County: Inverness-shire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: May 1901
Number issued: > 74
ALTHOUGH IT WAS AGREED TO PRESENT BADGES, NO REPORT OF A DISTRIBUTION HAS BEEN FOUND
Badges, to:
Volunteer Active Service Company, Cameron Highlanders –
c. 74 unnamed volunteers
Lovat's Scouts –
unknown number of volunteers
At a special meeting of the Town Council, it was agreed to "present each volunteer and scout with a badge".
Northern Chronicle (17/04/1901): "The suggestion of a commemorative badge for each of the volunteers was viewed with favour by the Council. Local jewellers will be invited to submit designs for the badge".
Proceedings of Kingussie Town Council: "It was resolved to co-operate with the Town Council of Inverness with the view of raising local funds to meet the expense of presenting commemorative medals".
Despite the decision by Inverness Council to present badges, there is no evidence that such mementoes were distributed. This should be a comparatively common tribute, given that they were to be presented to 74 volunteers plus an unknown number of Lovat Scouts. The fact that none have appeared on the market suggests the distribution never took place.
The failure to make this presentation must have caused a degree of displeasure, as Inverness had taken money from other councils, such as Kingussie, to purchase badges/medals.
SEE ALSO: KINGUSSIE
Aberdeen Press & Journal, 17/04/1901
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Aberdeen Press & Journal, 22nd April 1901
KINGUSSIE AND THE RETURNING VOLUNTEERS.
At a largely attended meeting held under the auspices of the provost, magistrates, and town council of Kingussie, and presided over by Provost Macpherson, it was resolved to co-operate with the Town Council of Inverness with the view of raising local funds to meet the expense of presenting commemorative medals to these volunteers and Lovats Scouts returning from the campaign in South Africa, and also that the members of the Badenoch section of the Cameron Highlanders should be entertained to a banquet in Kingussie. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. A considerable diversity of opinion was maintained at the meeting as to the manner in which honours should be shown, and the proceedings were somewhat lively. From the Badenoch section of the Cameron Volunteers there are at the front Lieut. John CAMPBELL, Kingussie; one colour-sergeant, Drill-Instructor MACDONALD, three sergeants, and several privates.
Northern Chronicle, 17th April 1901
THE HOME-COMING OF THE VOLUNTEER CAMERONS.
It was announced by the War Office on Friday that on 10th April the Volunteer Companies of the Camerons and Seaforth Highlanders had sailed from Cape Town in the Tagus, and that the ship was expected at Southampton on the 29th of the month. Captain A.D. MACKINNON Portree; Lieutenant John CAMPBELL, Kingussie; and Lieutenant J. BURN, Inverness, are on board, with 60 men, all in good health. The difference in strength between the outgoing and home-coming musters is mainly accounted for by enlistments in Baden-Powell’s Police, the company having been very fortunate as regards health and losses in battle. The contingent left Inverness exactly a year ago 74 strong, including officers and men. A special meeting of Inverness Town Council was held on Monday evening to arrange for giving the company a public reception, and it was agreed to raise funds by public subscription sufficient to extend this honour also to Lovat Scouts, though the date of their departure from South Africa is still a matter of uncertainty. The suggestion of a commemorative badge for each of the volunteers was viewed with favour by the Council. Local jewellers will be invited to submit designs for the badge. A Committee consisting of Provost Maclean, Bailie Sinclair, Mr Gillanders, Mr Birnie, Colonel Munro, Mr Guild, Dr Moir, and Mr R.L. Mackintosh, were appointed to carry out the arrangements, with power to add to their number, including citizens not in the Council. A meeting of the Committee was afterwards held, and it was agreed to communicate with the officials of the County Council and other public bodies in the county inviting them to co-operate with the Town Council in raising public funds for the entertainment of the Cameron Volunteer Company and Lovat Scouts. It was also agreed to ask the assistance of the local bank agents in receiving subscriptions, which will be received meantime by Town Councillors and the Town Chamberlain. Colonel Munro, commanding 1st Vol. Batt. Cameron Highlanders, has called a meeting for Thursday for the officers of the battalion for the purpose of making arrangements in connection with the reception, which is sure to be of a very enthusiastic and memorable character.
Elgin Courant, 23rd April 1901
BADENOCH.
PROPOSED HONOUR TO SERVICE VOLUNTEERS.
Under the auspices of the Town Council of Kingussie a well-attended public meeting was held on Friday evening to consider as to the most fitting manner in which to honour the volunteers on their return from the war in South Africa. From the Badenoch Company there were at the war a lieutenant (John CAMPBELL), four sergeants, and a number of privates, while there is one local man in the Lovat Scouts. Provost Macpherson was called upon to preside, and, in opening the proceedings, read a circular that he had received from the Town Clerk of Inverness on the subject. The Provost expressed the confident hope that all Badenoch people would heartily co-operate in giving an enthusiastic reception to the district section of the Service Company on their return. While at the war they had done their duty bravely and well, and did credit to their native district – (cheers). They were all glad that not a single death had occurred amongst them, and that they were now on their way home – (applause). He then invited expressions of views from the meeting. A somewhat lively discussion followed, a considerable diversity of opinion being manifested as to the best course to be adopted. In the result, a motion, proposed by ex-Provost Mackintosh, and seconded by ex-Provost Crerar, was adopted, to the effect that subscription lists be opened at both the Kingussie banks, and that so much of the contributions that might be raised should be sent to the central fund at Inverness to meet the cost of a commemorative badge or medal to each member of the Cameron Service Volunteers and Lovat Scouts, and that the Badenoch Section should be entertained to a public banquet in Kingussie on a date to be afterwards fixed. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. Some of the speakers at the meeting thought the proceedings in connection with the Badenoch Section should be of a local character and that local badges be given, but the preponderance of opinion was in favour of co-operating with Inverness in giving the coming honours a general county character, and there was unanimity of feeling in favour of a banquet in Kingussie.
