County: Staffordshire
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 22/08/1900, aft. 15/03/1902, 20/07/1902
Number issued: ?
THE MEDAL SHOWN IS A SILVER "COPY" OF THE CANNOCK CHILDREN'S MEDAL
Silver (or gold?) medals, to:
22/08/1900 presentation
Royal Army Medical Corps (No 10 Field Hospital) –
Surgeon-Major John Kerr BUTTER
Presentation made by Councillor Jonathan Hunter, on a platform, at the end of the Green, Cannock.
"He had great pleasure in presenting him with a silver medal which had been provided and which commemorated the relief of Ladysmith and Kimberley, and the capture of Cronje".
Dr Butter also received a gold medal (this appears to relate to his teaching ambulance classes before the war).
Aft. 15/03/1902 presentation(s)
Royal Army Medical Corps [2nd V.B.S.S.R.] –
14531 Private William ASKEY
14532 Private Joseph THACKER
2nd (Wiltshire) Company, 1st Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
20009 Corporal [Trooper] Thomas CROSS
20/07/1902 presentation (gold medal)
Royal Army Medical Corps [2nd V.B.S.S.R.] –
14533 Private Henry ELKS
Unrecorded presentation(s)
Unknown Regiment –
???? C. HARSLEY [Harnley?] (example held in the National Army Museum - this probably wasn't given for military service)
and further unknown recipients
Silver Medal (available to purchase by the general public).
Obverse: "CANNOCK & HEDNESFORD / DISTRICT COMMITTEE" "IN COMMEMORATION / OF THE / RELIEF OF / LADYSMITH . FEB . 28 / SURRENDER OF / CRONJE. / 27 . FEB . 1900".
Reverse with recipient's name.
Supplied by M. Hughes, of Church Street, Cannock.
Note: the Cannock Chase Courier (12/07/1902) states that a "gold medal" was awaiting Private Elks. This seems to be at odds with the existance of the silver version shown above and the report of the presentation of a silver medal to Surgeon-Major Butter.
Further reports show that Cannock & Hednesford presented tin badges to schoolchildren in the district, and that silver copies of these could be purchased by members of the public at a cost of 4/- each. Inspector Burgess, "in whose fertile brain the presentation of [children's] medals really originated" was made the recipient of a gold example. This shows that the "Relief of Ladysmith" medal was produced in tin, silver and gold.
The medal above appears to be one of the silver copies of the children's badge, in which case it is more likely to have been purchased by a member of the public than presented to a returned soldier (see Cannock Chase Courier, 26/05/1900). If this is correct, no Cannock tribute medal has as yet come to light, so its form is unknown.
_________________________________________
Cannock Chase Courier, 17th March 1900 (Cannock & Hednesford children's badge)
The Relief of Ladysmith.
At the meeting last week a suggestion was made, that the school children in the Cannock district should be presented with a medal each to celebrate the relief of Ladysmith. This suggestion has “caught on”, and at a meeting held at the Crown Hotel, on Tuesday evening the committee fairly “set the ball rolling”. There was a good working committee formed for Cannock, and the suggestion was thrown out that a similar committee should be asked to join at Hednesford, and this has been accepted most cordially. The idea is to present each child in the elementary schools of the district with a medal in commemoration of the event. This, it is estimated, will cost upwards of £25.
Cannock Chase Courier, 26th May 1900 (presentation of gold example of the children's badge to Inspector Burgess)
One very interesting event in connection with the recent celebration took place on Thursday. It was arranged at one of the committee meetings that any of the committee or public could have a silver medal by paying for it – the cost being 4/-. Inspector Burgess who had been one of the chief promoters of the recent “sends off”, and in whose fertile brain the presentation of medals really originated was amongst those who ordered a silver medal. Nearly all those that were ordered came to hand as expected, but the Inspector’s was absent. He appealed to the secretary who assumed ignorance as to this peculiarity, and Mr Orton and others “in the know” for a time sympathised with the Inspector in his anxiety about the medal. This was relieved on Thursday, at a meeting of the committee just before the starting of the procession to the field, for a pretty box was handed to the Chairman of the Urban District Council, who knew it was for him to do this duty. He walked to the Inspector – the committee of course knowing all about it, they stood at attention. The genial chairman in a few brief and appropriate words then handed the case to Inspector Burgess, and on opening it it was found to contain a very pretty gold medal of the same design as the silver ones, but got up in a very “natty” style. The Inspector was rather taken a back. He had his medal, but he hadn’t much to say about it. The secret had been well kept and none knew that better than he. But he said just sufficient and then “the band began to play”. It was one of those pleasing incidents that happens to a man, perhaps once in a life time.
Cannock Chase Courier, 25th August 1900
The Arrival of Dr Butter.
……. The Band commenced with Soldiers of the Queen, and then marched from the station up Mill Street, then through Price Street, and down Church Street to the Square. At the end of the Green there was a substantial platform erected and suitably decorated with flags and drapery, and soon the spacious thoroughfare was crowded with a large and enthusiastic audience. …….
No time was lost, for the popular Chairman of the Urban District Council walked to the front of the erection and was received with cheers. He said they had met to offer to Surgeon Major BUTTER, on behalf of the public of Cannock, their hearty congratulations on the fact that he had returned safe and sound from the war in South Africa. They believed that he had done his duty well. They would remember that about six months since they gave him a hearty send off, he had taken part in the campaign, not in the fighting line it is true, but he had done his duty in looking after the sick and the wounded. They were glad that he had returned; but there were some who had not done so and who unfortunately would never return. He had great pleasure in presenting him with a silver medal which had been provided and which commemorated the relief of Ladysmith and Kimberley and the capture of Cronje (cheers). This was handed to Dr BUTTER and pinned on his uniform amidst cheers.
There was another presentation. They knew that Dr BUTTER had worked well in instructing the ambulance class and this had been useful to miners and others. When he went away, he (the chairman) had the honour of presenting him with a certificate, and now he presented him with a gold medal (cheers). This he had great pleasure in handing to Dr BUTTER (cheers followed). …….
Cannock Chase Courier, 15th March 1902
Return of the Wanderers.
It will be remembered that soon after the commencement of the “Great Boer War”, as it is termed, Reservists and Volunteers were invited to join the colours, and they heartily responded. The public of the district would not allow them to leave empty handed and a committee was formed, and this was popularly known as the “send-off” committee. This committee worked well, and all went on very pleasantly. Some of them have since returned and as there was a small balance left of the fund it was felt that the “return of the wanderers” might be suitably celebrated. Some have returned and have been met with band and drums; in one case there was only a couple of hours’ notice so there was no time to get up a little demonstration. However, when there was this was done. There were three of the ambulance men who went out and two of them have returned, one was in the unfortunate – or perhaps fortunate position – that he gave no opportunity for a demonstration and the other did. But fortunately these two are safe and it is hoped ELKS, the third man, will follow. At any rate there is, as stated, a small balance and this it is determined to utilize with a few shillings added to provide medals for the three ambulance men. At a meeting held at the Crown Hotel on Friday evening there was what may be termed the final meeting of the committee – no, not exactly that, but something approaching it. That is, there was what may be termed in a phrase that has now become somewhat historic “the wiping off the slate”. It is no use disguising the affair: there was some feeling relative to the return of one of the ambulance men. It was that he was fortunate, perhaps, in not allowing his friends to know of his return, at any rate he had not a public reception, while the other had. It is not a great difficulty at all; but this was somewhat the bone of contention, and was very properly ventilated. However, the old proverb has it that “all’s well that ends well”, and so it will probably be on this occasion. After the slate had been properly wiped, it was determined that the three ambulance men should each have a medal, and that the medals to the two who have already arrived should be presented to them at an early date in the Assembly of the Crown Hotel. Of course due notice will be given of the gathering. The medals are of a very pretty design, and are supplied by M. Hughes, of Church Street, Cannock, who met the Committee very liberally. When ELKS arrives home, and it is hoped he will return safe and sound, he will receive his; while when Trooper CROSS returns, and it is hoped he will, certainly, then there will be a reception. In fact he must have a reception. But in these rather dark days, it is not prudent perhaps to talk about seasoned troopers returning. Let that come in the sweet bye and bye. But that is an event to be anticipated for the sake of his parents, and the genial trooper – for all know and respect Trooper CROSS.
Cannock Chase Courier, 15th March 1902
It is quite possible that the medal which will be presented to Private THACKER, on his return to [from?] the front, will be supplemented by something even more substantial. But more again.
Some of the good folk of Chadsmoor feel rather keen on the matter, but it is not necessary now to dwell upon it.
Cannock Chase Courier, 12th July 1902
It is stated that the last of the trio of Ambulance men who went out to South Africa – Private ELKS – may be expected home at any time. It is indeed rumoured that he arrived at Southampton on the Assaye.
There is a gold medal awaiting him and probably a public reception if it be known the time he returns.
Tin version of the medal, which was issued by Cannock & Hednesford as a comemorative badge after the Relief of Ladysmith, and presented to 3,000 schoolchildren on 24th May 1900 (Queen Victoria's birthday).
