Rait of Anniston. These were the class of men that had before this day been made free burgesses, and the Town Council had thought that their returned volunteers were entitled to that high honour, and that they were warranted in admitting them as free burgesses of the Burgh of Arbroath.
Mr W.K. Macdonald, Town Clerk, then read the minutes of the Town Council meeting at which it was agreed to confer the honour on 28 volunteers who had recently returned from the front. As he read out the names, each man stepped up to the platform and received the burgess ticket, which is inscribed on parchment and enclosed in a neat case, along with medal from the hands of the Provost. The recipients were: - Bugler David DOIG, and Privates George B. LOW, David MITCHELL, Alex. W. MURRAY, Geo. SMITH, William SMITH, Samuel CHRISTIE, and John SMITH of the Second Active Service Volunteer Company of the Black Watch; Lance-Corporal David CONNELLY, Privates John DOYLE, Robert MITCHELL, David SCOTT, Alexander W. PETRIE, Wm. DUNCAN, Wm. ROBERTSON, Alex. ROBERTSON, Thomas CONNELL, Alexander CHRISTIE, David SMITH, Thomas KEILLOR, and Alexander OAKLEY of the Third Active Service Section of the Second Black Watch Volunteers; Private Robert W. NELSON of the Third Volunteer Cyclist Service Company; and Troopers Robert ANDERSON, Frank JAMIESON, Lawrence KELLY, James STEPHEN [sic], Charles STEPHEN [sic], and George CAIRD of the Forfar and Fife Imperial Yeomanry.
