County: Lincolnshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 00/05/1901
Number issued: 4
Gold medals "after the style of the Victoria Cross, bearing a suitable inscription", to:
ALMOST CERTAINLY RECEIVED SILVER CUPS / SILVER WATCHES INSTEAD
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Lincolnshire Regiment –
6750 Corporal [Lance-Sergeant] J.S. MARSHALL (apparently received a silver watch instead; on 27/11/1902)
6624 Private Arthur STENNETT (apparently received a silver cup instead; on 28/06/1901)
6757 Private Ernest STENNETT (apparently received a silver watch instead; on 27/11/1902)
6625 Private Herbert STENNETT (apparently received a silver cup instead; on 27/11/1902)
There is no record of these ever being presented. Instead, it seems, the men received silver cups or silver watches.
"Unfortunately, Billingborough was not a village of millionaires; had it been so Private Stennett would undoubtedly have been the recipient of a most magnificent present, but as they were simply poor humble individuals, they had done the best they could, and had purchased a cup for his acceptance".
The Grantham Journal (18/05/1901) reports that: "Billingborough should subscribe £1 to a fund being raised in the Bourne district, out of which it was proposed to present each member of the H Company returning from the front a silver tobacco-box. With regard to the surplus of the Billingborough fund, it was suggested that, if enough money was forthcoming, a gold ornament for a watch chain - after the style of the Victoria Cross - bearing a suitable inscription - should be purchased for each of the four men who went from this district". The reference to four volunteers seems to include the two men who had joined the 2nd Service Company, and who were to receive watches on 27/11/1902.
As things turned out, the people of Billingborough only subscribed a total of £18, £1 of which went to Bourne. This was only enough to purchase two silver cups (at about £7 10s each), leaving just £2 for the remaining Volunteers.
Nottingham Evening Post, 14/05/1901
Lincolnshire Chronicle, 17/05/1901
Grantham Journal, 18/05/1901
Lincolnshire Chronicle, 21/05/1901
Grantham Journal 08/06/1901
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Stamford Mercury, 17th May 1901
BILLINGBOROUGH.
A public subscription has been started at Billingborough for the purpose of making presentations to the local members of the Active Service Volunteers on their return from South Africa. Although the souvenirs are not yet definitely decided upon, it is thought that a gold ornament for the watch chain, after the style of the Victoria Cross, bearing an appropriate inscription, would be suitable. A meeting of the subscribers is convened for next Monday evening to make a final decision. The men are also to be entertained at a cricket dinner in the Public Hall on the 23rd inst.
Grantham Journal, 18th May 1901
THE RETURNING VOLUNTEERS. – The fund wherewith to present a suitable memento to each of the local Volunteers who are returning from active service in South Africa is being raised by public subscriptions – the collection being undertaken by Private Smith, a member of the Volunteer force. Two or three of those interested in the movement met on Monday night, when a letter was read from Captain Bell, asking that Billingborough should subscribe £1 to a fund being raised in the Bourne district, out of which it was proposed to present each member of the H Company returning from the front a silver tobacco-box. Those present at once agreed to this proposal. With regard to the surplus of the Billingborough fund, it was suggested that, if enough money was forthcoming, a gold ornament for the watch-chain – after the style of the Victoria Cross – bearing a suitable inscription – should be purchased for each of the four men who went from this district. Nothing, however, was definitely settled, and it was decided to meet again on Monday evening to arrange final details.
