State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 15/12/1900, 04/02/1901, 26/06/1901, 24/09/1902
Number issued: 8
15/12/1900 presentation
12 Sergeant Charles Neils BIDSTRUP
149 Private Ralph TAIT
04/02/1901 presentation
15 Trooper William SEYMOUR
595 Trooper Patrick William McMANUS (absent due to malaria fever)
26/06/1901 presentation
425 Trooper Benjamin SUTHERLAND
24/09/1902 presentation
833 Private William Francis TEMPLE
Sergeant Bidstrup and Trooper Seymour each received a second medal from Glenaroua.
WELCOMES IN THE COUNTRY.
BROADFORD.
BROADFORD.
RETURNED SOLDIERS.
WELCOMES IN THE COUNTRY.
BROADFORD.
HOME FROM THE WAR.
BROADFORD. – On Wednesday evening a large muster of residents assembled at the Broadford Hotel to formally welcome home Trooper Ben. SUTHERLAND, of the Bushmen’s Contingent. Captain C.E. Lloyd occupied the chair, and Mr J.E. Fenton (president of the shire) expressed the great pleasure felt by the residents generally in seeing Trooper SUTHERLAND back, safe and sound. After his health had been enthusiastically drunk, Surgeon Captain Morton presented the newly-returned soldier with a medal, in commemoration of the part he took in the war. Trooper SUTHERLAND, in replying, related several of his experiences during the campaign.
Broadford Courier, 5th July 1901
Welcome to Trooper Ben Sutherland.
A goodly company assembled in the Lodge Room on Wednesday evening, the 26th ult., to welcome home Trooper SUTHERLAND, who was a member of the 3rd contingent, or “Fighting Third” as they are familiarly known. Captain C.E. Lloyd, J.P., presided, and after justice had been done to Host Bidstrup’s excellent lay out, the chairman submitted the loyal toast which was patriotically received.
Cr. J.E. Fenton, shire president, proposed the toast of the guest. He said that on behalf of the people of the district he had much pleasure in welcoming back another of their soldiers. Trooper SUTHERLAND was one who had been in one of the warmest corners in South Africa. At Elands River they had been penned up by a superior force of Boers for 13 days, and notwithstanding their perilous position, “No surrender” was their cry. Australians were proud of that stand, and it had called forth highly complimentary comments from British Generals. They were pleased to have Trooper SUTHERLAND back whole and in good health, and he knew that the company would heartily agree with him when he wished Trooper SUTHERLAND and his better half long life and prosperity.
The toast was enthusiastically drunk amid musical honours and cheers. A rousing cheer also being given for Mrs Sutherland.
Trooper SUTHERLAND in responding thanked those present for their cordial welcome. He had gone out in common with others to South Africa to do his best. …….
……. He did not desire to pull a long bow, and he thought that the Elands River siege had been puffed up a little too much. (No! No!) Of course it was rather rough crouched in a 2-feet trench for the greater part of 13 days with the Boers peppering at you, but the thing we felt most was the want of water. We had plenty to eat, and at last came out of it very well. One of the South African papers had written very roughly of Australians, calling them the scum of the earth. The Bushmen were stationed at the town in which the paper was published just before leaving South Africa. They had been ordered home, so were off duty. They mustered pretty strong and caught the editor of the paper and gave him a good hiding. They then took possession of the office and smashed the machinery and capsized the type, making quite a wreck of the office. When out on the field they never went short of horses. If the colonials ran short they would annex some horses from the Imperial Yeomanry at night. When travelling by rail and delayed at stations the Bushmen always looked after themselves, and it there were any foodstuffs on the trains passing through, that was commandeered and made use of. The Bushmen loved General Plumer and Major Byers and they would follow them anywhere. Just before leaving they were delayed and quartered at Worcester, and here they had some lively times. They made the officers drink the Bushmen’s health several times, Major Dobbin included. There were two maiden ladies who lived just out of the town and who had a beautiful orchard, and they gave the Bushmen free entrance which was taken advantage of, and their kindness was much appreciated. For the rest of the time they played football and other games. At last they were ordered to seaboard to embark for home. During the voyage of course there had been some unpleasantness, but if Major Tunbridge had approached the men in a right way there would not have been any trouble. The men were ordered to wash the decks and refused to do so because they said they had gone to South Africa to be soldiers not sailors. Those who refused were placed in the guard room, and were released by their comrades. The men were then all paraded on deck and lectured by the officers. Captain Ham read the Riot Act to the Victorians – none of whom had misbehaved themselves. However the matter was healed up and there was no more about it. If Major Tunbridge had said, “Well chaps, the Captain is short of sailors, will you lend a hand to wash the decks”, he (Trooper SUTHERLAND) was sure that more than half the men would have readily volunteered to do the work. He was glad to be back and thanked them for their kindness to him. (Applause).
Mr McGillicuddy proposed the Victorian Mounted Rifles, coupled with the names of Captain Lloyd, Surgeon-Capt. Morton and Sgt.-Major Taylor. The latter was a fine officer and the way in which he had turned out men for service in South Africa was a credit to him. Surgeon-Captain Morton they knew was a good man, and a gentleman who was ever ready to lend every assistance in connection with the V.M.R. or the Rifle Club. In Captain Lloyd they had one who took a leading part in forming B Company. He had been a good pattern and he had the pleasure of knowing that there were many good men now following his example. He had pleasure in proposing the toast coupled with officers named.
Captain Lloyd said that he was now upon the retired list, but still took great interest in the V.M.R. He had had 10 years services and he thought he could say, without egotism, that he had done something for the B Company. He had obtained for Broadford the headquarters of the company, and it had remained so. He had stuck to the company through thick and thin and was always pleased to hear of it doing well.
Surgeon-Captain Morton also responded. It was now clearly proven that mounted men were the most important factors in active warfare. He was pleased to help to welcome Trooper SUTHERLAND back to Broadford. He had listened with interest to his speech. He had certainly given them a very good idea of what his regiment had gone through. He had now a duty to perform which was also of a pleasing character. On behalf of the residents he wished to present Trooper SUTHERLAND a medal similar to those already presented to other returned soldiers as a memento of the able and faithful manner in which he had represented Australia in the South African campaign.
Returned Soldiers.
BROADFORD.
