Medals and awards

RETURNED CONTINGENTS.

WELCOME TO THE MATAURA VALLEY TROOP.

CONCERT AND PRESENTATION OF MEDALS.

When the alteration of the date of the contingents’ arrival at the Bluff to Friday was definitely fixed, it was decided in Gore that the welcome concert and dance to the representatives of the Mataura Valley division of the fourth contingent should take place on the Monday evening. At the last moment it was discovered that Mr McNab, M.H.R., would be unable to be present on the Monday. As he had been largely instrumental in sending the fifteen men away to the front (having equipped ten at his own expense) it was decided at the eleventh hour to hold the concert on Saturday night, to allow Mr McNab to make the presentation of gold medals to the Mataura Valley troop.

Notwithstanding the shortness of the notice the Town Hall, in which the concert was held, was simply packed to the doors, a large number being unable to gain admission. The Gore Brass Band played a number of musical pieces outside the hall, and also opened the concert proceedings with a selection.

The Mayor (Mr A.A. MacGibbon) presided. He said that that occasion was without doubt one of the most remarkable in the history of the town. They had sent fifteen men to the front, and all had returned to the colony. And after fifteen months of fighting every one had come out without a scratch. That fact said a good deal for the stamina of young colonials, and for the care exercised in the selection made. One of the officers had said that the men of the fourth contingent were the best he had seen in battle, and that the fifteen men from Gore were the best of the whole lot. Lieut.-Col. Davies had remarked at Invercargill that he would not say his men were the best soldiers in the world, but he would say that there were none better. He (the speaker) was sorry the hall was not large enough to accommodate everybody who desired to be present that night. Had it been double the size it would have been filled. He trusted it would be a long time before the necessity arose to send troops away from the district again, but no doubt if such were required Gore would not be found wanting. His Excellency the Governor had said at the luncheon that day that there was not another town in the colony that had sent so many men to the front in proportion to its size as Gore. He was sure no other town had sent fifteen men and got them all back safe and sound. Lieut.-Col. Davies could have paid his men no greater compliment when he said they wanted no leading; the only trouble was to hold them back. The colonials had been of great service to the Empire, and without their aid Britain would have been severely handicapped. The medals the men would be presented with that night bad been well earned, and he trusted they would live long to wear them. The troopers who had returned had come through the hardships fit and well and seemed to regard the campaign as rather good fun. Not many had been struck with bullets, but numbers had died from disease. It was hard that these should not have been permitted to see their native land again; but they had died a soldier's death — which of itself was a great honor.

Dr J. Copland said he was exceedingly pleased to see such a grand gathering as was there assembled, and which had been got up at such short notice They were there to testify to the good and noble conduct on the field of battle of the troopers the district had sent away about fifteen months ago. They went forward as representatives of the loyalty of the district, and had nobly performed the work entrusted to them. Of old the Spartan mothers sent their sons to battle bidding them to return with their shields or upon them. Their sentiment was: "Be brave facing the foe, so that you preserve your shield of honor, not fleeing like cowards leaving your shields behind you. Or if you fall, be borne home upon your shields". The Providence of God had watched over the fifteen men sent from this district through all the hardships and dangers, permitting them to return unscathed, but rich in experience and honor, and sustained and increased in loyalty to the Empire which led them forth. It was ground for happy congratulation that so many had offered themselves to engage in the work fifteen months ago. Those who were chosen were only a number out of a much larger number who were willing to go to uphold the district's credit and manifest its loyalty. The giving of medals that night was an indication of the satisfaction of the district with the noble deeds of the recipients. The committee trusted the gifts would be memorials for the men to the end of their lives — pledges of their loyalty and devotion in following the lines of duty, honor and integrity, thus upholding the character of the Empire before the world. While the men were away fighting they were not forgotten by those who had sent them forth. And more especially the ladies kept them in constant remembrance, sending them regularly tokens of regard. Owing to the exigencies of the campaign many of the parcels of comforts never reached those for whom they were intended, but nevertheless the good work of the ladies was an outstanding feature of the past fifteen months. That feeling of regard would abide and should the occasion again arise the ladies would not be found wanting.

Mr McNab, M.H.R. (who was received with prolonged cheering) explained that circumstances rendered it impossible for him to be present in Gore on Monday evening, and expressed his thanks to the committee for arranging to hold the concert on that evening so as to allow him to take part in the proceedings. It was unnecessary for him to say how pleased ha was at seeing the troopers landed safely home again. He had heard it said that the fourth contingent had done all the work and that subsequent contingents had little to do. There never was a greater mistake. It was perfectly true that the fourth contingent would not receive such historical bars with their medals as those bearing the inscription of Kimberley, Mafeking, and Pretoria. But no preceding contingent had more arduous work to do than they. Never in British history was there a precedent to the condition which the Empire found itself in as on the eve of sending away the fourth contingent. There had been desperate engagements in Cape Colony, and the British forces on four occasions found themselves defeated. The nation never found itself in more difficult circumstances. And when the nation appealed for aid these men came forward. Everybody recognised that the Empire was in danger, and the district had not only raised the men, but equipped them, and the Government offered to land them in any part of Cape Colony. When the men left, he (the speaker) bad counselled them to uphold the traditions of their race, and although, he said, the people would not be disappointed if they did not come up to expectations, they would be disappointed if they proved unworthy at the supreme moment. Their officers said they could never have desired to serve at the head of better men in any part of the world. Lieut.-Colonel Davies remarked that he would not say they were the best men to make soldiers of in the world, but he would say there were none better. And he had held a command in the first contingent and went through the whole war. It was a matter for great congratulation to the colony and the people of Gore that the command of such a magnificent body of men as the fourth contingent had been handed to a man of such large experience and commonsense as Lieut.-Colonel Davies. He had stood the campaign so well and made so light of it that he said it was the only holiday he had had for 20 years. He (the speaker) was told by the officers that every single man had done his duty. He was pleased to say also that recommendations regarding some of the men had gone forward, which, if the War Ollice took advantage of, would result in some men sitting before them being decorated with the D.S.O. He was also told that it was possible to single out men among the fourth contingent who had a reputation for bravery which saw all the dangers to he faced and displayed itself in conspicuous courage, five men would be distinguished, the first one on the list, and another, belonging to the Mataura Valley fifteen. The selection made by the district had been amply justified by the history of the war. Of the fifteen sent from this district fourteen bad come back to Gore and one was in hospital in Dunedin. Of the ten whom he (the speaker) had selected all were present that night. Out of a total of 40 sent from the district with the fourth and fifth two had returned invalided, two had gone to England, and three or four were in hospital. The rest were with their families at that present moment. Although in this part of the colony they had been fortunate in welcoming every one of their boys home, it bad not been so in every case. A large number of our fellow colonists would never return. While they rejoiced over the homecoming of those sent from this district many a father and mother in other parts would look in vain for their son, and the maiden for her lover. Thank God such had not happened in this district. The soldiers returned had won fame over the graves of their comrades. Those graves were the glorious flowers that strewed the victors' path.

At Mr McNab's call three deafening cheers were given for the Mataura Valley troop, and he proceeded to present the medals to the troopers present. The recipients in attendance were Troopers SHEEHAN, McLAREN, KELLY, DICKSON, FORD, KEOWN, CAMERON, MILNE, LACEY, DAY, WARD, and BANKS. Troopers GOUK and HARRIS were unavoidably absent, and Trooper MOLONEY was in the hospital in Dunedin. As each man received his medal at the hands of Mr McNab, he was loudly cheered, the ceremony closing with the singing of "For they are Jolly Good Fellows".

Trooper Albert WARD replied on behalf of his comrades and himself, thanking the people of Gore for the cordial and kind welcome they bad extended. More especially they desired to thank the ladies of Gore who had attended to their wants during the whole campaign.

At this stage, Mr McNab presented the Mayor, on behalf of the town, with a handsomely framed enlarged photo of the Mataura Valley troop, which he asked should be preserved in the archives of the town, and given a prominent place upon the walls of the Town Hall.

In receiving the gift, the Mayor thanked Mr McNab for his generosity. It would serve to keep the town in mind of the gallant men sent to the front, and Mr McNab could not have presented anything that would have been valued more highly.

Mr Thos. Green said they little thought when they gave the fifteen men a send-off that they would come back in such good trim and with such a record for bravery. When they went away it was thought the war would be over before they got to the front. As events turned out, the war had scarcely begun. They had been fighting nearly all the time, and to see them return so fresh and good-looking, spoke volumes for their stamina. He had seen men returning from an Easter encampment looking more worn out. They were in better trim now than when they went away. They were born soldiers, and their example would have a good effect on those left behind. When they went away there was scarcely a mounted soldier in the district. Now there were 100 in Gore alone, prepared to go to any part of the world to fight. Not only that, but he saw in the procession that day some 20 or 30 boys who were anxious to become soldiers. That being so, there was no fear for New Zealand. From Lord Roberts they had it that the New Zealanders were the best soldiers in the world, and this would be proved if an enemy ventured to attack us.

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