County: Berwickshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 27/11/1900, 27/06/1902
Number issued: 9
Gold albert watch chains & pendants, to:
27/11/1900 presentation
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, King's Own Scottish Borderers –
7036 Private John Fraser DALLAS (absent - in S. Africa)
7259 Private Robert FOREMAN [Forman]
7260 Private Adam MACVIE
No further details of this presentation have as yet come to light.
27/06/1902 presentation
2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, King's Own Scottish Borderers –
8458 Private David AINSLIE
8465 Private Robert DENHOLM (absent - chain presented to his his father)
7278 Private Thomas DICKSON
8460 Private James FERGUSON
8459 Private James FRASER
7281 Private Peter HILLS
Presentation made by Mrs Mitchell-Innes, during a conversazione, in the Volunteer Hall, Chirnside
KNOWN EXAMPLE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN
Obverse: "ON RETURN FROM / ACTIVE SERVICE / IN / SOUTH AFRICA / 26 JUNE 1902".
Reverse: "PVTE. JAS FERGUSON / G CO / Chirnside / 2ND / V.B.K.O.S.B."
No mention of pendants is made in the press, only gold alberts. However, the extant Chirnside pendant named to Private Ferguson proves that inscribed fobs accompanied the watch chains.
Private Ferguson example sold through Thomson Roddick Callan Auctioneers, 15/08/2024, for £3,600 (with single clasp QSA).
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Berwickshire News, 24th June 1902
RETURN OF CHIRNSIDE VOLUNTEERS
The return of the Chirnside portion of the 2nd Service Company of the K.O.S.B. will be celebrated on Friday night by a conversazione in the Hall. The heroes of the occasion will be presented with gold albert watch chains, and this interesting event will, of course, be the feature of the evening. A musical programme has been arranged by Dr McVie, which fact is a guarantee of its excellence. Of course, the leading spirit of the movement is Major McCrow, to whose indefatigable exertions and unostentatious liberality the local Volunteer movement in particular, and the community in general, are so much indebted.
Berwickshire News, 15/07/1902
Return of Service Volunteers at Chirnside.
A RIGHT ROYAL WELCOME.
Major McCrow then gave the following address …….
……. A like enthusiasm, I believe, permeated the whole of the Scottish Borderers, but as the numbers reckoned to be necessary at the time were few in comparison with those who had volunteered, we were obliged to be content with one solitary representative from the Company, Private John Fraser DALLAS, a young man who had but recently come into the district. Subsequently, however, other two were requisitioned from the waiting company, and Privates Robert FORMAN and Adam MACVIE were sent out to join Dallas with the First Service Section. In like manner as we are doing tonight, you will remember that we welcomed Privates Forman and Macvie back again on the 27th November, 1900, after they had been absent for a period of nearly twelve months. Later again, on account of the prolongation of the war, six of our comrades were chosen, and we felt sure that they, like those who had gone before, would bravely do their part and do credit to the district and Company with which they were associated. (Applause). To testify to that fact, and to rejoice with them in their home-coming safely and well to their native land and to their friends we are met here tonight. (Applause). I may mention that Privates Robert DENHOLM and DALLAS have elected to remain behind, having obtained civil employment, and it is most gratifying to me, as it will be to you, to know that they have both started in their different spheres of life with every prospect of success. (Applause).
……. In obedience to a command from Major McCrow, the returned heroes marched to the platform in the following order: – James FERGUSSON [sic], James FRASER, David AINSLIE, Peter HILL, and Thomas DICKSON, to the singing of “For they are jolly good fellows”. The men, standing at attention, Mrs Mitchell-Innes, with a few words of congratulation and praise to each, fastened a handsome gold albert watch chain to their khaki jackets, amid the loud applause of the company. This interesting ceremony finished, one of the men essayed to thank Mrs Innes, but the emotion naturally consequent on his unaccustomed position rendered his words unintelligible. The brave fellow would have been more at ease facing a Boer rifle. One of the Volunteers, Robert Denholm, having decided to remain in the Transvaal, his chain was handed by Mrs Innes to his father, Councillor David Denholm.
