Medals and awards

The programme for today is as follows: –

Grantham.

Captain R. Fred LEE.

Captain R. Fred LEE sank his rank to serve as a subaltern, and sailed with the first detachment in the early part of 1900, arrived home on Thursday, December 20th 1900. He enjoyed excellent health throughout the campaign until September 17th, when he was compelled to enter the yeomanry hospital at Pretoria, suffering from neutitis – a temporary paralytic seizure on the right side – the effects of sunstroke. After a month’s treatment, he returned to duty for a fortnight, but his health again broke down, and was obliged to re-enter the hospital, from whence he was transferred to the military base hospital, Wynberg. There he remained until November 24th, when he sailed for England, and no one regretted the fact more than himself that he was compelled to leave the seat of war. A most popular officer, and a fellow townsman, he has always been held in the highest esteem by all with whom he has come in contact. In 1897, Jubilee year, Captain LEE carried out the duties of the Mayor of the Borough to the utmost credit.

Corporal Thomas Arthur BAKER.

Corporal Thomas Arthur BAKER, whose parents reside at College Street, his father being a night watchman, met his death whilst fighting in the battle of Nitral’s Nek on July 11th 1900, and he was the only Volunteer belonging to the Lincolnshires who was unfortunately killed in action. He was a most energetic non-commissioned officer, and his death was deeply regretted by his comrades and the people of Grantham generally.

Corporal A.F. MARTIN.

Corporal A.F. MARTIN is the son of Mr William Martin, of Stuart Street, New Somerby, and twenty-three years pf age. By trade he is a turner at Messrs Hornsby’s Works, and for seven years he has served in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Regiment. Corporal MARTIN sailed with the first draft of Lincolnshire Volunteers in February 1900, and acted as orderly to Captain R. Fred LEE, and when the officer was stricken with disease, MARTIN waited upon him at Cape Town until he left for England. The outbreak of the bubonic plague at the Cape necessitated the return of many volunteers and regulars home, and included amongst them was Corporal MARTIN, who arrived home three weeks ago. Corporal MARTIN has never had a day’s illness since leaving for the front, though it is singular that a report circulated that he had died from enteric fever, which caused no small amount of uneasiness amongst Martin’s parents and friends at the time. He was present at the Nitral’s Nek disaster, and after the departure of Captain LEE for home, he made efforts to be allowed to go up country to rejoin his comrades, but without avail.

Bugler F. BURROWS.

No information given.

Private Thomas George ABBOTT.

Private Thomas George ABBOTT is an old Volunteer, and is the son of Mr Thomas Abbott, Timber Merchant, of Gonerby Hill Foot. By trade Private ABBOTT is a basket maker, and was, previous to going to the war, employed at the works of Messrs W.B. Harrison & Sons.

Private William James BARFORD.

Private William James BARFORD was born in June, 1878, and is the son of Mr V.T. Barford, of 10 Elmer Street, and was employed in the drawing office of the firm. For four years he has served in the Volunteers. He, along with four other Volunteers, has passed through the campaign without having suffered a day’s illness.

Private H. CURRY.

No information given.

Private G.W. DEACON.

Private G.W. DEACON is perhaps the oldest member of the Grantham lads returning, and he has always been considered one of the most earnest Volunteers in the Grantham Corps, to which he has belonged for a good number of years. He is of robust disposition, and in letters he has written home to his parents in Dysart Road, he has always evinced his desire to remain with his regiment until the war was completely finished. And he has indeed proved an invaluable servant of his Queen, King, and Country in the hour of need.

Private W.M. EKINS.

No information given.

Private W.H. GOODWIN.

Private W.H. GOODWIN, who returned from South Africa three weeks ago, in consequence of the outbreak of the bubonic plague at Cape Town, where he was then on duty, lives in Dysart Road, and singularly he, together with Corporal MARTIN, has also been reported dead, for a sensational rumour had gained currency that he had been shot for being found asleep on sentry duty. Enquiries happily disproved this statement, and Private GOODWIN is now in best of health, and prepared, should occasion arise, to once more prove his loyalty to his King and country by undertaking any hardship he may be called upon to endure.

Private Charles HAND.

In the second detachment of Lincolnshire Volunteers, which sailed in the “Goth” in May of last year [1900], only two members of the Grantham Corps were included, one of whom only will return. This is Private Charles HAND, aged twenty-one years, and the son of Mrs Hand, of 3 Bluegate, and a moulder by trade. He was not present at the battle of Nitral’s Nek, but joined the regiment at Kroonstad, with which he has remained ever since.

Private Arthur HARE.

Private Arthur HARE returned home from South Africa in October 1900, having been invalided with enteric fever, to which disease he fell a victim in July at Pretoria. His home is at 41 Norton Street. He was present at the occupation of Pretoria, but during the progress of the Nitral’s Nek affair he was in hospital.

Private Alfred HEWERDINE.

Private Alred HEWERDINE celebrated his twenty-second birthday last December, and lives at 18 Welby Street, and by trade he is a brass finisher. He was the only volunteer of the first detachment who left a widowed mother, to face the conflict, and to his mother’s credit it may be said that she never applied for any relief during her son’s absence. With a heart and soul always in soldiering, he was one of the first to respond to the country’s call for volunteers, and in a bundle of letters which his mother now treasures, there is no mention of a single grumble or complaint of any hardship which he may have suffered. He contracted a cold whilst on out-post duty, and was laid up in hospital for a few weeks. Certainly the South African climate suited him, and he looks the picture of health.

Private Arthur KEAL.

Private Arthur KEAL returned invalided home from the front some six weeks ago, having been laid up in hospital with enteric fever and dysentery. He lives at Brownlow’s Yard, Church Street, and is a brass finisher. His father is Mr Joseph Keal, a bricklayer. Happily he is rapidly recovering from his illness, and hopes to shortly be in the best of health.

Private Samuel PIDD.

Private Samuel PIDD, the son of Mr Edward Pidd, a foreman at Messrs Hornsby’s, residing at 66 Inner Street, who does not appear to have arrived with his comrades by the St Andrew, has doubtless missed his ship at Cape Town. For some time he has been separated from the other volunteers, through being in hospital, but his last letter shows him to be quite well again, and he was expecting to be called for by the other volunteers as they were travelling down country to embark for home. Possibly some mistake has arisen, and he will return by a later ship.

Private A.A. ROYCE.

Private A.A. ROYCE, who, with Private HAND, were the only Grantham Volunteers who sailed with the second contingent, succumbed a victim to enteric fever at Pretoria on December 15th, 1900. ROYCE was a native of Stamford, at which place he joined the Volunteer Corps in November 1898, and afterwards transferred to the Grantham Company. He was a single man, thirty-three years of age, and was formerly employed by Messrs Lee and Grinling, maltsters.

Private Cecil Boyd THOMPSON.

Private Cecil Boyd THOMPSON, the third son of Mr F.W. Thompson, of St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, died from enteric fever at Pretoria on October 23rd, 1900, at the age of twenty-two years. He was a smart, finely-built young fellow. Full of enthusiasm for Volunteering, he left his position as an articled clerk in the office of Messrs Henry Thompson & Sons, solicitors, of Grantham, of which firm his father is a partner, and responded with eagerness to the call of his country. Having endured all the privations of the march to Pretoria, it was particularly sad that he should have been fatally stricken when the actual war was almost drawing to a conclusion. He was a splendid athlete, and figured regularly in the Grantham Avenue Football Team, by whom he was presented with a parting gift on departing for the front.

Private Edward WILKINSON.

Private Edward WILKINSON was born twenty-one years ago, and is the son of Mr W. Wilkinson, landlord of the “Spotted Cow”, London Road, and by trade is a fitter in the oil engine department at Spittlegate Ironworks. By one of his returned comrades he has been described as the “shepherd of the flock”. His letters home have always been of a cheerful disposition, and in his last he jocularly mentions that the news had reached the volunteers that they were about to depart for home, but “they would very much like to have another pop at the Boers”. He, with Private WRIGHT, had for several months been attached the maxim gun connected with the Lincolnshire Regiment, and it is believed he was one of those who rendered some brave service with the maxim at the Nitral’s Nek disaster in July of last year.

Private John WRIGHT.

Private John WRIGHT celebrated his twentieth birthday in December 1900, and is therefore the youngest member of the contingent. He is also a splendid shot, and at the time of his leaving England was the crack shot of the Battalion, in which he has served since he was sixteen years of age. He was an apprentice in the fitting shop at Messrs Hornsby’s, and his father is Mr Thomas Wright, landlord of the “Cross Keys”, New Street. He, with Private WILKINSON, has been serving with the maxim gun detachment connected with the Lincolnshire Regiment. He has been in capital health, and letters from time to time have always been most encouraging. His last letter was of a singularly keen character, and Private WRIGHT expressed the desire that before they return home “he should like to have another pop at the Boers to have his own back”.