Medals and awards

2226 Private John DRAYCOTT (absent - in hospital in S. Africa)

2986 Corporal George Thomas CHRISTIAN (absent - serving in S. Africa)

FOR KING AND COUNTRY.

PATRIOTISM AT COALVILLE.

Interesting Presentation to Local Volunteers and Reservists.

One of the most interesting public gatherings which have taken place in the neighbourhood of Coalville for some time past was that at the National School on Monday evening, when reservists, volunteers, and militiamen of all grades who left Coalville – and by that we mean the urban district – with Bardon and Thringstone added, to serve their country in South Africa, were presented with a handsome gold albert and pendant, the gift of the inhabitants as a mark of appreciation for the services rendered. The roll numbered 39, which, both from a military and patriotic point of view, was very creditable for a place the size of this. The majority of the men were present in uniform, looking very smart, though half a dozen or more are in South Africa at the present time, and two have, unfortunately, succumbed to that terrible enemy which has proved even more deadly than the Boer bullets, viz., enteric fever. The proceedings were organised by a committee selected from the three wards, whose doings have been reported upon from time to time and need no recapitulation here. Suffice it to say that the scheme emanated from the Urban District Council, who took the public into their confidence, and the joint committee of about thirty, elected at public meetings in the wards, set themselves the task, at the outset, of raising £150. The enthusiastic response of the public and employers of labour enabled the committee to exceed the sum and the proceedings on Monday night were the gratifying result. Unfortunately, the attendance was marred by the weather. It was a fearful night, and, therefore, what might have been a crowded meeting, was only moderately attended. Nevertheless, the gathering was bright and interesting, and passed off most successfully. The Chairman of the Urban District Council, Dr J.C. Burkitt, J.P., presided. …….

At the opening of the meeting, “God save the King” was sung by Mrs Sharp, Miss Cox, Mr Peplow and Mr S. Brown, the audience joining in.

The chairman said they were there that night to show their appreciation of those brave and patriotic men who had been, and some were still, upholding the flag of their King and Country in that far off corner of the Empire – South Africa. As chairman of the Recognition Committee, he presumed he was expected to make a speech, not that he considered it necessary, for the manner in which the inhabitants of the district had contributed to the fund was sufficient testimony to their loyal and patriotic feelings and sympathy with the object of the gathering. He would not say anything with regard to the causes that led up to the war, or that insolent and insulting ultimatum of the Ex-President of the South African Republic, but it was evident from what had taken place that the Boers had for some time been preparing for a struggle with the British nation and that their idea was a South African Republic under Boer sway from the Zambesi to the sea. Britain’s unpreparedness for such a conflict was now a matter of history. The fatally false impression at the commencement of the war that it would be short-lived, and that there would be a sort of picnic in Pretoria was soon proved. They remembered the dark and depressing days of October, November and December, 1899, when the might of England seemed to be crumbling away; when reverse after reverse was recorded against our arms, the enemy having actually invaded our colonies and devastated towns and villages. It was with fear and trembling that they opened their newspapers. But at Glencoe and Elandslaagte the Boers were shown, though at an awful cost of life, that the British soldiers had lost none of their courage and heroism. The speaker then narrated the principal events of the war, dealing with the battles fought by Methuen and his men on the Modder River, the gallant stands made at Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking, and the relief of those places. It was when affairs were at an acute stage that the brave fellows they were honouring that night volunteered their services (cheers) and the effect of those services was seen by the relief of besieged towns, and the hoisting in Pretoria of the grand old flag which was the glory and pride of the nation – the flag which had withstood the battle and the breeze for a thousand years and whose emblem had ever been “freedom” (applause). He hoped that the guerrilla tactics now going on would soon be a thing of the past, and that they would see a united South Africa under the grand old flag with equal rights for all white races, and that the inhabitants would be as ready and willing to come forward, should the mother country require their services, as other colonists had done. Having spoken upon the sacrifices made by the men, and the hardships undergone, he said he was pleased indeed that Coalville and district was not behind the rest of the nation in returning thanks to the nation’s deliverers, and though there might be a few of their fellow countrymen who had joined with the gutter press of the continent in endeavouring to vilify these brave men, still the nation was true to itself, and while there existed that patriotic feeling which was so marked throughout the whole of the Empire when the nation was in need, they need fear no foe. He believed the nation would emerge from this long and costly war stronger and more powerful than ever it was before, the bonds between the mother country and the colonies having been strengthened by their sons having fought shoulder to shoulder in a common cause (applause). He regretted that out of the 39 men who went from the district, two would never return, having died of disease, but their friends would have the satisfaction of knowing that these men gave their lives for their country, and their deeds would ever live in the memory of a grateful nation (cheers).

The Coalville Eclipse Male Choir then excellently sang “Comrades in arms”. …….

The Chairman then made the presentations, observing that he hoped the recipients would value the gifts not for their intrinsic worth but as a little token of the appreciation of their townsmen for the services they had rendered. The chains, which were supplied by Messrs F.H. Peplow and W.L. Moss, bore the name and place of abode of each respective recipient, on the pendant, with the following inscription: “Presented by his fellow-townsmen in recognition of services rendered in the South African war”. The recipients were as follows: – F. BRUNT, F. BROADHEAD, E.[sic] CORBETT, T. JESSON, W.J. TURNER, J.C. BOWER, BECK, S. BIRD, J.C. COMMONS, T. CLARKE, J.R. HILL, KIRBY, J. KELLY, J. SPACEY, G. SMITH, E. STANLEY, D.F. TITE, C. WARD, E.C.[sic] BISHOP, H. CLITHEROE, J. COTTRILL, H.W. HILL, W.C. HARRIS, G. SPACEY, W.J. SPEDDINGS, F. SOUTHAM, W.C. TAYLOR, C.T.[sic] CHRISTIAN, R. WILLIAMS, J.R.[sic] JACKSON, J. HEATH, H. CLARKE, J. DRAYCOTT, J. MASSEY, J. SHEFFIELD, F. NUNNERLEY, and E.W. HURST.

Several of these men are still at the front, and the committee will decide what to do with their gifts.

In the case of the two unfortunate fellows who died in South Africa, the committee presented an illuminated address to their relatives. The Chairman said he trusted they would not be forgotten; they died for their country and he hoped a grateful country would always remember them (chhers).

The address was as follows:

“In Memoriam”

“Private Charles Randall REASBY, 2nd Batt. Coldstream Guards, No. 203, died of enteric at Bloemfontein, 6th May, 1900, aged 22 years. This address is presented to his relatives by his fellow-townsmen to show their appreciation of the loyalty and patriotism which caused him to lay down his life for his country. And though the warrior’s sun has set, his light shall linger round us yet – bright, radiant, blest. Dulce et decorum est pro patria non”.

– This was handed to REASBY’s father, the audience standing meanwhile.

The other address was to the memory of Private Harry ALDINGTON, 2nd Batt. Grenadier Guards, No. 2668, who died of enteric at Dewetsdorp, 17th June, 1900, aged 26 years. The other wording was the same. Both addresses were framed and were of handsome design. They were supplied by Mr A. Wilkins, of the “Times” Office, Coalville.

Sergeant WILLIAMS, reservist of the 41st Welsh Regiment, who left Coalville on Oct. 16th, 1899, and was present at the surrender of Cronje, then detailed his experiences and thanked the public on behalf of the men for the gifts they had received.

Trooper TURNER also returned thanks.

Dr Drewett moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, and suggested that the pendant on the chains should be called the “Coalville Cross” (applause).

Mr W. Moss seconded the vote of thanks, which was heartily carried.

The Chairman, responding, said he had only done his duty as he tried to do in every office he took up. He thanked all who had in any way assisted, and said he should be pleased to adopt the excellent suggestion of Mr Drewett, and they might look upon the pendants as the “Coalville Cross” (applause).