County: Aberdeenshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 11/05/1901
Number issued: 3
Gold medals, to:
Presentation made by Major Keir, in Bucksburn Drill Hall.
Subscribed for by the officers of the battalion.
Reverse: "PRESENTED / BY / THE OFFICERS / G & H COYS / 4TH V.B.G.H. / ON RETURN FROM / ACTIVE SERVICE / IN So. AFRICA / MAY 1901".
Note: this is the medal listed by Hibbard as #K1 under Regimental Awards (4th Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders). "G" and "H" Companies formed the Bucksburn detachment of the 4th Volunteer Bn. Gordon Highlanders.
ENTERTAINMENT TO BUCKSBURN MEN.
On Saturday night the members of the Bucksburn detachment of G and H Companies, 4th V.B.G.H., entertained their comrades, Private G. BROWN, Private A.S. PARK, and Private J. SMITH, who have returned from the front, at a supper and smoking concert in their drill hall, at Bucksburn. Lieutenant-Colonel Grassick presided, and was accompanied on the one hand by the service volunteers, and on the other by their fathers. Amongst those present were Major Horton, Major Keir, Captain McGregor (musketry instructor of the battalion), Lieutenants Bowman, Dawson, and Johnstone, Bandmaster J. Rae, and Mr W.B. Wight.
After supper the Chairman said he could assure them that he felt highly gratified at being asked to preside at that occasion. They were pleased to see their brothers in arms home again safe and sound. (Loud applause). .......
....... Major Keir, continuing, said he had there a very small testimonial from the officers, and he hoped that the recipients would not look upon its tangible value, but rather upon it as a token that the officers of the company appreciated their loyalty in volunteering. He had to present each of the three with a small gold medal subscribed for by the officers of the battalion. It bore on the reverse side the inscription – “Presented by the officers of G and H Companies on return from active service in South Africa. May, 1901”; and on the obverse side in the raised centre the monogram of each service volunteer. (Applause).
After the cheering had subsided, Private BROWN said he wished to return thanks for the hearty welcome they had accorded to his comrades and himself on their return. (Applause). Last time they were there together, they had spent a very enjoyable evening, but he had never thought they would meet there again.
Major Horton said he had to propose the toast of the parents of the young men who had so nobly done their duty. (Applause). All present would admit that the Gordon Highlanders had made a worthy name for themselves, and he had no doubt that the young men from their local corps had upheld them. (Applause). Every member of the service company had done that. He asked them to drink to the health of their parents. (Applause).
Mr Park, father of Private PARK, said he was delighted when their country so heartily responded to the call for aid in their trouble in South Africa. When one of his own family had volunteered it had given him a double interest in the war in South Africa and the affairs of the empire. It had, however, been a time of great anxiety to parents, and he could tell them he was greatly pleased to see his son home again. (Applause).
