State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 24/05/1901, aft. 03/08/1901
Number issued: between 1 and 12 (?)
Gold chains & medals/pendants, to:
24/05/1901 presentation
2nd Victorian (Mounted Rifles) Contingent –
349 Sergeant Andrew WILSON
Presentation made by Lieutenant Avenel A. Rogers, on behalf of comrades in the Horsham Section, "C" Company, Victorian Rangers, at the Criterion Hotel.
aft. 03/08/1901 presentation (?)
4th Victorian (Imperial Bushmen's) Contingent –
350 Corporal Harry EDE (Horsham)
410 Private Matthew George Ernest BODEY (Mount Gambier)
393 Private [Gunner] James JUDE (Horsham)
"It is proposed to hold a monster welcome home, and present each soldier with a gold medal" (Horsham Times, 23/07/1901). As of March 2023 I have found no report of this proposed presentation.
A report in the Horsham Times stated that each returned soldier was to receive a gold medal. If this idea came to fruition, the men below should probably be added to the list. However, the only article about the "smoke night" tendered to the soldiers makes no mention of gold medals (Horsham Times, 30/08/1901).
3rd Victorian (Bushmen's) Contingent –
594 Private John Thomas NEWTON
4th Victorian (Imperial Bushmen's) Contingent –
391 Private Edwy BOLTON
172 Private Benjamin BUSHBY (Drung Drung)
183 Private Walter Herbert JENKINS
New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen –
278 Private William Antill McPHERSON
Kitchener's Horse –
Veterinary Lieutenant Thomas Allen BURRAGE
Victorian Contingent (unknown units) –
??? Private FRY
__________________________________
Melbourne Argus, 25th May 1901
HORSHAM.
At the Criterion Hotel tonight, Sergeant (to which rank he was promoted from corporal whilst on service) A. WILSON, of the Second Victorian Contingent, and Trooper JENKINS, of the Victorian Bushmen's Regiment, were welcomed by their old comrades of the Horsham section C Company, Victorian Rangers, and townspeople, and were entertained at a smoke night. The health of the guests was drunk with great enthusiasm, and Sergeant WILSON was presented with a gold chain and pendant, the presentation (from the Rangers) being made by Lieutenant Avenel A. Rogers, commanding the section. The toast of "Our Comrades" (Privates SEARLE, BOLTON, MULLER, and BOLWELL), still at the front, was drunk with cordiality.
Horsham Times, 11th June 1901
Trooper John NEWTON, of the 3rd Victorian Contingent, son of Mr John Newton of the White Hart Hotel, who returned front South Africa in the Morayshire, arrived in Horsham by the express on Sunday morning, sound and well At the railway station he was met and warmly greeted and welcomed home by a number of friends, including several members of the Horsham detachment C Company Rangers, by whom he was escorted to the White Hart Hotel, where his health was enthusiastically honoured. Troopers Edwy BOLTON, JUDE, and Harry EDE, of the Victorian Contingent Australian Bushmen, who have it is believed sailed from South Africa, are expected, in Horsham within the next few weeks, and it is proposed to entertain them, Trooper NEWTON, Sergeant WILSON and Trooper JENKINS, returned some weeks back, at a public demonstration of welcome. Trooper James GULLEN, formerly of the Colonial Bank here, and E. JESSEE, both well-known in Horsham, who also returned by the Morayshire, went on on Saturday night, with Private PHILLIPS, to Warracknabeal, where they were last night banqueted by Mr P. Phillips, M.P. They will be in Horsham today.
Horsham Times, 23rd July 1901
The mayor, Mr Arnott, J.P., is making arrangements for the welcome home of returned soldiers hailing from Horsham and district who have served in South Africa. It is proposed to hold a monster welcome demonstration in the Mechanics' Hall and to present each soldier with a gold medal. Gunner JUDE returned to Horsham on Thursday and Corporal Harry EDE on Friday. Both are well and apparently none the worse for their experiences and moving adventures. A number of war mementoes and South African curios brought home by Corporal EDE are on view at J. Langlands and Co's store.
Adelaide Observer, 3rd August 1901
Tpr. W. BODEY, who has returned from South Africa, has been entertained by bis friends. It is proposed to hold a monster welcome home, and present each soldier with a gold medal.
Melbourne Argus, 5th August 1901
HORSHAM.
Trooper Alfred W. COCKROFT, of Nurrabiel, of the Fifth Victorian Contingent, returned from service in South Africa, was entertained at a welcome social representative of the entire district, in the Mechanics' Institute, on Wednesday evening. The members of the Noradjuha Rifle Club and Noradjuha Band were present, and took part, much enthusiasm being shown. Mr W.J. Treadwell, captain of the rifle club presided and presented Trooper COCKROFT with a gold watch.
Horsham Times. 30th August 1901
The soldiers of the town and district who have returned from South Africa were entertained at a smoke night, at the Mechanics' Hall last night, by the Horsham branch of the Australian Natives' Association, the president of which, Mr J. Bennett, presided over a very large and enthusiastic gathering, including several members of the defence forces in uniform. The Chairman had on his right hand the guests of the evening, Veterinary-Lieutenant BURRAGE, Sergeant WILSON, Corporal EDE, and Privates NEWTON, BODEY, JENKINS, JUDE, BUSHBY and FRY. An apology was received from Private McPHERSON, detained in Melbourne. On the left of the chairman were the mayor of Horsham (Mr J.A. Davis), Mr R. Stanley, M.L.A., Mr Thos. Young, J.P., and Mr Read Murphy, P.M. The health of The Guests was enthusiastically drunk on the proposition of she chairman, and was acknowledged in turn by all the returned soldiers. The other toasts were Our Brave Defenders. Comrades Still at the Front, The King, The Empire, (proposed, in eloquent terms by Mr Thos. Young, supported by Mr C. Curran and acknowledged by Mr R. Stanley, M.L.A.), The Mayor and The Chairman. Several martial. songs were sung. Owing to extreme pressure on our space at a late hour we are unable to give a detailed report.
