County: Roxburghshire
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 30/11/1900, aft. 04/05/1901, aft. 08/08/1902
Number issued: 11 or 13
Gold medals, suitably inscribed, to:
30/11/1900 presentation
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, King's Own Scottish Borderers –
7219 Bugler R.B. WALDIE
6940 Private William HAIG
6945 Private Alexander JEFFREY
Presentation made by Provost Sword, at the Cross, Jedburgh.
1901 presentation (?)
POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS
2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders –
210 Private John Telfer SMEALL
Elswick Battery –
7101 Driver William HARDY [Hardie]
Provost Sword explained at the 30/11/1900 ceremony that "if the companies to which Mr Smeall and Mr Hardie belonged did not do so, they in Jedburgh intended to present them also with gold medals". Smeall returned home on 04/05/1901. Did Smeall and Hardy receive medals?
Aft. 08/08/1902 presentation
2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, King's Own Scottish Borderers –
7226 Corporal John HENDERSON
7227 Lance-Corporal Walter LUNN
7225 Private James A. HISLOP
7228 Private John PURVES
3rd Volunteer Active Service Company, King's Own Scottish Borderers –
8516 Private William DOUGLAS
8520 Private Charles McDONALD
8518 Private James Gibson STEVENSON
Scottish Cyclist Company –
8501 Private Andrew W. OLIVER
"Provost Miller, in a few words of welcome, stated that the Volunteers would get a suitable acknowledgment when the remainder came home" (Southern Reporter, 26/06/1902). It seems likely that this was to be a presentation of medals, similar to those distributed to the 1st V.A.S.C. However, as yet, no report of this presentation has come to light. The reference to the "remainder" who were yet to come home, suggests that the intention was that men of the 3rd V.A.S.C. & the Scottish Cyclist Company would be included in the "acknowledgment".
Inscribed: "South Africa 1899-1900. Presented to [Private William Haig], V.S. Coy., K.O.S.B., by the Royal Burgh of Jedburgh, on his return from active service".
Jedburgh Gazette, 01/12/1900
Southern Reporter, 28/02/1901
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Southern Reporter, 29th November 1900
JEDBURGH.
The Volunteers who have been members of the service company will, on their arrival, be met by the local Volunteer Company and the Jedforest Instrumental Band. The Provost, Magistrates, and Council intend to present each of the returning soldier Volunteers with a gold medal, having engraved on it an inscription, commemorating their service in the war.
Edinburgh Evening News, 30th November 1900
JEDBURGH.
At seven o’clock last evening, William HAIG, R. WALDIE, and Alexander JEFFREY, the Jedburgh representatives in the K.O.S.B. Service Company, were received at the station by the local volunteers, Jed Forest instrumental band, and a large gathering of townspeople. A torchlight procession escorted them to the Market Place, where Provost Sword welcomed them, on behalf of the town, and presented them with gold medals, each with a suitable inscription. Cheers were given for the volunteers and the Queen.
Southern Reporter, 6th December 1900
JEDBURGH.
The Jedburgh Volunteers who have returned from South Africa – Private William HAIG, Private Alexander JEFFREY, and Bugler R.B. WALDIE – got a most enthusiastic welcome. They were met at the railway station by the local company of Volunteers, and with them marched to the Cross, preceded by Jedforest Instrumental Band, and accompanied by torch-bearers and a great company of the townspeople. The streets were crowded.
At the Cross the returning Volunteers were welcomed by the Provost, Magistrates, and Council, and others. Provost Sword said that about sixty soldiers and Volunteers from Jedburgh and the immediate district had been at the war, and among them three deaths had occurred – namely, Sergeant-Major WOOD, of the Regulars; Mr Bennet GREIG, of the Scottish Sharpshooters; and Mr Robert SMAIL, of the Cape Town Highlanders, who was one of the victims at Jacobsdal. He also mentioned others who had come home invalided. He then presented each of the three Volunteers with a gold medal, with suitable inscription, on behalf of the town. He said they were proud of their patriotism and self-sacrifice, and of the cheerful way in which they had endured hardships on behalf of their country. They were greatly pleased that they had returned in safety.
Cheers were then given for the returned Volunteers, the Queen, and the Reserve Forces. Brilliant lights were burned, bells were rung, and the rejoicings were maintained during the evening. Though one of the young men had come home invalided, they are now all in good health.
Southern Reporter, 28th February 1901
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE FRONT. – On Monday forenoon the Jedburgh Volunteers – Corporals HENDERSON and LUNN, and Privates HISLOP and PURVES – who are going to South Africa, got a send-off. A meeting was held in the County Buildings, when Provost Sword, in name of the community, presented each with a purse of gold. He stated that they volunteered at the beginning of the war, and Jedburgh appreciated very much their loyalty and willingness to represent the Royal burgh in South Africa. (Applause). Bailie Young made a similar presentation to Trooper OLIVER, who he said, was a “Jethart callant” who had joined the Yeomanry. Mr Thomas S. Smail sang “Jethart’s Here”, and “God Save the King” was sung by the large audience. A procession was formed, and, headed by pipers, the Volunteers, accompanied by the members of the Town Council and a large crowd, marched to the railway station, where they were lustily cheered on leaving.
Southern Reporter, 26th June 1902
JEDBURGH. – The three Jedburgh men, Corporal Walter LUNN, and Privates James HISLOP and PURVES, were met at the railway station by a Volunteer escort under Captain Anderson, and Jed-Forest Instrumental Band. They marched to Market Place, where they were received by the Provost, Magistrates, Town Council, and a large crowd of people. Provost Miller, in a few words of welcome, stated that the Volunteers would get a suitable acknowledgment when the remainder came home.
Jedburgh Gazette, 12th July 1902
HOME-COMING OF VOLUNTEERS.
THE CYCLIST CORPS.
Members of the Scottish Cyclist Company of Volunteers who have served in South Africa arrived at Berwick on Monday and had a very cordial welcome. They then went off to the various parts of the country from which they had been drawn, and there also hearty receptions awaited them.
Private Andrew OLIVER, of the Cyclist Corps, arrived at Jedburgh on Monday evening. He was met on the platform of the railway station by his father, Councillor Andrew Oliver, and Lieut. A.P. Oliver, and in the station yard awaited him a contingent of the Jedburgh Company of Volunteers, with whom, besides Lieutenant Oliver (who was in command), there were Sergeant A.S. Young, Sergt. Wm. Oliver, and Instructor Lawton. In the march to the town Private Andrew OLIVER was placed in the front line, with Lance-Corporal LUNN and Private HISLOP, who both recently returned from South Africa. March music was played on the pipes. There was a goodly company of townspeople with the Volunteers, and many of the inhabitants turned out of their dwellings and signalled a welcome home to the young Volunteer. At Market Place he was received by Provost Miller, who was accompanied by Councillor Smail, and others. The Provost said he was sure they all gave a hearty welcome to Private Andrew OLIVER, who had gone where there had been great danger and had assisted to keep the Empire in a whole state. He was certain that the deeds of the Volunteers, who had gone to the war time and again, would pass down to posterity. They all congratulated them on having returned safe and sound after having passed through so much danger. (Cheers). On the call of the Provost cheers were heartily given for the Volunteers and for King Edward, and thereafter Cyclist OLIVER received the private congratulations of his numerous friends.
Corporal John HENDERSON, of the K.O.S.B. Volunteer Service Company, arrived in Jedburgh on Tuesday afternoon. The time of his arrival was not known beforehand, and no formal public reception had been organised, but the private greetings and congratulations have been numerous. Corpl. HENDERSON was invalided for some time and was unable to get home along with his comrades. He is still on the service list, though he is now almost restored to his ordinary state of health.
Jedburgh Gazette, 9th August 1902
HOME FROM THE FRONT.
Other two of the Jedburgh Volunteers who were at South Africa – namely, Privates James STEVENSON and Charles MACDONALD – arrived at Jedburgh on Friday evening. No previous announcement had been made of their home-coming and there was no public demonstration.
