State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Departure (?)
Date of presentation: aft. 18/06/1900
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, to:
1st Victorian Mounted Infantry Company [1st Victorian Contingent] –
34 Private Alfred Henry SLATTER
"It was decided that the funds, amounting to £4/4/6 should be devoted to the purchase of a gold medal for presentation to Private A. SLATTER, of the first contingent". Did this happen? The decision seems very premature, unless the gift was a belated departure medal to be forwarded to Slatter in South Africa. He did not return home until January 1901..
A later report (Bendigo Independent, 07/01/1901) states that a decision had been made to hold a concert on 11/01/1901, at which Slatter would be presented with a gold chain. This might suggest that a medal had indeed been presented in 1900, and that the chain was designed to accompany the ealier gift.
Private Slatter received a gold medal from the inhabitants of Pyramid Hill on 8 Jan 1902.
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Bendigo Advertiser, 18th June 1900
At a meeting of subscribers to the fund instituted for the purchase of testimonials for presentation to Privates A. SLATTER and J.M. DAVEY, it was decided that the funds, amounting to £4/4/6 should be devoted to the purchase of a gold medal for presentation to Private A. SLATTER, of the first contingent, as the district's recognition of his practical patriotism.
The above article does not explain why only Slatter was chosen to receive a medal. On 12/03/1900, it was reported that Private Davey had been discharged from the Bushmen's Contingent on the orders of the Minister for Defence, though no reason was given. However, his name appears on the Echuca & Moama memorial, listing all men from that district who served in South Africa. To complicate matters further, Davey does not appear to have received a medal from Echuca & Moama.
Bendigo Independent, 7th January 1901
A BOORT SOLDIER.
BOORT, Saturday, Jan. 5.
A public meeting in connection with the Patriotic League was held at the Mechanics’ Hall last evening. Mr C. Andrews, president of the shire, presided. It was decided that the Brass Band and townspeople should give Private Alfred SLATTER a welcome home on Monday next, and that a patriotic concert and social everting be held next Friday (11th inst.), and that he be presented with a gold chain to the value of £8 on that occasion. It was also decided at the last meeting of the Rechabite Lodge to tender Bro. Alfred SLATTER a social and presentation on February 1, and a committee will be formed to make all arrangements.
