State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Departure
Date of presentation: 13/02/1900
Number issued: 1
Gold locket, suitably inscribed, to:
New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen –
15 Sergeant [Lance-Corporal] Frank Valentine WEIR
Presentation made on the railway platform, Jerilderie.
Inscribed: “Presented to Lance-Corporal Weir by his Jerilderie friends on his departure with the Bushmen's Contingent to South Africa”.
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Jerilderie Herald, 16th February 1900
Lance-Corporal WEIR, son of Mr Joseph Weir, Stock Inspector of Deniliquin, arrived here on Saturday evening last by train, on his way down to Deniliquin to bid his relatives good-bye prior to his departure with the Bushmen's Contingent to South Africa. On his arrival here he was met by some scores of the residents, who lustily cheered him. On leaving by the Deniliquin coach the same night, the crowd, which numbered about a hundred, saw him off from the Post Office. Before the coach started he was presented with a box of cigars and other comforts, for the journey. He returned here on Tuesday morning, when he was met at the railway platform by a number of friends and well-wishers. Mr A. Sheldrick, on behalf of the people, presented him with a handsome gold locket suitably engraved with the words: “Presented to Lance-Corporal Weir by his Jerilderie friends on his departure with the Bushmen's Contingent to South Africa”. Mr Sheldrick concluded a neat speech by wishing Mr WEIR “God speed and a safe return to his native land”. Mr WEIR briefly thanked them. He said it was particularly gratifying as it was unexpected by him. Although he knew many, some were until then strangers to him, which made it the more pleasing. He promised them that he would endeavour to do his duty as a man and a soldier in the place he was bound for, and that if it were his fate to fall, well, here was his brother to go forward to fill his place at the front (Cheers). He heartily thanked them for their good wishes. On the train starting, cheer after cheer was given for him. We might add that young WEIR's father was in years past a resident of this district, having been manager of the Yanko Station and afterwards of Widgiewa.
