County: Ross-shire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 24/08/1901
Number issued: 13
Silver medals, to:
7079 Private Donald MUNRO
Volunteer Active Service Company, Seaforth Highlanders [Brahan Company, 1st V.B.S.H.] –
Each medal inscribed with the recipient's name.
Described as having been "subscribed for by the County".
There were two presentations, both on 24/08/1901.
Presentation of Medals at Dingwall.
The Returned Volunteers.
A largely attended meeting of the Dingwall Company, Seaforth Highlanders, took place in the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening, when the men who have just returned from active service were presented with silver medals, subscribed for by the County, in recognition of the part they had taken in the war. Captain J.M. Duncan presided, and Lieut. Lemon was present.
Captain Duncan, in making the presentation, said – Brother Volunteers, we are met here on a very pleasant occasion, and for the first time all together since the home-coming of the men of the Service Company after their hardships at the front. In addressing you, the men of the Service Company, I may say that when the dark cloud broke over the British Empire you, among others, volunteered your services for the front. Your country was proud of you, and is proud of you still, for the noble, manly way you conducted yourselves at the front. (Applause). Even our great General, Lord Roberts, said the volunteers were quite equal to the men of the regular forces. (Cheers). By your action, you have raised the Volunteer force in the estimation of the public to such a height as has never been reached before – (applause) – and the Volunteers of today will never be laughed at, or smiled at, as they used to, or called merely feather bed soldiers. (Applause). You have shown by your noble example that you are quite able and ready to take the field and acquit yourselves like men. (Applause). When you returned to your native town your fellow-countrymen and your own townspeople showed, by the reception they gave you, how proud they were of you, and I am sure you must have felt that day, when you arrived at Dingwall, that the reception was really from the very bottom of the people’s hearts. They welcomed you back, and we were all pleased to see you safe and in health once again. (Applause). The Town Council of Dingwall were very anxious to commemorate this occasion, and they have had a medal struck to be presented to each man of the Battalion who went to the front, and to you, as members of the Dingwall Company, of which I have the honour to be Captain. The Council asked me to present you with the medals in memory of your gallant services. The medal is a very pretty one, and the name of each man is inscribed on the back of it. It will be an heirloom to hand down to generations yet to come, and to the children that are to follow. (Laughter and applause). You left comfortable homes and good situations to go and fight the battles of your country, and your late beloved Queen, and now that you have returned, we welcome you back to our midst, and trust that you all have successful and happy careers before you. (Loud applause).
Captain Duncan then presented the medals. The recipients were Sergeant C.J. MACKENZIE, Sergeant Hugh ROSS, Drummer E. STENHOUSE, and Privates Donald MUNRO, D. MENZIES, and J. MACLENNAN. D. MACLEOD and A. FRASER were not present, and their medals will be sent to them.
Captain Duncan also presented each man with an illuminated address from the Mayor of Cape Town.
Sergeant-Major Strachan and Mr A. Macbeath also welcomed the men back.
Sergeant C.J. MACKENZIE, in responding on behalf of his comrades-in-arms, said they did not know how to thank the Provost and Town Council, and people of Dingwall, for the reception which they gave the men of the Service Company on their return from South Africa. It was a reception which they did not deserve. (“No, no”). He felt himself that it was handsome recompense – more than they had any right to. Speaking of how the Volunteers came to go out he said that it was during that dark week in which occurred the disastrous fights at Magersfontein, Stormberg, and the Tugela, the Volunteers were called upon. Had Magersfontein, Stormberg, and the Tugela been victories instead of repulses he was sure that nine Volunteers would not have volunteered for the front from Ross-shire, let alone Dingwall. It was because they felt their country’s need they came forward in such large numbers. (Applause). On behalf of his comrades be begged to return thanks to those who prepared such a cheering reception for them on their home-coming, to the Town Council for having given them medals, and to Captain Duncan for presenting them, and for his kindly and feeling remarks in doing so. (Cheers). He and his comrades were pleased, on their return, to see Captain Duncan at the head of the Company. (Applause).
ANNUAL SHOOTING COMPETITION AT BRAHAN.
PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.
The annual shooting competition of the Brahan Company of Volunteers, which had been postponed from Saturday, 10th August, owing to the wet and unfavourable weather, took place at the Brahan ranges on Saturday. …….
