County: Forfarshire
Issued on: Departure
Dates of presentations: 27/01/1900, 09/03/1901, 28/02/1902
Number issued: 3
Gold badges, to:
27/01/1900 presentation
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) ["M" Company, 2nd V.B.R.H.] –
7620 Private George FORBES
Presentation made by Mr D.D. Beaton, in the Armoury, Friockheim.
09/03/1901 presentation
2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) ["M" Company, 2nd V.B.R.H.] –
8950 Private Robert DONALDSON
Presentation made by Mr D.D. Beaton, in the Armoury, Friockheim.
28/02/1902 presentation
3rd Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) ["M" Company, 2nd V.B.R.H.] –
9109 Private George JOINER [Joiners]
Presentation made by Colonel Rait, in the Masonic Hall, Friockheim.
Inscribed (Dundee Evening Post): "Presented to Private George Forbes in recognition of his services in volunteering for active service in South Africa – 27th January, 1900".
Inscribed (Arbroath herald): "Presented to Private George Forbes on the occasion of his volunteering for active service in South Africa – 27th January, 1900".
Private George Forbes (Muster Roll of Angus, p. 158)
Montrose Review, 27/12/1901
Dundee Courier, 01/03/1902
Muster Roll of Angus, 1900, p. 158
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Dundee Courier, 29th January 1900
PRESENTATION AT FRIOCKHEIM.
On Saturday the villagers and members of M Company met in the Armoury to present gifts to Private George FORBES, who is going to the front. There was a very large turnout, and Major Buyers presided. He remarked on the gallant spirit displayed by Private FORBES, and called on Mr D.D. Beaton, who presented Private FORBES with a handsome gold badge bearing the inscription – “Presented to Private George Forbes in recognition of his services in volunteering for active service in South Africa. – 27th January, 1900”, and also with a purse of sovereigns. The Rev. P.A. Andrew also made a few encouraging remarks. Major Buyers took the opportunity at the close of the meeting to press upon those who were not volunteers the desirableness of joining the ranks of the citizen soldiers.
Arbroath Herald, 1st February 1900
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE FRONT.
PRESENTATION OF FAREWELL GIFTS.
A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Friockheim armoury, to present Private George FORBES, the remaining member of the four [Privates George BRUCE, John CHAMBERS & David DORWARD received gifts from Letham] who have been accepted for active service from the Friockheim Company, with a token of his fellow-villagers’ appreciation of his manly action. Major Buyers occupied the chair. Mr D.D. Beaton, in handing over the gift, which consisted of a gold badge and a purse of sovereigns, said they might all take a lesson from the spirit displayed by the volunteers during recent weeks. Private FORBES replied.
The gold badge bears the following inscription – “Presented to Private George Forbes on the occasion of his volunteering for active service in South Africa – 27th January, 1900”.
Rev. P.A. Andrew, in response to a call from the Chairman, expressed his pleasure at being present on so interesting an occasion. Major Buyers, after thanking Mr Beaton for making the presentation, said he was anxious to keep up the strength of his company, and he hoped that the vacant places made by their members just leaving them would not only be filled up at once, but that the roll of the membership would be largely increased. They should have a company of at least 90 or 100 members in Friockheim, and he trusted that number would soon be reached. On the motion of Mr John Davidson, a vote of thanks was accorded to Major Buyers. The proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.
Arbroath Herald, 14th March 1901
OFF TO THE FRONT. – Private Robert DONALDSON, a member of the Friockheim Volunteer corps, who, some time ago, offered himself for active service in the war in South Africa, and who leaves with the Black Watch contingent for the front this week, had a most enthusiastic send-off from Friockheim on Saturday. At six p.m. a large assemblage of the volunteers and friends of Private DONALDSON met in the Armoury, where an interesting ceremony took place. Sergt.-Instructor Grahame, in the unavoidable absence of Major Buyers, was director of ceremonies, and on his motion sergeant Robert Innes was called to the chair. Mr Beaton presented Private DONALDSON, in the name of the villagers of Friockheim, with a gold medal and purse of money, and with a Bible as a gift from himself. Sergt. Grahame, having set the company in order, the pipers struck up a merry marching tune, and the large crowd, with Private DONALDSON at its head, wended its way to the station by Millgate, Middlegate, and Gardyne Street, meeting with enthusiastic cheers all along the route. The large gathering on the platform, while awaiting the train, sang “Will ye no come back again?” and “Auld Lang Syne”.
Dundee Courier, 23rd December 1901 (almost certainly refers to the QSA rather than the Friockheim medal; therefore omitted from list of recipients)
FRIOCKHEIM.
Volunteers. – The annual meeting of M Company of the 2nd V.B.R.H. took place on Saturday evening in the Armoury – Major Buyers presiding. …….
……. Major Buyers then presented Private J. CHALMERS with his medal for service in South Africa. Private CHALMERS was one of the first volunteer contingent who went to South Africa and after going through the campaign returned this year.
Dundee Evening Telegraph, 1st March 1902
FRIOCKHEIM VOLUNTEERS HONOURED.
A function of an interesting nature took place in Friockheim last night, when Major BUYERS of Easter Braikie, who has for a number of years been a prominent officer in the 2nd V.B.R.H., and whose services have been accepted for the front, along with Private George JOINERS, who is also a member of M (Friockheim) Company of the 2nd V.B.R.H., were made the recipients of handsome presents prior to their departure for South Africa. The gathering to do honour to Major BUYERS and to Private JOINERS took place in the Masonic Hall, Friockheim, and there was a large attendance. Mr D.D. Beaton presided …….
……. The Chairman said he had enjoyed the friendship of Major BUYERS for upwards of 20 years, while in Private JOINERS they had one more of their sturdy sons from the village who had volunteered to face the enemy at the front. (Applause). Both were men of real Scottish grit, which made siccar with anything to which they put their hands. (Applause). Colonel Rait, in name of a large number of subscribers, presented Major BUYERS with a handsome pair of field glasses and a case of silver-mounted pipes, Private JOINERS receiving at the same time a gold pendant, a silver-mounted pipe, and a purse with sovereigns. The articles were suitably inscribed, and on their being handed over cordial applause greeted each of the recipients. Major BUYERS returned thanks in appropriate terms, and Private JOINERS also replied. Major Millar also spoke. Subsequently copies of the Bible were presented to Major BUYERS and Private JOINERS by Mr Beaton. Rev. Mr McMaster addressed the meeting, and songs were rendered by Mr David Carr and Mr Lindsay Carnegie Beaton. Miss Eva Ferrier rendered accompaniments on the piano. The proceedings were marked with much enthusiasm and cordiality.
