Medals and awards

DONCASTER VOLUNTEERS AND THE WAR.

Municipal Honours for the Men.

A special meeting of the Doncaster Town Council was held yesterday for the purpose of conferring the honorary freedom of the borough upon the twenty residents of the town who have served in South Africa as Volunteers. At the same time a gold token or medal was given to each man, which bore on one side the arms of the Corporation in enamel, and the motto “Comfort et liesse”, with the words “South African War 1900-01”. The freedom of the borough was inscribed on parchment, and enclosed in a leather case.

The Mayor (Councillor Windle) presided and among those present were Aldermen Wainwright, Pawson, Abbott, Councillors Armitage, Brightmore, Mainwaring, Dowson, Ellis, Halmshaw, Spencer, Bennett, Wightman, Tovey Gyles, Smith, and Robinson, the Town Clerk (Mr T.B. Sugden), the borough Steward (Mr Anclay), the borough Surveyor (Mr W.H. Crabtree), the Medical Officer (Dr Techmere Anderson), and the borough Accountant (Mr H.C. Thornsby).

There were also present the Mayoress (Mrs Windle), Mrs A. Foulston, Mrs Sugden, Lieut.-Col. Lewis, Majors Somerville and Crawshaw, Capt. Essell, Adjutant of the 2nd V.B. York and Lancaster Regiment, and others.

The Mayor proposed the following resolution –

That in accordance with the resolution of the Town Council passed on the 1st day of January, 1901, the honorary freedom of this borough be conferred on the persons whose names are hereunder set forth, under the provisions of the Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act, 1885, for the following services, to wit – that they, being resident in the said borough, did volunteer to serve in South Africa, and did there undertake the perils and privations of warfare on behalf of their native land. And further that upon each of the said persons taking the usual ancient and customary oath of the a freeman he be presented with a certificate of admission under the common seal of the Town Council, in the form set forth in the certificate now produced –

James Charles AUSTIN, Sydney James BARTON, Arthur William Halliwell BISHOP, Fred Stanley BRIGHTMORE, George Alfred Ramsden COLDBECK, Ellis CRAPPER, John DAWSON, jun., George Thomas EBBLEWHITE, Robert FLOWITT, John FOSTER, Charles HOPKIN, Frank HOPKINSON, George William HOPKINSON, Ernest Ingram JACKSON, Charles LANGFIELD, Evan David LONG, Walter OVERSON, William OVERSON, Albert RICHMOND, Harry SMITH, Richard STEPHENSON, and Henry WHITLEY.

Councillor Robinson, in seconding, said he had seconded many resolutions during his ten or eleven years’ connection with the Doncaster Corporation, but he never did so with greater pleasure than he did on that occasion. It was possible that when those gentlemen volunteered so willingly to go to the war in those dark days when things looked gloomy they did not realise what they had undertaken, but they had gone through it, and he was thankful that they had them there with them that day. The Mayor and committee had done their level best to carry this matter out, and had met to confer the freedom of the borough upon them, and they all believed they richly deserved the honour. (Applause).

Councillor Spencer said that having taken some part in the movement he felt that he could not let the opportunity pass without saying a few words. He believed that in the dark days nearly three years ago those men took their lives in their hands for the sake of their then Queen and country, and they were pleased to see so many present that day. He understood that a few had gone back to the front, and he hoped that they would come home again and have the freedom of the borough conferred upon them in the same way, and be able to hand it down to generations to come. (Applause).

The Mayor, in handing the medals to the recipients, said the parchment was of no intrinsic value in itself, but it would remind them of days when they left these shores to serve their country, and it would also show that the Volunteer force of the country had to be reckoned with. (Hear, hear). He added that he hoped they would wear the medals for many years to come.

COMPLIMENT TO A RESERVIST.

The TOWN CLERK read a letter which the Mayor had received from the Town Clerk of Doncaster, pointing out that the Corporation had resolved to confer upon all persons who, residing in that borough, volunteered for active service in South Africa and actually served, the freedom of the borough, together with a gold token. One of the persons who qualified for these honours was a man named James Charles AUSTIN, who formerly resided at Doncaster, but has since taken up residence at 37 Julian Street, South Shields, and the Corporation of Doncaster asked the Mayor of South Shields on their behalf to make the presentation to AUSTIN for them.

The MAYOR said he had very readily complied with the suggestion, and at his request the young man AUSTIN was present that night in order that the presentation might be made as public as possible. (Applause).

AUSTIN was thereupon admitted to the Council Chamber and received a warm reception from all who were present.

PRESENTATION TO A YEOMAN.

A rather interesting ceremony then took place. The Mayor having announced that they had completed the business of the Council, said he was about to perform a duty which was distinctly pleasing. It would seem that a Swindonian some time ago removed to the town of Doncaster, and he with many others of that town volunteered for active service in South Africa. On his return to England, instead of taking up his residence again in Doncaster, he came back to what was his native town – Swindon. It appeared that the Corporation of Doncaster had resolved on the return of these brave fellows from the Front to offer them, first, the freedom of the Borough, and, secondly, present each man with a gold medal. This particular Yeoman, Mr C.H. WITTS, had written to the Mayor of Doncaster, saying it was inconvenient for him to go to Doncaster to receive the freedom of the Borough, although he (the Mayor of Swindon) wished Mr WITTS could have seen his way clear to have done so, so it was a great honour to receive the freedom of the borough. The Mayor of Doncaster had written to him (Ald. Morse) asking him to present the gold medal to Mr WITTS, and he gladly complied with the request.

The Mayor then called upon Mr WITTS, and, in handing him the medal, said he hoped he would soon receive the freedom of the Borough of Doncaster.

Mr WITTS, who served in the 100th Yorks Yeomanry, accepted the medal, thanking the Mayor as he did so. The medal bore the inscription – “C.H. Witts, from the Corporation of Doncaster”, and on the reverse – “Comfort et liesse – South Africa, 1900-01”.

APPOINTMENT OF HON. FREEMEN.

DONCASTER TOWN COUNCIL.

FREEDOM OF THE TOWN FOR THE WARRIORS.

The adjourned meeting of the Doncaster Town Council was held in the Guild Hall, yesterday. The meeting was held in the large hall, instead of in the Council Chamber, and the Mayor (Councillor Robinson) presided.

VOLUNTEERS AND YEOMEN MADE FREEMEN.

The first business was to confer the honorary freedom of the borough on Volunteers and Yeomen who have served in South Africa. The following came forward, and were sworn in, and made freemen of the borough –

Charles Herbert ADDINALL, John Richards ADDINALL, Walter ANDERSON, Martin ANSBRO, Ernest Edwin BAKER, William BATE, John William BEAVIS, William BODLEY, George Henry BOOTH, George BROCK, John Thomas Bates BROWN, William BURTON, George BUTLER, James Morris BUTTERFIELD, William CHAMPNEY, George CHANT, Albert Edward CHAPMAN, John Wilson CHARLESWORTH, Arthur Edward CLARKE, Tom CLARK, James Herbert COBB, George Harry COOPER, Robert CROSS, Harry CUNNINGHAM, Westmoreland CURTIS, George DALE, Charles William DAY, Richard Bingham DEIGHTON, John FLANIGAN, Thomas FLYNN, Edward FULLER, Alfred Ernest GABBITUS, Arthur GEE, Arthur GRINDLE, Albert Edward HALL, Abner HANSON, Albert HANSON, Robert Holley HARPER, Jos. HYDE, Arthur JOHNSON, Charles JOY, Fred Hamilton JOHNSON, William Henry LEVITT, Albert MARSH, A.J. MASON, Robert Henry MEANWELL, Ernest MORTON, George MYERS, John NETTLESHIP, Alfred OVERSON, Benjamin PARKIN, William RAYNER, Edmund RENDER, George Frederick RICHARDSON, Charles Henry RILEY, Arthur James RUNDELL, Alfred RYALL, Harry SANDERSON, Evelyn Charles SCOTT, Thomas William SCRIVENS, Arthur SCULTHORPE, George William SEWELL, John Henry SHEPHERD, Edwin SHILLITO, Ambrose SIMPSON, William SIMPSON, Joseph SPINK, John Edward STEVENSON, Edward John STUART, Franklin SUTTON, Henry SWABY, Christopher THOMPSON, C.L. THOMPSON, Henry TROLLOPE, George William TYE, William Arthur WALTON, William Thomas WASLEY, William Henry WEBB, Fred WILLCOCK, Thomas WILLIAMS, Arthur WINCH, Arthur WOODCOCK, Tom WOODIWISS.

Each one was sworn to be true and faithful to our Sovereign the King, and to keep all such laws and rules as shall be established by the Mayor and Council.

DONCASTER TOWN COUNCIL.

An adjourned meeting of the Doncaster Town Council was held at the Guild Hall yesterday, the Mayor (Councillor J.T. Spencer) presiding.

The Freedom of the Borough.

DONCASTER TOWN COUNCIL.

The quarterly meeting of the Doncaster Town Council was held yesterday, the Mayor (Councillor J.T. Spencer) presiding.

The Freedom of the Borough.