County: Oxfordshire
Issued on: Departure
Date of presentation: 18/02/1900
Number issued: 9
Medals, to:
Presentation made by the Vicar (Dr Burton), during a church service at Christ Church, South Banbury.
"After the sermon and before the blessing, the five men went up in front of the alter and each received from the Vicar a medal similar to those given by him to the two parties of Banbury reservists who are now at the front, Dr. Burton explaining to the recipients and to the congregation the meaning of the medals. One of the volunteers (Private F. Ward) also took medals for four other of the Banbury Volunteers who were unable to attend the service".
Note: it is not clear whether these medals were named or carried inscriptions pertaining to the war or active service. They may simply have been religious talismans.
CHRIST CHURCH, SOUTH BANBURY. – The service at Christ Church on Sunday morning was of a specially interesting nature. Five of the men who are about to proceed for active service in South Africa attended in their uniform, and were accommodated with front seats in the church. The service was that appointed by the Archbishops, and the hymns were those appointed in time of war. The Vicar (Rev. Dr Burton) preached from 1 Timothy vi. 12 – “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” – the sermon being mainly addressed to the men, on the battle of life and its fearful issues, both moral and spiritual. After the sermon and before the blessing, the five men went up in front of the altar and each received from the Vicar a medal similar to those given by him to the two parties of Banbury reservists who are now at the front, Dr Burton explaining to the recipients and to the congregation the meaning of the medals. One of the volunteers (Private F. WARD) also took medals for four other of the Banbury Volunteers who were unable to attend the service. The military subsequently knelt at the altar while a special prayer was offered for their safety and return home. The service closed with the blessing and the singing of the National Anthem, the second verse being taken as a solo by Master F. Powley, the congregation joining in the other portions. The recessional hymn “O, God our help in ages past”. There was a large attentive congregation, several people attending from the country.
