County: County Durham
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 26/07/1902
Number issued: 1
Gold albert & appendage, to:
2nd Service Section, 1st Durham Royal Engineers (Vols) –
8388 Sapper [Sergeant] William Sharpe MARTIN
Presentation made by Mr A. Fownes, at the County Hotel, Jarrow.
Subscribed for by officials and workmen.
________________________________________
Shields Daily Gazette, 28th July 1902
HONOURING A JARROW VOLUNTEER.
An interesting assembly of the officials and workmen of Messrs Fownes’ and Company’s Forge, East Jarrow, was held on Saturday night at the County Hotel, Jarrow, for the purpose of welcoming home Sergt. W. MARTIN, who served with the second service section of the 1st D.R.E. Volunteers in South Africa. Mr A. Fownes presided over a large attendance. The health of the guest was proposed by the chairman, who also presented Sergt. MARTIN with a gold albert and appendage, the gift of the officials and workmen. In the course of an appropriate speech the chairman said in these days of combinations on the part of the employers and workmen there was a danger of individual effort being overlooked, but in that instance all those associated with the forge had spontaneously responded to the suggestion that Sergt. MARTIN’s services to his country should be recognised in some little way. While he was at the front Sergt. MARTIN had always been remembered by his fellow workmen and officials at the firm. In conclusion, Mr Fownes referred to the pleasing fact that Sergt. MARTIN was one of three in the section whom Col. Irving, who commanded the Royal Engineers at Standerton, had specially commended for good work. Sergt. MARTIN suitably returned thanks, and the remainder of the evening was spent in harmony.
