State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 13/06/1901, 07/08/1901
Number issued: 4
13/06/1901 presentation
382 Trooper Charles Henry FENTON
07/08/1901 presentation (postponement of 17/07/1901 presentation)
253 Trooper Thomas YATES (died in hospital - medal presented to his brother)
Presentation made by Councillor Johnstone, in the Victoria Hall, Colac.
253 Private Thomas YATES, 4th Victorian (Imperial Bushmen's) Contingent, died in hospital, shortly after returning from South Africa, on 16/07/1901.
The two advertisements for the presentation, the second amended after Trooper Yates's death (Colac Herald, 16/07/1901 & 06/08/1901)
Public Welcome at Colac.
Trooper FENTON Accorded a Royal Reception by Townspeople and Representatives from All Parts of the District.
In order to make the welcome to Trooper FENTON, of Colac, who has just returned from active service in South Africa as effective as possible, the committee of Colac residents, in addition to decorating the town profusely with flags, issued invitations to the returned soldiers in the Western District to attend the demonstration on Thursday. Those who responded were – Captain D. Hally JENKINS, Sergeant GEARY and Private HESSION of Warrnambool; Quarter-Master Sergeant GULLAN, of Winchelsea; Trumpeter GAZZARD and Private JEWELL, of Allansford; Private CAMPBELL, of Grasmere; Saddler Sergeant SATCHWELL, of Camperdown; Private ORCHARD, of Beeac; and Privates BARR, BAIRD, and PHILPOT, of Geelong; Private FERGUSON, of Woodford (now of Colac); Private NICOL, of Colac; Sergeant-Major BANNISTER, of the South African Imperial Light Horse (but now of Colac); and Private J. CAMPBELL, of the South African Imperial Light Horse (but now of Colac).
On arriving at the railway station Trooper FENTON was carried shoulder high to the drag, and the procession moved off towards Murray Street and drew up at the Shire Hall, where Cr. Hancock, president of shire, extended a hearty welcome to Trooper FENTON and the other returned soldiers. Trooper FENTON returned thinks.
At the invitation of the president, the committee and guests adjourned to the council chamber and partook of the hospitality of Cr. Hancock.
At night there was a large and representative gathering in the Victoria Hall, where a banquet was held.
Cr. Hancock presided, and a number of toasts appropriate to the occasion were dealt with. Trooper FENTON was presented with a gold medal in the form of a Maltese cross, inscribed as follows – "Presented by the citizens of Colac to Trooper C. H. Fenton on his return from South African war. June 13, 1901". On one side were the words, "Welcome Home".PUBLIC WELCOME TO RETUIRNED SOLDIERS.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.
Postponed gatherings are as a rule rarely successful, but that to the returned district soldiers from South Africa on Wednesday evening proved an exception. The Victoria Hall was crowded to the doors by an enthusiastic audience, no less than 550 gaining admittance. The returned soldiers comprised – Corporal POOLEY, Troopers O'BRIEN, CRAIG, FENTON, ORCHARD and CLARKE (the latter, a Colac man, being a member of the New South Wales contingent).
Previous to the entertainment the members of the Colac Brass Band and the Fire Brigade marched in procession along down Murray Street.
Cr Johnstone occupied the chair, in the unavoidable absence of Mr H.M. Hearn, through illness. An apology was received for the absence of Cr Dunoon. The chairman introduced the returned soldiers to the audience, and they were all greeted with ringing cheers, the members of the local detachment of mounted rifles rising and with the audience singing "For they are Jolly Good Fellows", The chairman said that it was with pleasure and pride that he presided over the gathering and he was gratified at the large attendance, despite the postponement, which showed that the wave of enthusiasm which passed over the State on the return of the soldiers had not subsided. They owed a debt of gratitude to the men who went to South Africa and fought for them, and their deeds there would last forever. They had proved themselves capable of helping to maintain the prestige of the Empire, and he moved that the citizens of Colac extend them a most cordial and hearty welcome.
Dr Brown seconded the resolution. He was present to express his gratitude towards the men for what they had done for the Empire. The colonies had sent some of their best men without asking, and as there always had been a feeling that Australia should take a part in framing the destinies of the Empire he considered that the fact of the soldiers going to South Africa was the best way to approach that object. The soldiers had reflected great honor on Australia, and he thought it was only due to give them publicly and collectively a most hearty welcome.
Mr G.F. Sydenham supported the motion in a eulogistic speech. He was exceedingly pleased at the enthusiastic reception the men were receiving, which was cordial, sincere and hearty, and some slight recompense for what they had undergone on the veldt.
Mr T.G. Thompson also supported the resolution, remarking how pleased the people of Colac were at the actions of their representatives in South Africa. The resolution was carried by acclamation.
The chairman at this stage presented Corporal POOLEY and Trooper O'BRIEN with gold medals suitably inscribed. One had been prepared for Trooper YATES, but after undergoing the perils and the hardships of South Africa death had unfortunately claimed him, which they all deeply deplored. He asked Mr J. Yates, brother of the deceased soldier, to come forward and receive the medal, and for the audience to allow its acceptation to pass in silence, as a tribute of respect to the deceased. Corporal POOLEY, and Troopers O'BRIEN, CRAIG, ORCHARD, FENTON and CLARKE suitably responded, each referring in sympathetic but eulogistic terms to their deceased comrade, Trooper YATES, Trooper FENTON remarking that he was "every inch a soldier". Instances of the campaign were related by the different returned soldiers. Trooper ORCHARD, in the course of his speech, said that there were many who were entitled to Victoria Crosses but never received them, while Trooper CLARKE explained the circumstances of General Carrington's unsuccessful attempt to relieve the Australian bushmen at Elands River, as he had only about 250 fighting men to tackle a force of 4000 Boers.
Mr Sydenham then invested Corporal POOLEY and Trooper O'BRIEN with badges bearing the following inscription – "Sons of Australia, welcome home".
The programme comprised items from Mr R.J. Hearn's orchestra, Messrs F. Foster, W.J. McIntosh, R.J. Hearn, R. Walker, C. Gallop, Miss Hobday, the Colac Lyric Club and the Colas Brass Band. Mr Hearn sang "Elands River", which was appropriate, (that day being the anniversary of the battle). The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman and the singing of "God Savo the King".
