County: Forfarshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 31/05/1901
Number issued: 2
Gold medals, to:
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) –
7551 Private J. NORWELL
7554 Private John SCRIMGEOUR
Presentation made by Councillor J.M. Gillies, in the Good Templar Hall, Broughty Ferry.
ISSUED UNNAMED
Obverse with St Andrew's cross and a drawing of Broughty Castle.
Reverse: "SOUTH AFRICAN WAR / A / SOUVENIR / OF / May 17th 1901".
Each medal was "in the form of a St Andrew's cross, surmounted by a crown, with a design of Broughty Castle". Inscribed: "South Africa. A souvenir of the war. May 17, 1901" (Dundee Courier).
Note: the inscription on this medal does not include the name of the presenting town or the name of the recipient.
Privates Norwell and Scrimgeour
Muster Roll of Angus, 1900, p. 156
Information provided by Paul Dunn & Roger Watt
__________________________________________
Dundee Eveing Telegraph, 1st June 1901
THE ACTIVE SERVICE VOLUNTEERS.
HONOURED AT BROUGHTY FERRY.
Last night in the Broughty Ferry Good Templar Hall, which was tastefully decorated, Private James NORWELL and Private John SCRIMGEOUR, 1st V.B.R.H. (Black Watch), were entertained on the occasion of their return from active service in South Africa. The interesting function took the form of a conversazione, and was attended by a large number of ladies and gentlemen. An excellent programme of vocal music and recitations, with dances interspersed, was carried out during the evening. The accompaniments were ably rendered by Mr Stewart and Mr R. Hutton. The feature of the gathering was the presentation of gold medals to Mr NORWELL and Mr SCRIMGEOUR as souvenirs of their campaigning in South Africa. The medals, which are of St Andrew Cross pattern, show a design of Broughty Castle on one side, an inscription, “South African War, 1900-1901”, with Imperial crown surmounting. Councillor J. Gillies, who occupied the chair, presented the gifts, and in doing so referred to the historical incidents that culminated in the embodiment of the Black Watch. He paid a warm compliment to the recipients for their courage and gallantry in joining the Active Service Company, remarking that the doings of the Highlanders in South Africa had been watched with the utmost interest and enthusiasm at home. (Applause). He alluded to the eulogistic speech of General Sir Hector Macdonald as to the part played in the campaign by the volunteers, and assured them that they were all proud of the Dundee contingent. (Applause). Mr NORWELL and Mr SCRIMGEOUR replied, recounting some of their experiences in South Africa. They thanked the donors for the gifts, which were entirely unlooked for, and said they had only endeavoured to do their duty. (Applause). Many of the ladies wore charming dresses, and a brilliant scene was presented in the hall. The conversazione – under the auspices of the Forthill Athletic Football Club – altogether proved a most enthusiastic and successful gathering. Amongst those present were Messrs SIME and FRASER, who had just returned from South Africa.
Dundee Courier, 1st June 1901
In the course of the evening the Chairman, on behalf of the company, presented to each of the volunteers very neat gold medals. They are in the form of a St Andrew’s Cross, surmounted by a crown, with a design of Broughty Castle on one side, and on the other the inscription – "South Africa. A souvenir of the war. – May 17, 1901", the date of the volunteers’ return.
