State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 19/01/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, suitably inscribed, to:
New South Wales Lancers –
860 Trooper William ELSTON
Presentation made by the manager of Clyde Engineering Works (Mr Clarkson), at the Granville School of Arts.
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Cumberland Argus, 26th January 1901
Clyde.
Welcome Home. — Trooper W. ELSTON, an employee of the Clyde Engineering Works, who went with the Lancers to South Africa, was accorded a hearty welcome home by his fellow employees of the fitting department of the works at the School of Arts, Granville, on Saturday night. There were about one hundred present, and Mr E. Thomas presided. A presentation of a gold medal was made to Trooper ELSTON, on behalf of the employees (suitably inscribed) by Mr Clarkson, the works manager, who referred to the circumstances under which Trooper ELSTON went forth to do battle for his country. He, spoke feelingly, of the patriotism of Australians in volunteering at the time of the crisis which Britain had met with in the South African affair and proudly of the manner in which the colonial troops hitherto untried in active service had acquitted themselves on the field of battle. It was a common hearing that Australians bad only done their duty; but in his opinion it took a great deal more courage to do one's duty than to shirk it. He also referred to the splendid and patriotic spirit displayed by the directors of the company at the time Trooper ELSTON volunteered for service, in which they agreed that ELSTON's standing at the works would be just the same when he returned, and during his absence time would be accounted to him as though he were not away. So that in receiving him back again it may be said that Trooper ELSTON was in a better position than when he left. He proposed Trooper ELSTON's health. In rising to honor the toast the company sang “Soldiers of the Queen” lustily. Trooper ELSTON feelingly responded to the toast, and accepted the gift of the medal as a genuine expression of the esteem of his fellow employees. During the evening songs were sung by Messrs J. Hutchison, P. Fisher, W. Pegler, J. Smith, E. Thomas, L. Proudlock, C. Noble, J. Cooper, Monks and Cook. Mr W. Wilkins was the secretary of the movement, and everything passed off well, concluding with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”.
