State: South Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 23/03/1901, 04/04/1901
Number issued: c. 9
23/03/1901 presentation
69 Private David THOMPSON
148 Trooper Stanley Howard MAYFIELD
and other unnamed absent volunteers (possibly the two men rewarded on 04/04/1901)
04/04/1901 presentation
55 Private Thomas MARSHALL (absent - medal to be forwarded to his parents)
63 Trooper Frederick WORMLEIGHTON
Presentation made by the Mayor (Mr W. Blight), in Hindmarsh Hall.
ISSUED UNNAMED
HINDMARSH PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION.
When arrangements were being made last year for the peace celebration, a committee, which was formed at Hindmarsh, decided to amalgamate with the central committee in Adelaide. As the peace gathering was later on abandoned, the Hindmarsh committee then resolved not to disappoint the residents, but to hold a patriotic demonstration to welcome local members of the contingents who had returned from South Africa, and that the children of the public and private schools should take part. The date selected was January 29, but owing to the death of her Majesty the Queen, the demonstration was postponed. On Saturday afternoon the "welcome home" was given, and 2,500 school children took part, in addition to which there were from 3,000 to 5,000 spectators present. The streets were gay with bunting, and stretched across the Port Road from the flagpole at the Town Hall buildings was a large painting in oils from the brush of Mr James Pearce. The centre panel, 18ft. by 6ft., carried the Royal coat of arms, and underneath was the word, "Welcome," on a streamer. In the left upper corner was a bust portrait of King Edward VII., 6 ft. x 6 ft., but unfortunately it was blown out by a gust of wind, and underneath was a picture of General Buller, in a panel of the same size. In the upper right corner was a portrait of Earl Roberts, and below in another panel of equal size was a likeness of General Baden-Powell. The procession was formed in Milner Street, and each child carried a national flag. At 2.30 the procession left the Town Hall, and having walked a short distance up the Port Road turned up Chief Street to Third Street, thence to Gibson Street, down the Port Road to Lindsay Circus, via Milner Street. The order of the procession was as follows:
Mr John Tait (town clerk) was the marshal.
On arriving at Lindsay Circus, the children, in charge of Mr John Harry and Mr J. Hunn, head teachers of the Hindmarsh and Brompton public schools, marched into a space roped off, and were brought up in line when the mayor (Mr W. Blight) gave an address.
The Mayor said he was glad to welcome back the Hindmarsh members of the contingents who had been on active service in South Africa. In June last year the Government promised to hold a peace demonstration, and that the school children should take a prominent part in it, and be presented with medals. Later the Government decided that there would be no peace celebration, and they all knew that peace had not yet been declared. The committee at Hindmarsh then decided to hold a patriotic demonstration to welcome home the soldiers from Hindmarsh, who had returned from the war, and they had worked energetically to carry the movement to a successful issue. He specially referred to the ladies, who had been unceasing in their efforts to prepare an adequate food supply for the children. The celebration was originally fixed for January 29, but owing to the lamented death of her Majesty the Queen it was postponed. There were only seven returned soldiers present to receive the silver medals the committee had decided to distribute on that occasion. It had been decided that every member of the Australian contingents who went from Hindmarsh should receive a medal on his return. The medals he was about to present were the first in Australasia which bore a bust of King Edward VII. Many people thought when the first South Australian Contingent left for South Africa, they were going on a holiday trip, but the brave men went away determined to do or die for Queen and Empire. Some had fallen, and a number had been invalided home. Lord Roberts had decided to send 1,000 Australians home, but when Lord Kitchener became Commander-in-Chief he asked for more colonial troops and even now Australia was sending soldiers to fight the Boers. He was the son of a soldier, was brought up in a barracks, and knowing what a soldier's life was, he felt proud of the colonial troops who had gone to South Africa.
He then presented the medals, on the face of which was a portrait at Edward VII, surrounded by a laurel wreath, the reverse side bearing the inscription: – "Presented by the town of Hindmarsh for services to the Empire in South Africa". The medals were suspended on a piece of red-white-and-blue ribbon, from a silver bar pin, and Miss Blight pinned them in the left breast of each of the soldiers. The soldiers thus decorated were Corporal Alexander Charles DENHOLM, and Trooper Stanley MAYFIELD (Fourth South Australian Imperial Contingent), Privates Norman STACEY, Thomas HOLLAND, William HOLLAND, David THOMPSON, and James B.T. LARSEN (First South Australian Contingent). Other members of the contingents who had returned were absent.
The Mayor, addressing Trooper MAYFIELD, who, it is reported, is entitled to the Victoria Cross for gallant conduct at Vrede Fort, and who has lost the use of his left arm through having been shot through the shoulder and breast on November 29 at Reitfontein, said: – "I knew you when you were a boy, and thought you were very wild, but I am glad to know that you have been a good and brave soldier of the Empire and a credit to South Australia, the country you belong to".
The "Song of Australia" was then sung by the children.
Mr F. J. Hourigan, M.P., said it afforded him great pleasure to move: – "That a hearty vote of thanks be given to the committee and the ladies who have made the demonstration an unqualified success". It was difficult to particularise anyone, for they had all worked well and harmoniously, and the public could see the result of their efforts. The ladies' section had done remarkably well in making things ready for the school children, and he could not overlook Alderman C.R. Hocking, who had worked so hard to make the demonstration a success; and also the secretary (Mr T.J. Bishop). The principal object of the gathering was to welcome returned soldiers. The returned warriors had nobly done their duty, and had been gladly welcomed back by the mayor on behalf of the people of Hindmarsh.
Mr T.H. Brooker, M.P., seconded. They were a peace-loving people, but if in years to come there was need of a call to arms, the schoolboys present, remembering that day's celebration, would be inspired to do their duty, and go to the front in defence of the Empire. The committee of the ladies were deserving of their thanks.
The motion was carried, and Alderman Hocking replied.
The National Anthem was sung, and cheers were given for "King and Empire," and the Mayor.
The children were each presented with a paper bag, containing fruit, cake, and lollies before being dismissed.
HINDMARSH PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.
