Medals and awards

7132 Private William Henry ELLIOTT

7134 Private Edwin John TOPP

 

Presentation made by the Rev. C. Ramsey, at Lewes Road Church, Brighton.

 

Obverse with the Brighton borough arms in full relief.

Reverse: "1900-1. Presented to Private [W. Elliott] on his return from active service, South Africa, by the L.R.C.C. P.S.A."

 

 

 

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Brighton Gazette, 27th July 1901

 

Not a few of the active service members of the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment have been the subjects of a plurality of welcomes since their return from South Africa. Private ELLIOTT and Private TOPP are both connected with the Lewes Road Church and its Pleasant Sunday Afternoon institution, and on Sunday afternoon, in the course of a thanksgiving service, occasion was taken to give them a special welcome home, and also to make each a presentation. This was done very heartily on behalf of all present by the Rev. C.H. Ramsey, pastor of the church and president of the P.S.A., who also handed the gift to each. This consisted of a solid gold pendant in the form of an Italian renaissance shield, with the arms of the Borough of Brighton in full relief on the front, while on the back there was the following inscription – “1900-1. Presented to Private W. Elliott on his return from active service, South Africa, by the L.R.C.C. P.S.A.”  The inscription on the other pendant was the same with the exception that it bore Private TOPP’s name. The pendants were specially designed and executed by the Sussex Goldsmiths’ and Silversmiths’ Company, of Castle Square, Brighton. A little later came another presentation under somewhat different circumstances. This was to Private C. MARSDEN, R.A., M.C.  He is leaving for active service in South Africa, and he was presented with a soldier’s pocket Bible.