County: Ayrshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 03/08/1901
Number issued: 2
Gold medals, suitably inscribed, to:
1441 Trooper James ARMSTRONG
Presentation made by Mr Thomas McCulloch (colliery manager), in Cronberry School.
PATRIOTIC CRONBERRY.
PRESENTATION TO TROOPER ARMSTRONG AND PRIVATE FOLEY.
LOOKING none the worse of a long period of active service in South Africa, Trooper James ARMSTRONG, of the 17th Coy. Ayrshire Imperial Yeomanry, and Private Michael FOLEY, a reservist in the E Coy. 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, attended a meeting that was held in their honour in the school at Cronberry on Saturday night. Mr John S. Duncan, farmer, presided. To the right of him sat the two guests of the evening, and on his left were Miss Duncan, Mr Thomas McCulloch, colliery manager, and Mr James Pitt. There was a fairly large gathering. It was expected that the agricultural industry would be well represented, but the attendance of farmers was small, a circumstance of which the stormy weather was no doubt accountable. …….
……. Mr McCulloch, in response to the call of the chairman, rose to make the presentation to the men. He said the meeting had been quickly arranged, and there had been no time to prepare an elaborate programme. It had been proved beyond question that the aim of the Boers was to banish the British from the Transvaal; in short, they intended to gain the supreme control of South Africa. Our Government wanted freedom for all, both white and black. Freedom and justice were our watchwords. He then outlined the progress of the war, and created a ripple of laughter by a remark that while they in Cronberry had merely to go to the Store when they were in need of provisions, and order what they liked, our soldiers at the front had to subsist on half rations, sometimes less. They could not praise too highly or be too proud of their brave representatives in the army, and it was with a deep feeling of thankfulness that they welcomed them back, safe and sound. (Applause). The outlook of Britain was not of the brightest when the Volunteers were asked to give their services, but happily it improved, after Lord Roberts had taken the chief command. It was very regrettable that Trooper ARMSTRONG’s brother became ill at Aldershot and died. He (Mr McCulloch) did not know Trooper ARMSTRONG’s brother, but his sorrow was none the less sincere on that account, and he was certain that much sympathy was felt in the district for the relations of the deceased soldier. Proceeding, he said that if we should ever be involved in another war he hoped we should have such men as Trooper ARMSTRONG and Private FOLEY to take up arms on our behalf. The average British soldier had not changed since the days of Wellington, so far as fighting was concerned, and this was a fact which the Boer war had demonstrated. (Applause). Private FOLEY had to go to the front once more, but it was hoped that he would soon be home again. Trooper ARMSTRONG was free for the present, but he would not be the last to go forward again if the services of the Yeomanry should be required.
The presentation consisted of two gold medals, appropriately inscribed, a walking stick, and a pipe – Private FOLEY receiving a medal and the pipe, and Trooper ARMSTRONG receiving a medal and the stick. Mr McCulloch, on behalf of the subscribers, formally presented the gifts.
