County: Northumberland
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 00/06/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold chain & pendant, to:
Inscribed: "Presented to Trooper G. Pile by friends in Chatton and district on his return from the South African campaign. June, 1901".
RETURN OF A CHATTON YEOMAN.
The return from South Africa of Trooper PILE, of the Northumberland Yeomanry, was the occasion for a great display of kindly feeling. From an early hour the village was being decorated with flags, festoons of flowers, and bannerettes. Trooper PILE was met at Belford Station by the Chatton Section of the 1st V.B. Northumberland Fusiliers and the Tillside Football team. Accompanied by Piper Tait of Lilburn Grange, they marched through Belford. Almost every house displayed flags. After refreshments were supplied to the party at Mrs Ritchie’s, a start was made for Chatton, where they arrived at 6.30. The horses were unyoked at Chatton Bridge, when willing hands drew the brake to the trooper’s home in the village, preceded by the volunteers in charge of Sergt. Allan and the footballers under Mr Creigh. The banner bore the inscription “Tillside’s Welcome”. The young soldier was carried shoulder high into his home from the conveyance. Afterwards a short thanksgiving service was held at the Presbyterian Church. The village was then paraded, and the hero of the hour, mounted on one of Sergt. Allan’s grey chargers, was accorded a very warm reception. Later, a crowded assembly met in the National Schoolrooms, Mr J.R. Marshall, Charron Park, presided. The Chairman, after an address of welcome, presented Trooper PILE with a silver hunting watch, a gold chain, and pendant, on which was inscribed “Presented to Trooper G. Pile by friends in Chatton and district on his return from the South African campaign, June, 1901”. Hearty cheers accompanied the presentation. There followed songs, readings, recitations, and violin selections, the proceedings concluding with votes of thanks and “God Save the King”.
