Medals and awards

Presentation made by Councillor Sinclair, at the Shire Hall, Beaufort.

 

Presentation made by Councillor Sinclair, at the Shire Hall, Beaufort.

 

 

 

 

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Ballarat Star, 9th January 1901

 

HONORING BEAUFORT SOLDIERS

About 20 residents attended a meeting in the Shire Hall, Beaufort, on Monday evening, to make final arrangements for the presentation of mementoes to returned soldiers from South Africa. Cr Sinclair presided. The secretary (Mr Menzies) reported that £7 13s had been collected in shilling subscriptions. It was decided to present Privates BUCHANAN, KILBERG, and WILSON with gold medals, suitably inscribed, and to place an enlarged photo of each in the Shire Hall, by permission of the Council. The chairman, secretary, Mr J. Harris, jun., and Mr E.J. Jones were appointed a committee to carry out the arrangements. The president of the shire, Cr D. Stewart, is to be invited to preside over the gathering, and Cr Sinclair will make the presentations, on a date to be fixed.

A meeting of the subscribers to the EDDY [Maj. George Albert EDDY, K.I.A., Rensburg, 12/01/1900] Memorial Fund was then held. Cr Sinclair presided, and stated that £5 odd had been collected by Private BUCHANAN, and £3 by Private KILBERG, who gave £1 11s himself, while Lieutenant-Colonel Williams had promised to procure a brass tablet, and place it in the Shire Hall, as a centre piece, with the photos of the three local soldiers. The chairman, Dr Lethbridge, and Lieutenant-Colonel Williams were appointed a committee to carry out the arrangements.

Melbourne Argus, 1st February 1901

WELCOMES IN THE COUNTRY.

BEAUFORT. – At a representative gathering of citizens on Wednesday, presided over by Councillor A.D. Stewart, president of Ripon Shire, gold medals, suitably inscribed, were presented by Councillor Sinclair, on behalf of the citizens of Beaufort and district, to two returned soldiers from South Africa, Privates James KILBERG and William BUCHANAN. Both were members of the First Victorian Contingent. Private KILBERG has been accepted for active service again, and he left on Wednesday evening for camp. A large number of people assembled at the railway station and bade him good-bye.

 

An enthusiastic welcome home was accorded Corporal Harry WILSON (who went from Beaufort with the second Victorian contingent), on his return to Beaufort by the Adelaide express last evening. The platform at the railway station was lined with people eager to shake the returned soldier’s hand. The Beaufort Brass Band turned out in force, under Bandmaster A. Prout, and played as a welcoming strain, “Home, sweet home”. Two Rangers then carried Corporal WILSON shoulder high from the railway carriage to a ladder carriage belonging to the fire brigade in the station yard, on which he was placed in a chair. Marshalled by Captain J.F. Troy, of the Rangers, headed by the Beaufort Brass Band, and with the Beaufort Fire Brigade as side escorts, Corporal WILSON was drawn by four Rangers through the streets to the Shire Hall, the band playing en route “Queen’s Jubilee” and “Never behind”. On arrival at the hall Cr Sinclair, in the presence of a numerous crowd, proposed Corporal WILSON’s health in eulogistic terms, referring to the bravery shown by him in carrying despatches through the Boer lines, winning promotion, as also a special service medal, and then presented him with a handsome gold medal, suitably inscribed, on behalf of residents of the district. The toast was enthusiastically drunk with musical honours and cheers. In responding, Corporal Wilson remarked that he had only done what he was told, as was his duty, the same as any other soldier would have done. He warmly thanked the company for the unexpectedly warm welcome given him. Before the response, Captain Troy and Sergeant-Major Brittain, of the D Company Rangers, also spoke in glowing terms of the good services rendered by the guest to the Empire. Mr J.R. Wotherspoon received a warm reception for his excellent singing of “There’s something in the English after all”. The health of Mrs Wilson, the corporal’s wife, was also drunk, her husband returning thanks. The singing of “Auld lang syne” concluded a very enjoyable gathering.

Subsequently, Mr H.H. Menzies, the secretary to the movement to do honour to local soldiers, submitted a balance-sheet, duly audited, showing that £33 9s had been collected and expended, and Mr Menzies’ health was also honoured for the satisfactory manner in which he had discharged his duties. It was decided to publish the balance-sheet. Mr Menzies acknowledges in appropriate terms the compliment paid him.