State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 13/12/1900
Number issued: 10
Gold Maltese crosses, to:
Special Service Officer –
Major George Jamieson JOHNSTON
1st Victorian Infantry Company [1st Victorian Contingent] –
Lieutenant Albert Patrick AHERN (formerly 120 Private A. Ahern)
35 Priavte Thomas BLUNDEN
6 Private Alfred Sydney GIBBONS
17 Private Albert William MILNE
41 Private Alfred PETTIT
38 Private John Philip RYAN
29 Private Edward George SOMERVILLE
42 Private George Mountford WRIGHT
Brabant's Horse –
???? Sergeant BROWN
Presentation made by the Mayor (Councillor A. Wheeler), at the Cricket Ground, Fitzroy, Melbourne.
Obverse: "City of Fitzroy".
Reverse: "Presented by the citizens to -----------------, in grateful recognition of services rendered in S. African War, 1900. Cr. A Wheeler, Mayor".
"The medal was in the form of a Maltese Cross, surrounded with a laurel wreath, and surmounted by a crown".
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Melbourne Argus, 4th December 1900
SUBURBAN WELCOMES.
A meeting of councillors and citizens, convened by Councillor Wheeler, the mayor of Fitzroy, for the purpose of taking some action to welcome the six citizens who are amongst the Victorian troops which will arrive today, was held in the mayor’s room last night, at the conclusion of the meeting of the Fitzroy Council. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that the welcome should take the form of a moonlight concert on the local cricket-ground next week, on an evening to be fixed, and the six Fitzroy soldiers are to be each presented with a gold medal.
Melbourne Age, 10th December 1900
FITZROY.
The returned soldiers, residents of Fitzroy, will be tendered a citizens' welcome on Thursday evening next. At 7 o'clock, the mayor, councillors and committee of residents will receive the warriors at the town hall. At 7.30, a pro cession will be formed, in which the band, and it is hoped many members of the 2nd Battalion, will take part, and will go down Brunswick Street to the Fitzroy cricket ground, where an entertainment will be held in honour of the men, and each will be presented with a gold medal as a token of the grateful appreciation in which their services are held by their fellow citizens.
Fitzroy City Press, 14th December 1900
CITIZENS’ WELCOME TO RETURNED SOLDIERS.
The citizen soldiers of Fitzroy, who have upheld the credit of this city in South Africa, and have recently returned, were accorded a public welcome on Thursday evening, by their fellow citizens and Councillors. They were first received by the Mayor, Councillors and Citizens' Committee at the Town Hall, where an adjournment was made to the Mayor's Room. The Mayor (Cr. Wheeler) proposed the health of the returned soldiers, including Major G.J. JOHNSTON, Lieutenant A. AHERN, and Privates T. BLUNDEN, A. GIBBONS, A.W. MILNE, A. PETTIT, J.T.[sic] RYAN, E.A.[sic] SOMERVILLE, G.M. WRIGHT. Sergeant BROWN, of Brabant's Horse, an old Fitzroy citizen, was also present, and was included in those to whom a presentation was made at a later stage.
The Mayor in proposing the toast referred In very complimentary terms to the excellent work done by the colonial troops in South Africa, and to the splendid service rendered to the Empire by them, not only on the field of battle, but in federating the sentiments and feelings of the whole race.
Mr R.R. Best, M.L.A., also added a glowing tribute of praise, after which Cr. Barr and Mr Magnus were also called upon for a few words, and joined in voicing the feelings of the citizens.
The toast was drunk with musical honours, and was responded to by Lieutenant AHERN, who assured his hearers that the Australians had always endeavoured to uphold on the battlefield the best traditions of the race. Before going to South Africa he was proud of being a Britisher. After his experience there with his comrades, he was prouder still of being an Australian. He and all the returned soldiers appreciated very greatly the kindness shown to them since their return, and felt very grateful for the welcome and congratulations of their fellow citizens. (Cheers).
The soldiers, councillors and committee then entered drags, and headed by the 2nd Battalion Band and a detachment of the V.M.R. proceeded along Brunswick street to the Cricket-ground. There the band gave an attractive performance, and the Cornish Choral Society sang a number of glees, part songs and choruses in a highly satisfactory manner. The programme was arranged by Cr. McNalr. Chairman of the Out-door Concert Committee. During an interval, the Mayor, on behalf of the citizens, presented each of the returned soldiers with a gold medal suitably inscribed, as a memento of the occasion. The medal was in the form of a Maltese Cross, surrounded with a laurel wreath, and surmounted by a crown. On the front was inscribed, "City of Fitzroy", and on the reverse, "Presented by the citizens to -----------------, in grateful recognition of services rendered in S. African War, 1900. Cr. A Wheeler, Mayor". There were between 6000 and 7000 people present at the concert, and thousands lined the streets during the procession.
