County: Banffshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 11/05/1901
Number issued: 2 or 3
Gold medals and silver-mounted ebony walking sticks, to:
Both volunteers also received a silver albert from the people of Garmouth.
Grieve example in the Constantine Collection.
Amongst the names engraved on the case is that of Private STEPHEN.
PRESENTATION TO GARMOUTH MEN.
Private George STEPHEN and Private Colin GRIEVE, both members of the Garmouth Company of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, were on Saturday evening made the recipients of a gold medal and a silver-mounted walking stick each, subscribed for by the inhabitants of Bogmoor and district, where the two young volunteers reside. The presentation took place in the Bellie Public School, and the two young men, clad in khaki, were played into the school and onto the platform by Pipers Gordon and Morrison. Mr Rae, retired salmon fishing overseer, Garmouth, presided, and Mr Cunningham, Gordon-Richmond estate office, Fochabers, made the presentation, and, in doing so, read Brigadier-General Sir Hector Macdonald’s encomium upon the volunteer troops he had command in the Boer war. The medals were the same as the Fochabers men received, and bore the inscription – “Presented to ______ , Boer War, 1900-1901”. Songs were sung by Mr Cunningham, Fochabers; Mr Mitchell, do; Mr Smith, Caledonian Bank House, Garmouth; Miss McRae, Garmouth; Miss Spence, do; while the various accompaniments were tastefully played on the piano by Miss Rae, Tugnet, and Miss Brownie, Schoolhouse, Bogmoor. The ceremony of pinning the medals on the soldiers’ breasts was performed by Mrs T. Rae, Tugnet. In awarding votes of thanks, a special vote was accorded Mr Alex. Pirie and Mr Alex. Gray, who had acted as collectors of the presentation fund.
ENTERTAINMENT AT BOGMOOR.
On Saturday evening a demonstration in honour of Private Colin GRIEVE and Private George STEPHEN, who had been in South Africa with the Seaforth Volunteer Service Company, was held in the School, Bogmoor, which was crowded by a large and representative gathering. An interesting programme of vocal and instrumental music was rendered by Misses Spence and Macrae, Garmouth, and Messrs Mitchell, Cunningham, Smith, and Finlayson – Misses Brownie and Rae acting as accompanists. Pipe music was also given by the Pipers Morrison and Garden.
The Chairman (Mr John Rae, Garmouth) called upon Mr Cunningham, factor, Fochabers, to make the presentation.
Mr Cunningham said he considered it an honour to have been asked to present to these two young men who so nobly came forward and volunteered for active service more than a year ago a small token to show that the people of Bogmoor and district were not only not unmindful of the services that they had rendered to their King and country, but that they, as their neighbours and friends, welcomed them back again to their native place, and that they were glad that they had been, through all the difficulties and dangers through which they had passed, spared to return in health and strength. (Applause). When it was known that Privates Grieve and Stephen were returning to Bogmoor a hearty and spontaneous wish sprang up amongst the people of the district to present something tangible to them, something that would remind them in days to come of the kindly welcome which they received on their return home, and to show them that they had not been forgotten during their absence, but that kind and anxious hearts had followed them through the campaign in which they had been engaged. Not only had the parents and relatives been anxious about them, but perhaps sweethearts – (laughter) – he said perhaps – (loud laughter) – had been scanning the papers morning and night to see how it was fairing with them. When, about fourteen months ago, the first detachment of Seaforth Volunteers left our shores, he believed that most, if not all of them, expected that the war would be over before they had the opportunity of active service, but, unfortunately, the end was not yet, and while that night they rejoiced with their young friends on their safe return, let them not forget that another young man had gone from that place, and wish that he, too, might be spared to come back in as good health and strength as the two they were honouring that night. No doubt, when in South Africa, their young friends had seen some very beautiful places, with magnificent scenery, but amid it all he questioned very much if they thought any part could compare with Speyside. He had had a letter the other day from one of the young men who went out with the last contingent of the Fochabers volunteers, in which he said that although everything looked very beautiful, still it did not appeal to him like “Bonnie Scotland, land o’ grandeur, Where the sparkling streams meander”.
They were proud of the Seaforth Volunteers. After referring to the farewell order by Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald to the Volunteer Service Companies of the Highland Brigade, Mr Cunningham, continuing, said the volunteer movement was a mighty power in the land, and the noble way in which the volunteers responded to the nation’s recent call had immensely strengthened the relations between them and the people. They were all proud of the young men who responded to their country’s call, and he felt sure that Private Grieve and Private Stephen would value the medals and walking-sticks, not on account of their intrinsic value, but from the knowledge that they were the gifts of kind friends, and given to them to commemorate the great event in which they had taken part. He voiced the feelings of every one in the meeting that night when he expressed the hope that they might both be long spared to wear the medals, and that they might have much happiness wherever their future lots might be cast, and that every blessing and comfort might attend them and theirs. (Loud applause).
Private GRIEVE, on behalf of Private STEPHEN and himself, returned thanks for the gifts.
Mr Rae, Tugnet, pinned on the medals to the breasts of the volunteers. Votes of thanks were awarded to the collectors, vocalists, and others, on the call of the chairman, and a similar compliment was, on the motion of Mr Cunningham, given to the chairman for presiding.
