State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 28/02/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, suitably inscribed, to:
RETURN OF PRIVATE WINSOR.
A RAPTUROUS AND ALL-ROUND WELCOME.
Private C. WINSOR, the second of Eaglehawk's representatives, and the last to return of the first Victorian contingent, arrived in Eaglehawk by the 8.50 train last night. People turned out in thousands to welcome him. Without doubt, the crowd was amongst the largest that has ever been seen in Eaglehawk. The mayor (Cr. Loudon), the Hon. H.R Williams, several of the councillors and representatives of the A.N.A., the borough band, F. Company Victorian Rangers, and fire brigade awaited him at the station. The crush was enormous, and the police had their work cut out to make a passage from the train. After Private WINSOR had been formally welcomed, a procession was formed, the band struck up a lively military march. A halt was made at the council's temporary offices, [illegible] High Street.
After the burst of spontaneous cheering had subsided, the mayor said — We have assembled here to perform a very pleasing function, to welcome home our warrior from South Africa. When the late Queen wanted soldiers to fight her battles in South Africa the young Australians nobly responded to the call, and our young soldier, Private WINSOR, was in the first flight of recruits that went to the front. (Cheers). He has, I believe, performed gallantly the task he took in hand, and that was a very difficult one. I am glad to see he has returned to us safe and sound. (Hear, hear). I hope he might live long to enjoy the honor he has earned, I am sure you will, as well as myself, be heartily glad to see him home. I feel as proud to take his hand as though it were the hand of King Edward VII. (Loud cheers).
Mr J. Smalley, ex-president of the Eaglehawk branch of the A.N.A., said that, on behalf of the society of which their esteemed soldier was a member, he wished to welcome him back to his native heath. They hoped the A.N.A. had many more Private WINSORs. (A voice: “Any amount”). It was the intention of the branch, at its next meeting, to make a presentation to him of a gold medal. (Applause). He might also announce for Private WINSOR’s information that the board of directors had kept him good on the books, and paid all his dues. In this respect he was glad to see the A.N.A. was not peculiar amongst friendly societies. (Hear, hear). They were pleased now to have him return in perfect health after having served the longest term of any Bendigo soldier in the war.
Captain Curtain said he was very pleased, on behalf of the regiment and himself, to welcome home Private WINSOR. (Cheers). Before he left he was considered an ideal soldier, and he had acquitted himself well in South Africa. He had had some difficulty in getting away, but if he returned he would at once be given his place in the field. (Hear).
Mr H.R. Williams, M.L.A., endorsed the remarks of the preceding speakers. Everyone, he said, had watched the career of Private WINSOR, and looked for every incident in which he figured. They all felt proud they had such a man. When they heard of his gallant conduct in carrying a wounded comrade safely out of the fire, they exclaimed, “Bravo, WINSOR, may God help you to perform many such deeds of valor”. (Cheers). They had learned that Australia’s sons could face the fire with the same cold blood as their forefathers, and this in one of the most arduous and trying wars Great Britain ever had in hand. (Applause).
EAGLEHAWK.
At tonight’s meeting of the Eaglehawk branch A.N.A., a gold medal will be presented to Private WINDSOR, of the First Victorian Contingent. After the business the branch Dramatic Club will play a comedy, entitled “Deaf as a Post”.
