Issued on: Departure
Date of presentation: 11/01/1900
Number issued: 2
Gold medals, to:
Presentation made by Mr J. Hume Cook, M.L.A., at the Brunswick Town Hall.
Corporal Fawcett received a watch & chain (on departure) from McRobertson's Confectionery Works, Fitzroy, Melbourne.
Private Lacey received a second gold medal from the Brunswick Jubilee Loyal Orange Lodge.
FAREWELL TO COPORAL FAWCETT AND PRIVATE LACEY.
GREAT GATHERING AT BRUNSWICK.
The Brunswick town hall was literally packed with a simmering mass of patriotic humanity on Thursday night, when nearly a thousand citizens assembled to make their farewell offertory of good wishes to Corporal J.L. FAWCETT and Private J. LACEY, who are residents of Brunswick and members of the second contingent of Victorian Mounted Rifles going to South Africa. The feeling of the meeting was evident from the start, when the assemblage assuaged some their impatience by spontaneously singing Rule Britannia while the chairman, (Mr J. Hume Cook, M.L.A.), was preparing his opening speech. Mr D. Methven, M.L.A., Crs. Fleming, Allard Balfe and Wales were accommodated with seats on the platform as was also Mr F.T. Hickford M.A. and Ex-Cr. Lacey, father of one of the guests.
In the audience were many of Private "Joe" LACEY's youthful friends who spent the entire evening singing choruses and striving to "catch the eyes" of their hero. Wherever the young riflemen glanced they were bound to see youthful faces and eyes vigorously winking at them, which appears to be young Australia's chosen expression of affection and regard. In addition, many of the young enthusiasts present continuously brandished union jacks attached to short scaffold poles and kept up a running volleys of gibes at far-way Kruger such as would have staggered him had he been within the firing line.
Ladies [were] present during the earlier part of the evening in considerable numbers and appeared [to] appreciate the fun. The committee had previously given a hint however that smoking would commence at 9.30 and this was gently emphasised by the male portion of the audience who at about that hour impressively sang the National Anthem while Mr Passfield sent on the "refreshments".
The musical items of the programme comprised martial songs by Messrs Harris, (Death of Nelson); F. Chappel (Marching); Wallace and Glew (The Sound of the Cannon's rattle); A. Glew (Tommy from the South) and C.E. Long "The absent-minded beggar". M. Matlock also gave several stirrings songs. Mr W. Moulton recited "The fireman's wedding", Mr Chapman sang "Deathless Army".
The Chairman, Mr J. Hume Cook, on behalf of the committee presented the two "soldier boys" with mementos in the form of gold medals suspended by tricolours, pinning them on their coat in obedience to the crowd's demand amid ringing cheers. We reserve Mr Cook's references to his personal political actions in regard to the sending of the troops for our next issue. He went on to make a touching address to the friends of the departing lads. Since the sending of the first contingent, affairs at the seat of war had assumed a graver aspect, and their lads accordingly showing a bolder spirit even than those who had preceded them in offering their services and lives at the Empire’s call to duty. (Loud Cheers).
