Medals and awards

THE RETURN OF THE DERBY VOLUNTEERS.

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET AT THE DRILL HALL.

The Foreign Service Section of the Derbyshire Volunteers, which returned home last week and met with such an enthusiastic reception, were on Tuesday evening entertained at a public banquet by his Worship the Mayor, Mr Alderman Edgar Horne, J.P.  The function took place in the Drill Hall, which was appropriately decorated for the occasion, under the direction of Mr J. Ward, the borough surveyor, and Mr Steele, his assistant. The sides of the large hall were decorated with red and white bunting, festooned with blue and faced with white lace curtains. Over each of the alcoves at the sides of the room was placed a shield, &c., whilst flags and banners of every description were suspended from the roof. The floor was carpeted, and in front of the large organ was a beautiful decoration in the national colours. The steps upon either side were covered with green baize, and a large number of exotic plants, palms, &c., were requisitioned to complete the effect. The plants and flowers utilised were supplied by Mr F. Lewis, of the Leylands, whilst the reception room was upholstered by Messrs Jones, of the Market Place. The corporation flags and banners found a conspicuous place, and in front of the Mayor’s chair was placed the gold and silver maces emblematic of civic authority. The company present numbered about three hundred, including the Volunteers themselves, those members of the Imperial Yeomanry who have returned from the war and are Derby men, the members of the Derby Ambulance Brigade who went to the war, as well as the borough policemen who were called upon to rejoin the colours as reservists. Two out of the Foreign Service Section of Volunteers were unable to be present, one still being in South Africa, and the other, Private WALPOLE, having lost his brother, who has been serving his country at the front in another branch of the service. As our readers are aware, it was decided that each of the Volunteers should receive some memento of the war and the important part they had taken in it, and the public were invited to subscribe towards this. The response was such that the committee were enabled to present each man with a silver medallion, with a gold centre, appropriately designed and bearing upon the back the name of the recipient. This was accompanied by a beautifully illuminated address, the text of which is similar to that read by the Mayor when the men were welcomed home in the Market Place. In addition to this, through the kindness of Mr A.B. Hamilton, each man was presented with an excellent photograph of the arrival of the Volunteers and their reception by the Mayor and Corporation. …….

……. The Mayor proposed the toast of “The King”, which was received with musical honours, and the toast of “The Queen, Duke of Cornwall and York, the Duchess of Cornwall and York, and the rest of the Royal Family”, was also duly honoured.

The Mayor next proceeded to present the addresses and medallions to the men, on behalf of the inhabitants of the town, who, he said, had liberally subscribed towards the fund. (Hear, hear). In the first instance it was decided to give a watch pendant, medal, and framed address to each man who formed the Active Service Section. The address had been slightly altered, and he should be able to present copies of it that night to the members of the Yeomanry, St John Ambulance Brigade, and Borough Policemen, as well as the Volunteers. (Applause). Since he entered the hall, Lieutenant WRIGHT had given him a number of very simple looking and highly interesting mementoes of the war, viz., cards presented by the Mayor of Capetown to all those who served at the front. (Hear, hear). He was sure the men would value this, not for its intrinsic value, but for the kindness and thoughtfulness which prompted the gift. (Applause). There were sufficient to give to all the men who returned on the steamship Tagus. (Hear, hear).

Mr W. Crowther then read the text of the address, which was similar to the one read in the Market Place upon the arrival of the Volunteers. The addresses were beautifully illuminated, and at the side appeared the names of the various engagements in which the men had taken part.

The Mayor said he desired to publicly thank Mr Hamilton for his kind gift of photographs, and he incidentally mentioned, in answer to certain letters in the newspapers, that he hoped the peace rejoicings in Derby would be on a very extensive scale, and that the town would be able to welcome every Derby man who had seen service at the front in any capacity. (Applause).

The Mayor, who was loudly applauded on rising, said: Gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to offer for your acceptance the toast of “Our Guests”, whom we heartily welcome here tonight. (Applause). Nothing that may be said or done here tonight can possibly equal the magnificent welcome given to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Active Service Section of the Sherwood Foresters, Derbyshire Regiment, on their return home on Monday week, although we are delighted to have them with us tonight, and trust they will always have pleasant recollections of tonight’s proceedings. (Applause). As the Mayor of this good old town of Derby, I did my best – (applause) – to make the welcome home by the Corporation as hearty and complete as possible, and the inhabitants of the town loyally did their best to assist [illegible] (Applause). I take this first public opportunity of thanking my fellow townsmen for responding so splendidly to my appeal to “hang their banners on the outward walls”. (Applause). I feel grateful for this ready response, for I believe that every scrap of bunting in the possession of the people at large was brought into requisition; and one noticeable feature was the fact that not merely in the principal thoroughfares through which our returning heroes passed, but in side streets quite remote from the line of procession, the people made every display in their power. (Applause). This, to my mind, is a convincing proof of the genuine love and esteem which every section of the community feels towards these brave Volunteers who so eagerly responded to their country’s call. (Applause). I should like here to refer for one moment to our enemies abroad, and those much more dangerous enemies at home, who for some time past have been complaining that we are making too much display towards our gallant defenders, and that it is a sign of our decadence as a nation that we pay so much tribute to men, who, after all, have only done their duty. Gentlemen, I differ entirely from this doctrine – (applause) – for it is not a mere perfunctory performance of duty that the nation has witnessed during this unhappy struggle in South Africa. (Hear, hear). What we have been witnessing, and what has earned our fullest gratitude, is the enthusiastic manner in which the members of our Regular and Auxiliary Forces have cast aside every consideration of self, and have eagerly risked everything that is dear to them in the shape of their homes, their families, and their lives, and cheerfully borne the greatest hardship and dangers in defence of their King and their country. (Loud applause). Gentlemen, it is an insult to our intelligence to tell us that this war meant nothing but the aggrandizement of interested capitalists. (Applause). It is absolutely untrue. (Renewed applause). Our position as an Imperial Power was distinctly threatened, and we have only to read the articles which appeared in foreign newspapers at the time when our position in South Africa was so critical, to understand what mischief was intended for us had we been soundly defeated. (Hear, hear). But, gentlemen, “when night was darkest, dawn was nearest”, and it was the sense of imminent danger which roused the manhood of our Empire, and brought eager Volunteers from every portion of the globe where the British flag is flying; and we are proud to know that our Derbyshire Volunteers and Yeomen were amongst the very first to volunteer for the front, and I contend that we are only giving honour where honour is due, by doing everything in our power to show our gratitude and respect for our guests of tonight. (Applause). …….

……. Gentlemen, I ask you to drink to the health, long life, and happiness of our guests, and I will ask Captain NEWBOLD and Lieutenant WRIGHT to respond for the Active Service Section of the Volunteers, Colonel Chandos-Pole on behalf of the Yeomanry, Dr Cassidi on behalf of the St John Ambulance Corps, and the Chief Constable on behalf of the Derby Borough Police. (Applause).