County: South Yorkshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 01/06/1901
Number issued: 2
Gold medals, to:
6871 Private Allan Joshua DAVIS
Presentations made by Mr Sugden (to Private Till) & Mr Mosley (to Private Davis), at the Old White Bear Inn, Hoyle Mill.
Inscribed: "South Africa, 1900 / This solid gold medal presented to ________, by workmen and friends at Barnsley Main Colliery on his safe return from the South African War, in recognition of his [voluntary] services to his country. June 1st, 1901".
Private Davis's medal had the extra word "voluntary" before "services".
Supplied by Mr John Mason, jeweller, Queen's Street, Barnsley. John Mason also supplied the medals given by the town of Barnsley.
Private Allan Davis received a second medal from the town of Barnsley.
HOME FROM THE FRONT.
RESERVIST TILL AND VOLUNTEER DAVIS ENTERTAINED.
CONVIVIAL MEETING AT HOYLE MILL.
Two men employed at the Barnsley Main Colliery have been out to the war in South Africa, and their safe return home was on Saturday evening last made the occasion of a very pleasant convivial gathering at the Old White Bear Inn, Hoyle Mill. The men in question are Messrs H.J. TILL and Allan DAVIS, who prior to going to the front worked at the colliery, the former as a miner, the latter as a fitter. Both went out in February of last year, Private TILL as a Reservist of the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, and Private DAVIS as one of the Barnsley Volunteers who proffered and were accepted for active service. TILL came home on leave in April, and DAVIS returned with the batch of York and Lancasters who got such a hearty reception the week before last. A natural desire to do honour to the pair was felt by the officials and workmen of the Barnsley Main Colliery, and accordingly a committee was formed to carry the idea into effect. Mt Thomas Richards, manager at the colliery, was chairman of the committee; Mr John Sugden, the under-manager, acted as treasurer; while the secretarial duties were undertaken by Mr W.J. Thompson. The labours of the committee bore satisfactory fruit, a principal feature of Saturday night’s proceedings being the presentation to Messrs TILL and DAVIS of a gold medal each. …….
……. After a brief interval for music, which entered largely into the proceedings, Mr Sugden was called upon to present Private TILL with his medal. He did so in a neat speech, remarking that, though not capable of doing justice to the position, he felt it a distinct honour to be permitted to share in those proceedings. As a patriot he entertained a great respect for the defenders of his country. He had a son of his own at the front, and another son on board one of His Majesty’s battleships. (Applause). It, therefore, afforded him the utmost pleasure and pride to present Private TILL with that token of their regard. They hoped it would be something he would look upon in days to come with feelings of satisfaction, and that his children after him would treasure it. (Applause).
Mr Mosley made the presentation to Private DAVIS, and referred to the pleasant evening they had some sixteen months ago, just before DAVIS’s departure for the front, when they presented him with a gold ring, and a pipe, pouch, and tobacco. They were proud of him, he said, when they learnt he had volunteered, and they were that night prouder still – proud to have among their fellow-workers two such brave fellows as Privates DAVIS and TILL.
The medals, it may be stated, were of very ornate design, and had been supplied by Mr John Mason, jeweller, etc., Queen Street, Barnsley. On one side were represented a Volunteer, a Colonial, and a bluejacket, grouped in a defensive attitude, and encircled by the words “South Africa, 1900”. There was an inscription on the other side, which ran – “This solid gold medal presented to – (the name of the recipient) – by workmen and friends at the Barnsley Main Colliery on his safe return from the South African War, in recognition of his services to his country. June 1st, 1901”. Private DAVIS’s medal had the word “voluntary” before “service”, otherwise the inscription was the same on both medals.
