Medals and awards

Presentation made by Mrs Wood, in St James's Hall, Batley.

 

Batley News, 14th December 1900

 

Reception and Presentation.

In honour of the return of Trooper Louis PRESTON, of the 2nd Life Guards, to Batley, after serving in South Africa, a reception was arranged by his many friends in St James’s Hall, Batley, on Tuesday night. It was a very successful function, and a hundred guests assembling. Mr Squire Newsome acted as host, and on the Trooper entering the hall he was loudly applauded. The Hall was prettily decorated with streamers and bunting of the National colours. Broadbent’s band supplied excellent music, and under the able guidance of Mr Fred Brearey, as M.C., dancing was kept up with zest till the “wee sma’ hours”. Mr George Brown admirably provided the refreshments, and the whole of the arrangements reflected great credit on those responsible for them.

During the evening a very pleasant ceremony took place, Trooper PRESTON being presented with a handsome gold albert, with medal attached, subscribed for by his friends, and supplied by Messrs Fattorini, of Bradford.

Mr Squire Newsome acted as Chairman, and said they were met on a very eventful occasion in order to give a hearty welcome to their highly esteemed friend, Trooper PRESTON, and to give “honour to whom honour is due”. (Hear, hear). The past twelve months had been a very anxious time for most of them. Day after day the papers had been eagerly scanned to see if Trooper PRESTON’s name appeared in the casualty lists. It was not for him (the speaker) to say anything about the hairbreadth escapes Trooper PRESTON had experienced, but they knew their friend had endured hardships, hunger and fatigue, and he (Mr Newsome) was sure all who were at home, nicely and comfortably housed and situated, ought to feel very grateful that they had a man who would voluntarily undertake to go and defend our homesteads and hearths. Whatever wars England was likely to be embroiled in, there was never any fear of us having to experience the worst hardships of war. Soldiers never came here to fight, we had always to go somewhere else. We had men who were willing to volunteer in order to fight for their country and Queen, and to defend us from the aggression and invasion of foreign powers. They had met that night to rejoice. He thought after their friend’s many merciful escapes they had a right to rejoice. He came him a very hearty welcome home, and had great pleasure in introducing a lady friend who had always held Trooper PRESTON in very high esteem and affection, in order to make him a presentation as a token of their friendly feeling and as a memento of that evening’s proceedings. (Applause).

Mrs Wood, amid loud applause, then made the presentation to the Trooper, saying she was very pleased to welcome him back and to hand him the albert and medal as a gift from his friends. (Applause).

Trooper PRESTON, who was greeted with “For he’s a jolly good fellow” and hearty applause, said he hardly knew how to thank them for their kindness, but they might take it he was most heartily obliged to them for their valuable present, which he should treasure as long as he lived. He had been in many tight places in South Africa, but few that he had dreaded more than that. (Laughter). He could assure them he was not much of a talker, and could do a lot better at “roughing it”. (Laughter). At the same time he was deeply thankful to them all. (Applause).

Mr Newsome said they would accept the will of the deed, as Trooper PRESTON was not accustomed to platform work. (A voice: “He’s a feighter”, and laughter). It was not always the big talkers who were great workers. Very often those who could talk the best managed to slip out of the work. (Laughter, and applause). Those who had known Trooper PRESTON longest loved him best, and they all wished him prosperity in his future career, that he would continue to grow in the esteem of his superiors, and that at some future time they would have a speak of him as General PRESTON. (Applause).

Mr D.F. Burnley proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Newsome for presiding, and to Mrs Wood for making the presentation, and had great pleasure in re-echoing what the Chairman had said in regard to Trooper PRESTON. Speaking of the soldiers, Buller said “they were splendid”, and Lord Roberts had said “on the field they are heroes, and at all other times gentlemen”. There were no soldiers of their acquaintance to whom the latter was more applicable than to Trooper PRESTON. (Applause). While they would have liked to have welcomed him when Corporal GARNER and the other brave Batley Volunteers returned, he could assure him that their welcome to him now was none the less hearty. They had had very anxious times while he had been away, but they had had no fear as to how he would conduct himself. (Applause). They had every confidence that he was a worthy representative of the town from which he went, and they had always been glad to know that the latest news from him was “All well”. They wished him every prosperity and success in his future life, whether in the army or outside it. (Applause).