State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 31/01/1902, 29/04/1902
Number issued: 2
Gold medals, to:
31/01/1902 presentation
1553 Trooper Thomas McCALLUM
29/04/1902 presentation
1554 Trooper Ernest [Ernie] BARRY [Stafford]
Presentation made by the President of the Shire (Councillor Crowley), in Daly's Hall, Healesville.
Inscribed: "Presented to Trooper Thos. McCallum, 5th V.M.R., by the residents of Healesville, on his return from S. Africa, as a mark of esteem and appreciation of his valour in battlefield. 31/1/02".
WELCOME HOME TO TROOPER McCALLUM.
On Friday evening last the local railway station was crowded with residents of Healesville on the arrival of the 7.20 train, for the purpose of according Trooper T. McCALLUM, who had just returned from South Africa, a fitting welcome home. The Healesville Brass Band was also in attendance and played selections. On arrival of the train, cheers were given for the returning trooper, and as he stepped from the train it was a pleasant surprise to his many friends to see him looking so well, when only a few months before it seemed as if he was at death's door, owing to being shot through the chest while on active service with the 5th Victorian Contingent. After numerous hand-shaking, Trooper McCALLUM was taken to the Terminus Hotel, accompanied by previously returned soldiers, where his health was drank, the toast being proposed by the president of the shire (Cr. M.J. Sheehan), and was accompanied by musical honors and cheers.
The same evening, in Daly's Hall, a public welcome was tendered to the returned soldier. The building was decorated for the occasion, and despite the extreme heat all the available seating capacity was taken up, and a number had to stand, which was ample testimony that the welcome home was a genuine one. The chair was occupied by President Sheehan, and other councillors and prominent residents occupied positions on the platform. Trooper McCALLUM sat on the right of the chairman, along with Troopers SLOSS and CUMMINGS (of Tullabardine's Horse). The proceedings opened with an overture by Mrs Baird, and then Mr Almond sang in his usual style, “Sons of the Southern Sea”, being followed by Mr Ingle with “Just as the in Sun Went Down”. Mr Burnside sang he “A Soldier and a Man”, and then came the important part of the proceedings.
The Chairman said he had been requested to make a small presentation to the returned soldier and to welcome him home on behalf of the people of Healesville, and it gave him very great pleasure to do so. In looking upon the audience, Mr McCALLUM could see that his welcome home was a genuine one. The medal was a small token of esteem from the people (not that it was considered the value of his services) in recognition of what he had done on the battlefield. They were all doubly pleased to see Mr. McCALLUM back again, as at one time there was a possibility of his not returning. When the news was received that he had been severely wounded, it was the expression of the people that the next reports would be more favorable, and he was very pleased indeed to see him again in such robust health. He looks remarkably well, considering the hardships he has had to put up with, and we have to thank Providence for his return. Of all the contingents, the 5th, of which Trooper McCALLUM was a member, had undergone much greater hardships than the others, but they had met what they had to do like men, and we are proud that one of our soldiers was with them. He wished to say that nothing gave him greater pleasure than presenting this small token to Trooper McCALLUM with the hearty good-will of the people of Healesville, at the same time handing to the returned soldier a handsome laurel wreath gold medal, which bore the following inscription: – "Presented to Trooper Thos. M'Callum, 5th V.M.R., by the residents of Healesville, on his return from S. Africa, as a mark of esteem and appreciation of his valor in battlefield. 31/1/02". On the obverse side of the medal was a soldier mounted on his stead.
Mr Sloss said there was nobody prouder than he was to see so many present that evening, except it was Tom McCALLUM's father. He was pleased to welcome him home, and glad that they had men able and willing to go and uphold the freedom of the Empire.
Dr Baird said he wished to welcome Trooper McCALLUM home, and briefly referred to the aspersions cast on the 5th contingent, but said it had since been shown that the Australians had shown no white liver or white feather as had been attributed to them. Australian soldiers had made a name for themselves in South Africa, where Trooper McCALLUM had nearly given his life in fighting for his country. It was at the time Trooper McCALLUM received his wounds that helped to retrieve the fame of the Australians, and he was glad to welcome him home again.
Rev. E.S. Chase said the welcome was a double one. They welcomed him back from the jaws of death and also welcomed him home, and now that they had their three soldiers back their cup of joy was full. He most heartily welcomed Trooper McCALLUM back to Healesville.
Mr. Crowley said he heartily welcomed Trooper McCALLUM home, who left here for the purpose of fighting for his King and country. He believed that those who went to South Africa went out to fight for freedom, and he would not like to see the flag they were fighting for fall. He verily believed that the war with South Africa was justified, and it should be brought to an end with satisfaction to the British flag, and if the British Government asked for 10,000 more soldiers Australia would supply them. It was a glorious thing to know that only one of the Healesville soldiers was wounded, and it cast quite a gloom over the place when it became known that Trooper McCALLUM fell on the field, but he was proud that he was amongst them again – a man whom King le Edward VII should be proud to shake hands with. The Government should do all in their power to assist those who had fought for their country. He sincerely welcomed Trooper McCALLUM home, and said he could walk about a proud man, as he had done his duty.
Mr Shaw said that on an occasion like this he could not help joining in welcome home. He was glad to see such sentiment and loyalty to the country that brought such a large gathering together. He was glad to see Trooper McCALLUM back again, and wished to congratulate the father of the young soldier on his restoration to health.
Mr Ingle proposed that the best thanks of this meeting be tendered to Trooper McCALLUM for [illegible] conduct on the battlefield, and for the sacrifices he has made in the cause of the Empire.
The motion was seconded by Mr Falconbridge, and carried by acclamation, three hearty cheers being given for Trooper McCALLUM, and one for the soldier who is still in the field.
Song, Miss Evans; song, "The Bushman", Mr. Bailey (encored).
Trooper McCALLUM was enthusiastically received on rising to respond. He said he was sorry he could not make a speech, but thanked them for the presentation they had made him, and concluded by saying he did not deserve what had been said about him.
Song, "The King's Fifteen", Mr Almond (encored).
The singing of "God Save the King" concluded the proceedings.
HEALESVILLE.
A SOLDIER'S WELCOME.
RETURN OF TROOPER BARRY.
With the arrival home of the above mentioned young fellow, completes the number of volunteers whom Healesville has sent out to the blood-stained battlefields of South Africa, and, as if in recognition of this very fact, local residents accorded him a welcome home on Saturday and Tuesday evenings which bordered on the enthusiastic. It is known in many quarters – but there are several to whom it will come as a piece of news – that Trooper BARRY, determined to take a part in the Empire's battles, served with the Fifth Victorian Contingent under the regimental name of STAFFORD. The reason of his assumed name was because that between Stafford and Barry, "who were in the swim", the necessary tests were passed entitling one to go, and Barry thereupon took Stafford's name and became one of the Fifth, against his mother's wish, and unknown to many of his friends until he wrote from the scene of action. It was the evident will he possessed of becoming a soldier that commended itself to the public, and it was generally voted that when he returned – if fortunate enough – his tenacity and period of service would be rewarded by the goodwill of the residents. How that was shown is contained in the following portion of this article. Trooper Barry, who arrived by the troopship St. Andrew on Friday morning, with a few hundred time expired comrades of the much maligned Fifth, journeyed to Healesville by the evening train of Saturday, and was met at the station by a great crowd, who greeted him in a warm manner. The reception committee had studied the necessary arrangements, and as the home-comer alighted from the train and planted his feet on his native soil, the brass band made the welkin resound with the strains of "See the Conquering Hero Comes", and the National Anthem. After hearty cheers had been given for the returned soldier and his parents, an adjournment was made to the Grand Hotel, and in the large dining hall of that establishment, in which a great number had assembled, the president of the shire, (Cr. Crowley) proposed the toast of that of the returned soldier, Trooper Barry. He did it in a few words, because, he said, the public welcome was to take place on Tuesday evening. Needless to remark, the toast was honoured with vigour, and the company loudly proclaimed that he was a jolly good fellow, after which Trooper BARRY acknowledged the honour done him on his return. Mr Maddocks then proposed the health of Mr Crowley, and took advantage of the opportunity to refer to the gathering which had caused them to meet together that evening. The sentiment having been honoured, to which Mr Crowley responded, the preliminary welcome terminated, and Trooper BARRY was allowed to depart with his friends and recount his experiences.
On Tuesday evening the public welcome was held in Daly's Hall, but the accommodation of the building was overtaxed, and a large number were unable to gain admittance. Those connected with the reception transformed the appearance of the hall with tasteful decorations and appropriate designs, and the nice effect lent to the scene by such thoughtfulness, was favourably commented on. The audience was a thoroughly representative one, and embraced all classes of the community. The fair sex, whose admiration for khaki is proverbial were most in evidence. The chair was occupied by the president of the shire (Cr. Crowley), municipal representatives, and other leading public men occupied positions on the platform, and as the past Healesville contingenters, viz., Troopers BARRY, CUMMINGS, McCALLUM and SLOSS (with Trooper MURRAY, of Middle Park) walked into the hall and formed into position on the stage, the company rendered the old popular refrain, "For they are Jolly Good Fellows".
The following programme was rendered: – Pianoforte overture, Mrs Baird; song, "The Sleeping Camp", Mr B. Shaw; song, "Old England and the New", Mr J. W. George; song, "When the Robin's Nest Again", Miss Evans; song, "The King's Fifteen", Mr Almond; song, Mrs George; song, "The Dear Old Land", Miss Cullin; song, "Let me Like a Soldier Fall", Mr Maddocks; song, "Mary of Argyle", Miss Wilmott; song, "The Admiral's Broom", Mr Almond; song, "Marjory", Mr Burt; violin solo, Miss Becker; instrumental trio, valse (piano), Mr Burt; (violin), Miss Becker; (flute), Mr Duterbure.
During an interval between the vocal numbers, the chairman, in a patriotic address, welcomed Trooper BARRY home on behalf of the residents of Healesville, and, as a token of their appreciation, presented him with a gold medal, suitably engraved.
