Golborne medal (left) and Ashton-in-Makerfield medal (right)
County: Lancashire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 00/06/1901
Number issued: 4
Gold medals and illuminated addresses, to:
32nd (Lancashire) Company, 2nd Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
8968 Lance-Corporal Joseph HILL (absent - due to injuries)
8970 Trooper Samuel William BOARDMAN
8969 Trooper Lauchlan RAMSEY [Ramsay]
8967 Trooper Martin FEARICK (absent - in S. Africa, serving with the S.A.C.)
Presentation made by Squadron Sergeant-Major Abbott, at Parkside Mills School.
Obverse with Royal Arms surmounted by a crown (in enamels) and crossed rifles: "SOUTH / AFRICAN WAR / 1900-1901".
Reverse: "Presented / To / [SAMUEL WILLIAM BOARDMAN] / BY THE TOWNSPEOPLE / OF GOLBORNE / for / Voluntary Services / rendered at the Front".
Note: this medal is identical to the ones given to Ashton-in-Makerfield men. Golborne and Ashton-in-Makerfield are 3 miles apart.
Details provided by Paul Dunn & Roger Watt
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Leigh Chronicle, 21st June 1901
WELCOME TO THE YEOMANRY OF GOLBORNE.
Though a rousing welcome was given to Privates L. RAMSAY and BOARDMAN on Sunday and Monday evenings last week it was considered somewhat unofficial. Mr Entwistle, of High Street, Golborne, called Mr Bennie’s attention to the fact that the men were on their way home a few weeks ago, and suggested that a town’s welcome be arranged. This matter was brought before the War Relief Fund Committee, and it was resolved to give these men a worthy welcome. The committee appointed a special committee to work the affair consisting of Dr Worsley, Messrs A. Caunce, R.L. Pennington, W. Entwistle, T. Gregory, T. Molyneux, and C.S. Bennie. Subscription books were put out, and a considerable sum of money was raised, and the committee decided to present each of the four men who had left Golborne as Imperial Yeomen a gold medal and an illuminated address. Saturday was the day chosen on which to welcome and recognise the patriotism of Privates L. RAMSAY and S. BOARDMAN. Corporal HILL has not yet arrived, he having received severe injuries in one of the engagements, and Private FEARICK has decided at present to stay in South Africa, and has joined Baden-Powell’s Police. A public tea was partaken of at the Parkside Mills School, and about 250 sat down. The tables were gaily decorated, and flags and banners festooned the room. The ladies presiding at the tables were Mesdames Ashurst, T. Molyneux, Whiteside, Cartwright, J. Glover, T. Halliday, Gregory, Pennington, Dobb, John Unsworth, Joseph Unsworth, S. Killborn, Honderwood, Abbott, Crouchley, C. Hall, Misses Kenyon, Camm (2), Spencer, and Foster. The guests, Privates RAMSAY and BOARDMAN, were not alone in the welcome, several of their comrades on the veldt wishing to honour them also. These included Privates Peter DUXBURY and John BARTON (Ashton), Sergeant LAWRENCE (Ince), and Trumpeter KARCLICK. Mr S.S. Brown, J.P., C.A., and Dr Worsley were both unable to attend through family bereavements, and Col. R. Pilkington, M.P., who was invited to attend, was also an absentee. He wrote – “I should have been very glad indeed to have been present at the welcome you are to accord to your townsmen who are coming back from South Africa. I hope you will have a very pleasant evening, but I regret very much that it is quite impossible for me to be present. I beg to enclose a cheque of £2 2s towards giving them a good welcome home”. Those on the platform were Councillors S. Spencer, P.L. Pennington, J. Abbott (in his full-dress uniform as squadron sergeant-major), and J. Robinson, Dr Dobb, Messrs T. Molyneux, T. Gregory, A. Bennie, A. Caunce, R.J. Davenport and T. Statter, and among those in audience were Councillors G. Prescott, Joseph Unsworth and J. Cartwright. Councillor S. Spencer occupied the chair. He apologised for the absence of Mr S.S. Brown, Dr Worsley and Col. Pilkington, M.P. They had met to welcome the gallant and brave soldiers who had just returned from South Africa. (Hear, hear, and applause). That evening was the first time he had seen them since their return, and he was glad to see them so well. He called on Squadron Sergeant-Major Abbott to make the presentations. Mr Abbott, who had a splendid reception, said through the absence of other gentlemen it devolved on him that night to make the presentation. If the other gentlemen were not present, their hearts were in the right place. (Applause). He was pleased to make the presentation to the lads. He had had them in his barn on Sunday when they ought to have been at church. (Loud laughter). They had sent four out but only two had returned. They hoped before long to welcome them (Applause). He had much pleasure in presenting them with the addresses and the medals. The medals bore the names of the men, and “Presented to (name), by the townspeople of Golborne for voluntary services rendered at the front, 1900-1901”. Mr C.S. Bennie read the congratulatory address to each man upon his brave conduct and safe return. The addresses bore the Council seal, and were signed by Mr S.S. Brown, the chairman of the Council, and Mr C.S. Bennie, the clerk to the Council. On coming to the platform to receive the townspeople’s tokens of appreciation, the two heroes were greeted with rounds of applause during which the medals were pinned on to their khaki coats. Both men were very much against making a reply, one saying he had only come on the condition there was to be no speech, adding he would rather do two days fighting than make a speech. – Private RAMSAY, however, replied. He said his comrades were jolly good fellows; nobody could deny it. If they did, they told a lie. (Applause). Of course, he was glad to be back among his friends. He had been surprised at the way they had received them. They must have gone to a lot of inconvenience. He had only done what he would do again if needed. (Rounds of applause). He would take care of the medal and address as long as he lived. He thanked them all. (Applause). – Private Samuel BOARDMAN, the other here, thanked the people for the presents. RAMSAY had said all that needed to be said. (Applause). – The four men who had returned from the front then took seats on the platform. A musical programme followed, Mrs Mapei accompanying. – Votes of thanks to the artists, the ladies at the tables, and those who waited at the tables, and to the chairman were carried, and the National Anthem concluded the proceedings.
