Medals and awards

GOLD MEDALS FOR BATLEY VOLUNTEERS.

The “Khaki” Men Entertained.

The second batch of Batley Volunteers who have served in South Africa have been feted this week. The officers of the local detachment defrayed the expenses of a waggonette excursion for the khaki men and their wives and sweethearts on Saturday last, where, under the superintendence of Sergeant Sykes, an enjoyable time was spent.

On Wednesday the Volunteers and their ladies were entertained by a number of Batley gentlemen in the Town Hall and the Victoria Hall. Accompanied by the Mayor (Alderman J.W. Turner), the Town Clerk (Mr Craik), Councillor J. Whitaker, and Councillor A. Bagshaw, and a number of the officers of the local detachment, they partook of a substantial repast prepared and served by Mr George Brown, of Branch Avenue. The menu included salmon, beef, chicken, ham, tongue, veal and ham pies, pastry, and sweets, etc. The meal concluded, and cigars having been handed round, the company left the Town Hall, and adjourned to the Victoria Hall, where the proceedings proved of a most entertaining character.

The presidential position was occupied by the Mayor, wearing his chain of office. He was accompanied by the Mayoress, Capt. Maggs, the Town Clerk, the Vicar (Canon Davies), Mr E. Talbot, J.P., C.C., Major Hemingway, Lieut. RUSSELL, Alderman Jessop, Capt. A. Brearley, Chaplain Calvert, Councillors F.W. Akeroyd, A. Bagshaw, John Whitaker, J.W. Ineson, E.J. Fox, G. Bowden, W.H. Childe, Mr J.B. Jubb, J.P., Capt. R. Brearley, Lieut.-Col. Blackburn, Lieut. Bennett, Lieut. Critchley, Mr A. Goodere, Mr W. Lobley (President of the Working Men’s Club), Mr R. Garbutt, Mr A.J. Riley, and Mr G. Talbot. Most of these gentlemen were accompanied by their wives or lady friends.

The khaki Volunteers were drilled by Sergt.-Inst. Power, and marched to a position in the centre of the Hall, where Lieut. RUSSELL took the commanding position.

THE MAYOR’S ADDRESS.

The Mayor briefly addressed the assembly. He said that as representing the public of Batley, whose sympathies he was sure were with them that evening, and on behalf of the gentlemen who had defrayed the cost of the gold medals to be presented, he had much pleasure in occupying that position, and being privileged to hand over the medals to the Volunteers. It seemed to him that it was very right and proper that we should show our appreciation in some tangible and public manner, of the great heroism and self-denial which so many of our young men had shown in offering their services on behalf of the nation’s cause. While we had remained safely at home, fairly snug and free from danger, they had voluntarily undergone the hardships and dangers of active service; and for that we were grateful to them. The whole world now knew what good work had been done by the Volunteers. The campaign was now over, and we could rejoice that peace had been declared. He need scarcely remind them that that evening’s proceedings were in a large measure due to the fact that his predecessor (Mr John Blackburn) very generously, at his own cost, presented gold medals to the first detachment of Batley Volunteers. (Cheers). It was felt that they could not do otherwise than present the second batch with a medal of a similar character. The medal might not be very valuable in itself, but he was sure it would be treasured by those who received it as a mark of the appreciation of the people of Batley for the excellent services they had rendered. As they were probably aware, he did not personally believe in war. We had not all the same feelings with regard to it, and he was ready to admit that there were times when war seemed inevitable. When our territory was invaded, and war was declared, we had only one alternative, and that was to fight. (Hear, hear). He hoped the Volunteers would live long to wear and value the medals he was about to hand over to them, and that they would pass a most enjoyable evening.

THE MEDALS.

BATLEY’S FIGHTING SOLDIERS.

Presentation of Medals to the Returned Volunteers.

The Batley Volunteers who have recently returned from South Africa were hospitably entertained by the Reception Committee on Wednesday evening. A tea was provided for them and their friends by Mr G. Brown, in the Drill Hall, and afterwards they were presented with gold medals, replicas of those given to the first detachment by the ex-Mayor (Mr Jno. Blackburn, J.P.). The Mayor (Alderman J.W. Turner) made the presentation in a felicitous speech, and the thanks of the men were expressed by Lieut. RUSSELL and Sergt. SYKES. Dancing followed and was kept up until eleven o’clock, members of the Batley detachment and their wives and sweethearts partaking in this as well as the khaki men.

Fifty-six sat down to the Drill Hall tea, and did ample justice to the following menu: – Salmon, beef, chicken, ham, tongue, veal and ham pie, pastry, and sweets. Several members of the Reception Committee were present.

There was a large gathering in the Victoria Hall, where the presentation of medals took place. Amongst those on the platform were the Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs J.W. Turner), the Rev. Canon Davies, Lieut.-Colonel W.H. Blackburn, Major E. Hemingway, Captain G.E.H. and Mrs Maggs, Chaplain and Mrs L.S. Calvert, Captain and Mrs A. Brearley, Captain R. Brearley, Lieut. W.H.H. Bennett, Lieut. P. Critchley, Alderman and Mrs J. Whitaker, …. and others.

When the Active Service men, with Lieut. RUSSELL in command, had been drawn up in front of the platform, the Mayor addressed them, saying, as the representative of the public of Batley, whose sympathies he was sure were with them that night, and on behalf of the gentlemen who had defrayed the cost of the gold medals, he had very great pleasure in being there to present them. It seemed to him to be very right and proper that they should show their appreciation of the great heroism and self-denial which so many of their young men had shown in going to the war, in some tangible manner and in a public way. (Hear, hear). While they had remained at home, fairly snug and free from danger, these men had voluntarily undergone the rigours and dangers of active service, and he was sure they were all grateful to them and desired to show their appreciation of their splendid work. The whole world knew now the good work that had been [done?]. The campaign was now over and we were rejoicing that peace had been declared. That night’s proceedings were in a large measure due to the fact that his predecessor (Mr John Blackburn) very generously presented gold medals to the first batch of Batley Volunteers – (applause) – and it was felt that they could not do otherwise than present the second batch with a medal of a similar character. It might not be very valuable, but he was sure it would be appreciated as showing what Batley thought of the work their Volunteers had done in South Africa. It was well-known that he (the Mayor) did not believe in war; none of us did now-a-days. But there were times when war seemed to be inevitable – when our territories were invaded and war was declared we had only one alternative and that was to fight. He expressed the hope that all the Volunteers would consider this medal as an indication of the good feeling and appreciation of the Batley people for the work they had done in South Africa, and he trusted every member would long live to wear the medal. (Applause).

His Worship then presented the medals in the following order, each man being heartily cheered as he mounted the platform to receive it: – Lieut. RUSSELL, Sergt. SYKES, Lce-Sergt. SWIFT, Corpl. CRAVEN, Lce-Corpl. SPEDDING, Privates BREARLEY, CLAFTON, HALL, HODGSON, LODGE, METTON [sic], PARKER, ROWLES, STUBLEY, WHATTAM [sic], WALKER, WATSON, and WILSON.

Lieut. RUSSELL, who was warmly applauded, said, on behalf of the Service Company, he wished to thank the Mayor and the Reception Committee for the tea and the handsome medals they had received. They had had, on the whole, a very good time in South Africa – almost a holiday he had been telling his friends. Not that it had been a soft time. They had done fairly good work, and had come back better men than they went out, measuring a little more across the chest and a little less around the waist. (Laughter). They had also learned habits of discipline and self-restraint, although on the march it was hard work to keep off the bottle. (Laughter and applause). He thanked his temperance friends for their applause, but he referred to the water bottle! (Laughter). Their powers of endurance in other respects were not tested! (Renewed laughter). All these happy times had now gone, and they had come back to civil life again. If in the future they were apt to forget their experiences the medals they had received would keep them fresh in their memories, and remind them of the generous appreciation of the people of Batley of the slight services they had been able to render to England. He wished to move a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor and members of the Reception Committee for the kindness they had shown the Volunteers. (Applause).

Sergeant SYKES, whose reception was also most cordial, seconded the motion, and heartily returned thanks for the medals, which he said they would treasure as much as the South African one. He also wished to take the opportunity of thanking the officers for the splendid outing they had on Saturday.

In putting the motion, Captain Maggs added a few words of thanks on behalf of the Detachment for the entertainment provided for them that evening. The public had supported the Volunteers through thick and thin, and the Detachment appreciated that opportunity of meeting their comrades from the front.

The motion was carried with acclamation, and the Mayor, in replying, said it had been a great pleasure to him to present the medals. He hoped the recipients would live long to treasure them.

A verse of the National Anthem was then sung, and cheers given for the King and Queen and the Mayor and Mayoress. Dancing was afterwards indulged in until 11 o’clock, music being supplied by Mr A. Busfield’s Band. Light refreshments were provided, and the company spent a very agreeable time.