County: Banffshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 08/05/1901
Number issued: 2
Gold watch pendants, suitably inscribed, to:
2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders ["D" Company, 6th V.B.G.H.] –
8157 [157] Private John BOWIE
8159 [159] Private John CAMPBELL
Presentation made by Provost Simpson, at the Fishermen's Hall, Buckie.
Inscribed: "To Private ________ from the town of Buckie / South Africa, 1900-01".
Supplied by Mr D. Macgregor, High Street, Buckie.
Banffshire Reporter, 24/04/1901
Aberdeen Journal, 09/05/1901
_____________________________________
Banffshire Herald, 27th April 1901
BUCKIE.
Town Council.
A special meeting of the Town Council was held on Monday night – Provost Simpson presiding.
The Provost stated that the volunteers who had been on active service at the front would be home in about a fortnight, and it would be well to consider what steps should be taken in the way of recognising their services. After some discussion it was agreed to appoint a committee to solicit subscriptions towards a fund to present them with a token in appreciation of their conduct, the general impression being that it should take the form of a gold medal to each of them. The Provost, Bailies Hendry and Birnie, and Mr McNaughton, town clerk, were appointed a committee.
Elgin Courant, 10th May 1901
HONOUR TO VOLUNTEERS.
A public meeting to do honour to the two Volunteers – Privates John CAMPBELL and John BOWIE – lately returned from South Africa, was held in the Fisherman’s Hall on Wednesday evening. The hall was crowded in every part. The platform was occupied by the Magistrates, members of the Town Council, several clergymen, and others, while the members of D Company, 6th V.B. Gordon Highlanders, sat immediately below the platform in uniform. Provost Simpson presided, and presented each of the men with a purse of sovereigns and a gold pendant, contributed by public subscription. In doing so the Provost said that those who prophesised that the Volunteers would yet take an honourable position standing shoulder to shoulder with the regular army, had their predictions gloriously realised – (applause). He went on to refer to the high tributes paid by General Roberts to the Volunteers, and expressed a hope that the two young men would be long spared to be a credit to the community. Mr John Ashton, bank agent, speaking on behalf of the general public, expressed the gratification they felt at seeing the Volunteers return safely home. They had come through long marches on scanty fare; they had experienced the hard veldt for a bed; they had suffered from tropical suns and tropical storms, and came safely through many engagements, and their country was proud of them – (applause). They must not forget that they had volunteered at a time when our armies had received a serious check. He considered it a fortunate circumstance that their Volunteers were joined to the Gordons, a regiment whose name is an unperishable one in the records of the British army – (applause). Captain Macnaughton returned thanks on behalf of the two Volunteers. There were loud bursts of applause from the audience in the course of the proceedings.
Banffshire Advertiser, 16th May 1901
HONOUR TO THE BUCKIE VOLUNTEERS.
As briefly narrated in last issue the two Buckie men from the front were publicly honoured in the Fisherman’s Hall on Wednesday night. Those on the platform, in addition to Privates BOWIE and CAMPBELL, included – Captain McNaughton and Lieutenant Bennett, Provost Simpson and Bailies Hendry and Birnie (in robes of office), etc. ……
……. In presenting the gold pendants and purses to the two men Provost Simpson said – It is with very great pleasure we give you a hearty welcome home, and we are all very glad to see you back from South Africa safe and sound. (Applause). I have been asked to perform a very pleasant duty to present you with a gold pendant and purse of sovereigns as a mark of our appreciation of your arduous and courageous service in defence of the honour and interests of your country. (Applause). The volunteers used to have many critics, but those who anticipated that they would show themselves worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with their comrades of the regular army have not been disappointed, their anticipations have been gloriously realised, and their deeds have shed lustre upon the volunteer battalions to which they belong. (Applause). The testimony of Lord Roberts is that in all the engagements in which they bore a part the volunteers have exhibited a resolution and daring worthy of veteran troops, and they have borne the hardships of a trying campaign with admirable fortitude. Such high praise must be very gratifying to you and all volunteers. I have now great pleasure in presenting you with this pendant and purse of sovereigns. May you have long life with health to wear the pendant, and no doubt you will find use for the sovereigns. (Applause). …….
……. The pendants, which were supplied by Mr D. Macgregor, High Street, bore the following inscriptions – On the front “South Africa, 1900-01”, and on the reverse “To Private ______ from the town of Buckie”.
Group photograph, showing Privates Bowie & Campbell.
