State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: aft. 22/05/1901
Number issued: 16
Medals, suitably inscribed, to:
809 Trooper Richard RESCH [Dick Resch]
133 Private John GANNON [Jack Gannon]
292 Private Edward BURNS
???? Private Frank ALLMAN
601 Trooper Michael Joseph RENEHAN (absent)
Lieutenant BOWDEN (absent)
50 Trooper J.S. LEGGATT (absent)
Trooper C.E. KELEHER [Kelaher] [Kellaher]
COOTAMUNDRA, Tuesday.
Our Returned Soldiers.
PRESENTATIONS AND SOCIAL.
On Wednesday night there was a social gathering at the Assembly Hall of unusual interest, with the objects of honoring and decorating our soldiers returned from the South African war, of tendering them a social complement, and of making a valedictory presentation to Mrs. J. S. Burns, on the eve of her departure from Cootamundra, in recognition of her services to the hospital, the patriotic funds here, and to general worthy objects. The hall was relieved with bunting, and otherwise made neat and convenient on drawing-room lines.
The Mayor (Ald. Bartley) was the chairman.
The soldiers were marched in and on to the platform, to the strains of “Soldiers of the King”, by Miss Falconer (piano).
The names of our boys are – Sergeant-Major S.E. BARNES, Sergeant J. JULEFF, Lieutenant BOWDEN, Troopers R. RESCH, F. ALLMAN, J. GANNON, W. RENEHAN, J.S. LEGGATT, E. BURNS, C.E. KELLAHER, G. BALL, L. BALL, W. COOPER, C. O'MALLY, S. FORSYTH, M. RENEHAN. Some were absent, their absence being unavoidable in each instance. A letter was received from Sergeant-Major BARNES, Sydney, expressing disappointment at not being able to be present, not being able to get leave for it.
A telegram was also received from Mr J. Cambourn, Wallendbeen, apologising for his absence.
An apology was also made for the absence of the Police Magistrate.
The following letter was received from Mr. D. McConaghy – 70 Good Hope Street, Paddington, Sydney, 18th May, 1901. W. H. Matthews, Esq., hon. sec., Returned Soldier's Social Committee, Cootamundra. Dear Sir, I would be pleased if you would express to the members of committee, and to the meeting on Tuesday night next, my extreme regret at being unable to be present on such a memorable occasion, through my absence from town. I trust that the townspeople will muster strong to do honor to those who have upheld the honor of the town by their patriotism and bravery evinced in their volunteering for active service. Please offer kindly congratulations on my behalf, to our returned soldier lads on the creditable manner in which they have acquitted themselves throughout the campaign, and also on their safe return to their homes. Again wishing you a very successful function I am, dear sir, yours very sincerely, David McConaghy.
The Mayor, in making the formal presentation to the boys, said he was very pleased to welcome them home. More than twelve months ago the Empire had had to face a foe in South Africa, and our boys had volunteered for service in the war. Australia had offered assistance to the old country, and volunteers came forward from all parts of Australia and New Zealand. Their action had stirred the hearts of the whole people with the result that they had witnessed a magnificent outburst of patriotic fervour for the great Empire to which they were all proud to belong (cheers). When our young Australians were drilling here before there was any prospect of war, many were the adverse comments that they heard to the effect that it was for mere purposes of show, and that in the event of war they would shirk their duty, or, if they went to the front, would hide behind stumps (laughter); but on the call to duty they had responded like men (cheers), thousands offering who had to be rejected. They had shown that their hearts were in the right place, and that, if need be, they could be relied upon to fight for their country. He need not tell the audience that their own boys had acquitted themselves in such a way as to call forth the highest compliments. They had now returned home, with their honours thick upon them; and the people desired to recognise their valour and patriotism. He regretted that the golden medals with which they intended to decorate them had not arrived. That was no fault of the committee who had been appointed by the public to carry out the presentation, as they had had a guarantee from the manufacturers that they would be here in good time, otherwise the order would not have been given; but the firm in Sydney had failed to keep up to their engagements. They were informed that they would be here on Friday next, and it was proposed to give an order to each recipient to obtain the medals in Sydney; and he asked the boys to accept the will for the deed. He welcomed Lieutenant Griffin among the company; and expressed the opinion that, should the occasion arise again for their services, the boys would be ready to go to the front again (cheers). They had arranged that the speeches that evening should be short, so as to leave time for the after enjoyments.
“Home, Sweet Home” was then played as an instrumental trio by Miss Falconer (piano), Mr. R.W. Millar (violo), and Mr. W. Miller (flute). (Old Crumbs has a critique on this performance).
Miss Latham sang sweetly “Alice, Where Art Thou ?”.
The secretary of the committee (Mr. W.H. Matthews, J.P.) gave the credit to the ladies of collecting the money and carrying out the whole affair.
Stratton, J.P., also complimented the ladies on the good work they had done in assisting the gentlemen's committee in the object, apologised to the boys for the absence of the medals, and praised them for upholding the honor of the district and their country.
A sweet duet was sung by the Misses Allman (sisters of Trooper ALLMAN).
The boys were then called upon to respond, and their bashfulness and lightning flashes of oratory caused much merriment.
Sergeant JULEFF stepped bravely to the front, and thanked the public for the reception and the honour they were giving them; and on behalf of the soldiers he could say they were deeply grateful to think that their conduct had met with their approval. They had come through the fight but if they had fallen in it, it would have been with their faces to the foe (cheers). Should the occasion arise again, they would be found willing to do the same as they had done in the South African affair.
Trooper ALLMAN also thanked the public, especially the ladies. They had only done their duty as citizens of their country and subjects of the Empire; and they would be quite ready to volunteer again (cheers).
Trooper RESCH (the youngest of the boys) required a lot of coaxing to get him on his feet, but when he did step to the front he thanked the people, and gallantly saluted them, amidst cheers.
Trooper BURNS could scarcely speak from hoarseness, having a heavy chest affliction, and he thanked the meeting for the honor they did them.
Trooper BALL was introduced by the Mayor as one of the boys who had stopped a bullet in the fighting, and he was received with special compliments, and he characteristically thanked the company and said he was glad to be back in civilisation once more (cheers and laughter). [His experience of the bullet was a shot through the stomach, the ball passing out and then passing through his hand between the thumb and finger, the hand showing a hollow where it had been wounded].
Trooper GANNON also thanked the company saying that he was proud at having done his duty and earned the people's applause in doing it. He was cordially cheered.
Miss Simes sang, in her usually accomplished and confident style, the appropriate martial song “When the Empire Calls” for which she received a hearty round of applause. Mrs. J.E. Lester played the accompaniment.
Dr Florance made a brief, patriotic speech, and Lieut. Griffin followed in a short and eloquent reference to the boys, and the glorious way in which they had rallied round the old flag.
Mrs. Burns sang “When Other Lips”, that sweet and touching old farewell selection from “East Lynne”, and her voice quivered with emotion and gratitude to her friends in Cootamundra.
Ald. Pinkstone also addressed a few words to the meeting on the dangers that might possibly threaten the Empire in the near future.
Mr. G. Fitzpatrick sang, in good baritone form, “Off to Philadelphia”.
