County: West Lothian
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 20/05/1901, 29/06/1901
Number issued: 3
Gold alberts & badges, to:
20/05/1901 presentation
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Scots Fusiliers ["C" Company, 8th V.B.R.S] –
8112 Private Colin FOWLER
8136 Private John McADAM
Presentation made by Provost Wilson, in the Town Hall, South Street, Armadale.
26/07/1901 presentation
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Scots Fusiliers ["C" Company, 8th V.B.R.S] –
8157 Private William ROBERTSON
Presentation made by Captain-Surgeon Anderson, in the Drill Hall, Armadale.
"The handsome gold albert and badge to be presented to Private William Robertson, Armadale Volunteer Company, on his return from South Africa" was displayed in the window of Mr George Jeffrey, jeweller, Engine Street (Linlithgowshire Gazette, 21/06/1901).
Inscribed with the badge of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, and: "Presented to [Private John McAdam], Volunteer, by the inhabitants of Armadale, on his return from active service in South Africa, 20th May, 1901".
Supplied by Mr George Jeffrey, jeweller, Engine Street, Bathgate.
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Linlithgowshire Gazette, 24th May 1901
ARMADALE.
A considerable amount of stir was created in Armadale on Sunday forenoon, when it became known that the local Volunteers who had served at the front in South Africa for the past sixteen months, were to arrive in Armadale on Sunday night. By evening large crowds thronged the streets in the vicinity of the Cross. The men left London on Saturday night, and arrived at the depot, Glencorse, on Sunday morning. It was expected the men would have remained at Glencorse till Monday, but other arrangements were made by the authorities, whereby a special train was run to Linlithgow on Sunday evening, where they were met by an admiring concourse of relations and acquaintances, several brakes having conveyed from Armadale a large number of people. On arrival at the Cross, Armadale, about nine o’clock, the two Armadale Volunteers, Privates McADAM and FOWLER, were met by the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council, on whose behalf and that of the citizens, Rev. W.R. Paterson, M.A., in a short and neat speech, welcomed the gallant young soldiers home, after which all the male onlookers uncovered their heads, while a short thanksgiving service was held. The company then joined in singing the first verse of the National Anthem, led by Bailie Gillon, J.P. The Proceedings then terminated, and the men proceeded to their respective homes. We may add that Captain Jeffrey, who went to Edinburgh to meet his men, accompanied them to Armadale.
On Monday evening a demonstration on a larger scale took place. The local Volunteer corps, under the charge of Captain Jeffrey and Lieutenant Weir, along with members of the senior and junior Tents of Rechabites, assembled at the Armoury, and, headed by the local brass band, a procession through the principal streets of the burgh was started. ……
……. Provost Wilson said they were all proud to see the Volunteers home again with them. They rejoiced and were proud of them for having fought their battles in South Africa. (Applause). It was considered their duty to present them with a small present on their return home, and in the name of the Volunteers and inhabitants, he had much pleasure in handing each of them a small token of respect in memory of the battles they had gone through. (Applause). He then presented Privates MACADAM and FOWLER with a gold chain and badge, the latter being suitably inscribed. …….
……. On the front of the badges there was an engraving of the Royal Scots arms, and the following inscription: - “C Company 8th V.B.R.S., Armadale,” and on the reverse side: - “Presented to Private John Macadam (Private Colin Fowler) by the inhabitants of Armadale on his return from active service in South Africa.” On the badge presented to the Rev. Mr Paterson there was a seal. The chains and badges were selected from the stock of Captain Jeffrey, Bathgate.
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 21st June 1901
The window of Mr George Jeffrey, jeweller, Engine Street, presents a very interesting display at present. In it are set out the prizes to be competed for at the sports in connection with the joint demonstration on 29th inst., the handsome gold albert and badge to be presented to Private William ROBERTSON, Armadale Volunteer Company, on his return from South Africa, and a number of beautiful cups.
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 26th July 1901
Private Wm. ROBERTSON, who was prevented returning home from South Africa with the other Armadale volunteers owing to having taken ill at Cape Town, has now arrived in the country. To-night he will be welcomed by Captain Jeffrey and his comrades of C Company, and will be made the recipient of a gold albert and medal.
West Lothian Courier, 2nd August 1901
Welcome Home to Private ROBERTSON.
The members of C Coy., 8th V.B.R.S. paraded on Friday evening last to welcome home one of their comrades, Pte. Wm. ROBERTSON, who had been left in hospital at De Aar, suffering from enteric fever, when the remainder of the Service Company returned home. The company paraded at the Drill Hall at 7.30, under the command of Capt. Jeffrey, and marched to the station, where they were drawn up in a line. When Pte. ROBERTSON appeared he was received with round after round of cheering. The company then marched back to the Hall, headed by Pte. ROBERTSON and a large Union Jack, and a smoking concert was then held. Capt. Jeffrey, who occupied the chair, welcomed Pte. ROBERTSON in the name of the company, saying that not only did C Company feel proud of him, but the whole county should feel proud of him because he was the first man to volunteer in the county. (Cheers). Capt. Jeffrey then proposed the toast of the “King”, which was duly honoured. Afterwards Pte. Colin FOWLER (who lately returned from the front), sang “Jeannie Deans”. The Chairman then called upon Capt.-Surgeon Anderson to present Pte. ROBERTSON with a gold albert and medal. Dr Anderson in a few words made the presentation, and expressed the wish that the recipient would be favoured to wear it through a long life of health, strength and prosperity. After a song from Pte. Martin, Pte. McADAM replied on behalf of his comrade ROBERTSON, in the course of which he touched upon their experience in South Africa. The Rev. W.R. Paterson also addressed the gathering. He spoke of life on the South African veldt, and hoped that the end of the war was now in sight at last. Drummer Stewart then favoured the company with a song, after which Capt. Jeffrey called upon Lieut. Christie to propose the toast of the three members of the company who had lately returned from the war. Lieut. Christie, in giving the toast, said that if he had been a free man at the time when a chance was given to Volunteers he might have volunteered himself. (Cheers). A song each from Ptes. Hunter and Oliver followed, after which Pte. John McADAM, on behalf of himself and his comrades, expressed their warmest thanks for the toast and the kind way in which it had been given and received. After a song from Sergt. Currie, the Rev. W.R. Paterson proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Capt. Jeffrey for the very able manner in which he had discharged the duties of the chair. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” brought a very enjoyable evening to a close.
