State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 21/08/1901, 07/06/1902, 16/08/1902
Number issued: 3
21/08/1901 presentation
494 Trooper Charles Alexander TELFORD
07/06/1902 presentation
1687 Private John Joseph McCLYMONT
16/08/1902 presentation
209 Lance-Corporal David DOBSON
In December 1901, a medal was sent to Councillor G.A. Gordon, of Alexandra, to be presented to Corporal Dobson there.
Reverse: "Presented to Trooper C.A. Telford by the residents of Elmore and district. — 12/7/01".
Instead of gold medals, Elmore had given "silver cups, elaborately inscribed" to the first four returned soldiers.
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 16/01/1901
Number issued: 4
Silver cups, to:
16/01/1901 presentation
59 Trooper Henry Devine McLAY
348 Trooper Daniel SHEEHAN
Presentation made by Mr J. McLoskey, in the Athenaeum Hall, Elmore.
Inscribed: "Presented to [Trooper Butcher] by the residents of Elmore and district on his return from the war".
HONORING RETURNED SOLDIERS.
Elmore, 18th January.
BACK PROM THE WAR.
WELCOME AT ELMORE.
Elmore, 22nd August.
A very enthusiastic gathering assembled at the Coffee Palace last evening, when a presentation was made to Trooper C.A. TELFORD, the latest returned soldier. Cr. Butcher occupied the chair, and the gathering was representative of the town and district, and also of the different branches of the military forces. Provision had also been made for a presentation to Corporal DOBSON, of the second contingent, but that officer has just been successful in being re-appointed to the Education department, and has been sent to a school in the North-Eastern district. His trophy (a gold medal) will be forwarded to him. Trooper TELFORD was presented with a similar medal, suitably inscribed, on behalf of the townspeople, and a pair of gold and opal sleeve-links by a few of his companions. The toast list was a lengthy one, and the proceedings were continued to a late hour. During the evening songs, etc., were rendered by Messrs. J. Brooks, A. Oppermann. J. Swift, Jas. Coghlin, J.W. Wilson, F. Green, Cr. Hillman, A. Scott, B.A. Wilson, W. Winter, Jno. Coghlin. Mr W. Winter presided at the piano.Back From Service.
PRESENTATION TO TROOPER TELFORD.
An enthusiastic gathering of representative gentlemen met at the Elmore Coffee Palace on Wednesday evening, 21st inst., for the purpose of witnessing a presentation to Corporal DOBSON and Trooper TELFORD of handsome gold medals from the citizens as a memento of their gallantry in South Africa. Corporal DOBSON, however, was unable to be present. He is one of the few lucky ones who has been re-appointed to his old position in the Education department, a school being found for him in the North-Eastern district. The tables were laid in Host Reynolds' large dining room, and bore a most attractive appearance, the decorative work being carried out by Mrs Myers, Misses Butcher and Reynolds. The chair was occupied by Cr Butcher, who had on his right Trooper TELFORD and Trooper WILSON, of Rochester. Apologies were received for the absence of Mr H. Holmes and Trooper BRADFORD of Rochester.
Right away it may be said that the proceedings were intensely enthusiastic. Admirers, many of them schoolmates, had attended for the purpose of doing honour to "Charlie", and they were determined to carry out that resolution. Given such surroundings, with a chairman not averse to a little latitude, and it will be at once concluded that the proceedings were just about what might be expected from Elmore. The military forces were represented by Capt. Anderson, V.M.R. (vice chairman), and Lieut. Warren, Rangers, an apology being received for the absence of Sergt.-Major Rose, V.M.R., who was away in Melbourne.
The toasts of The King and Governor General, and The Soldiers at the Front having been duly honoured, the Chairman proposed Our Guest in one of those speeches for which he is noted. Cr Butcher can put a lot of pathos into his voice and words when he likes, and on this occasion there was room for all moods and tenses. And as the address went on there were rounds of affirmative applause from the audience.
The toast was drunk with musical honours and cheers which made the lamps rattle and was supported by Lieut. Warren (who made special reference to the work now being done by Sergt. McCLYMONT at the front, for which he had been mentioned in despatches), Troopers Kortum, Butcher, and Wilson, Messrs J. Myers, J. Brooks, and T. Cox, and Capt. Anderson.
The writer has observed that pretty well all the returned soldiers are given to modesty in speech. Anthony Trollope, when describing his experience of Australia, set us down as a nation given to “blow”. Whatever we may be generally in this line, and as a rule we are not in the habit of hiding our virtues, yet the exceptions to the rule come in the cases of the returned soldiers. We have the plain spoken evidence of the correspondents of the world's great newspapers — than whom there are perhaps no more unsparing critics — that we have sent into the field of battle in South Africa some of the finest soldiers the world has ever seen, but it is difficult to draw from these very men any information as to the gallant parts they have played in this memorable struggle. They seem to have entered into a conspiracy of silence. Trooper TELFORD proved no different to the others. He confessed that the Boers “had a great set upon the Australians”, and even admitted that the Boer ladies not infrequently took a pot shot at Australian soldiers, and he remarked that in such circumstances the Australian, perhaps erroneously, came to the conclusion that his presence was not required, and “did a gel[?]”. (Much upon the theory of the man who on being kicked downstairs, informed the other that he “would not come to his blumed old house again”). But it seems that the Boers do not entertain the same dislike to all British regiments. Indeed, some seem to be even popular with the enemy, and, said TELFORD, "When we took the A.I.R. off our shoulders we got on like houses on fire". But we wanted to know how many Boers he had picked off for his own cheek, bow many fowls he had stolen as a weekly average, and several other such matters pertaining strictly to the military side of the trip, and here the guest at once grew reticent — just, too, as we thought we had got him in a communicative mood. However, Trooper TELFORD was both surprised and gratified at the nice things which had been said of him, and notwithstanding our earnest entreaties to go on talking he determinedly sat down.
In addition to the toast, the chairman also presented Trooper TELFORD, on behalf of the citizens of Elmore, with a handsome gold medal, making a few more eulogistic remarks, and Mr J. Small, on the part of a few of his old companions, with a pair of gold sleeve-links, set with opals. The medal (which was a choice piece of work from the establishment of Mr F. Napoli Prescott, of Bendigo), bore the inscription, “Presented to Trooper C.A. Telford by the residents of Elmore and district. — 12/7/01". On the obverse side were the words, "Transvaal War — 1899 1901".
Capt. Anderson took charge of the medal for Corporal DOBSON, many eulogisms being passed upon that officer for both his manly and soldierly qualities.
Trooper WILSON had also a few words to say in favour of Trooper TELFORD, but like the others, he would not say anything about himself, besides admitting that he had been in a “few warm corners”.
Presentation to Corporal Dobson.
Councillor J.A. Gordon has written to the President of the Shire (W. Lade. Esq., J.P.), notifying that gentleman that he has received from the residents of Elwood [sic; Elmore] a medal to be presented to Corporal D. DOBSON, who some time ago returned from South Africa, where he distinguished himself fighting for his countrymen.
Mr Gordon suggests that Mr DOBSON be asked to attend the next meeting of the council, which is fixed for Monday next, and receive the medal. This the president has decided upon, and as there is but little business to transact, ample time will be offered to make the affair a worthy one to the recipient.
Corporal DOBSON, who is a native of this district, comes from a family of highly respected parents, and should be tendered a right loyal reception on Monday next.
BACK FROM THE WAR.
WELCOME HOME AT ELMORE.
Elmore, 9th June.
PRESENTATION TO A RETURNED SOLDIER.
