County: Shropshire
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 10/05/1901, 11/06/1902
Number issued: 16 (+1, which was presented to the Mayor)
10/05/1901 presentation
7378 Private H.G. HORNE (invalided)
11/06/1902 presentation
7369 Private Charles WILSON
1901/1902 presentation
Councillor Samuel RIDLEY
The list above is extracted from Hibbard 1982, Appendix 3. Hibbard's complete list of recipients should be viewed with some caution, as it includes all men from Bridgnorth, including regulars, who saw active service (a total of 129). As the medal is clearly inscribed "TO VOLUNTEERS FROM BRIDGNORTH", this number is erroneous. To date, I have only found reports of medals being presented to members of the two Volunteer Active Service Companies. The Ludlow Advertiser states that, in all, 26 Bidgnorth men volunteered for active service. Ten men may therefore be missing from the combined list for the 1st & 2nd Companies.
Example edge-engraved "SAMUEL RIDLEY" (Mayor) sold through Dix Noonan Webb, 20/08/2020.
BRIDGNORTH RECEIVES ITS VOLUNTEERS JOYFULLY.
Bridgnorth, always loyal, enthusiastic, and patriotic, was fairly aglow with pride yesterday (Friday) afternoon, and in response to an appeal by the Mayor the inhabitants on the route from the station to the Agricultural Hall displayed flags, and mottoes of welcome expressive of the pleasure felt in receiving back those members of the local Volunteer company who have done good service in South Africa. Nine members of the F Company went out with the 1st Service Company, namely, Privates J.W. COOK, G. BILL, T. WHITEHORN, S. BRIGGS, J.W. WOOTTON, J.S. COOK, W.C. WOOTTON, H. PACE, and H. HORNE. Two of these, BILL and HORNE, were invalided home, and the other seven came through safely, and arrived this week with their comrades. A tablet, on which the roll of honour is inscribed, from a design by the borough surveyor, and will be fixed in the Town Hall, was deposited for convenience in the Agricultural Hall yesterday for the ceremony of unveiling. The men arrived by the 4-42 train from Shrewsbury, and were met at the railway station by the F Company, 1st Volunteer Battalion K.S.L.I., and escorted to the Agricultural Hall. The men were cheered as they passed through the crowded streets to the hall, where the roll of honour was unveiled by Mrs Steward, ex-mayoress. “O God, our help in ages past” was sung at the opening.
The Mayor (Councillor Ridley) said they could not do enough to honour those brave men who went to South Africa to uphold the dear old flag, and they were all glad in their hearts that the men of the F Company had all come back safe.
Each man was presented with a silver medal by the Mayoress (Mrs S. Ridley), and as that lady pinned them on the breasts of the men the large crowd of people cheered most heartily.
THE RETURN OF VOLUNTEERS.
BRIDGNORTH.
The Bridgnorth Section.
THE RETURN OF VOLUNTEERS TO IRON-BRIDGE.
Sir, – It was with pleasure I read the account published in your columns last week of the welcome given by the authorities in Shrewsbury to our Volunteers on their return from South Africa, but how disappointing it must have been to the section who returned to Iron-Bridge! With the exception of the band and a few comrades in uniform none of their officers turned out to meet them, and only at the last moment were the services of a gentleman requisitioned to say a few words to the men. Mr Instone with his usual good nature drove the Broseley Section to their home, but the others were allowed to get home as best they could. As a contrast I should like to refer to the reception given to the Bridgnorth Section on their arrival. They were met by the Mayor and Corporation, Captain Westcott, and a full corps, and marched to the Agricultural Hall, where the Mayor gave them a hearty welcome and presented medals on behalf of the town. I sincerely hope the inhabitants of Madeley and Broseley will make up their minds to entertain at an early date all their men who have been engaged in the war, and thus show them the respect they have merited.
