Medals and awards

BACK FROM THE WAR.

RECEPTION TO TROOPER McCURDY.

On Tuesday last Trooper T.J. McCURDY, a member of the Bushmen's contingent, recently invalided home from South Africa, returned to Kerang by the afternoon train. He was met at the station by members of the K Coy. Victorian Rangers and the I Coy. Mounted Rifles, the officers present being Captain Davidson and Lieut. Coleman, of the Rangers, and Lieut. Williamson, of the Mounted Rifles. The Kerang Town Band, under Bandmaster Collins, played See the Conquering Hero Comes, and on Trooper McCURDY alighting from the train he was accorded a very hearty reception by the assembled crowd. A procession headed by the town band was then formed, consisting of a drag conveying Trooper McCURDY, the president of the shire (Cr Curlett) and Crs Cullen and O’Donnell, members of the military, etc. On arriving at the Mechanics' Institute, the chair was taken by Cr Curlett.

After the singing of the National Anthem, the chairman said it gave him great pleasure to be present on that occasion to join in the reception to Trooper McCURDY. They had met to do honor to a young soldier returned from the seat of war, one who had lived here from childhood and had been educated and trained in the district. They were proud of him because he had acquitted himself as a faithful soldier. It was a great honor for him to be able to say that he had fought with the greatest army that ever trod a field of battle and under one of the greatest generals that ever commanded a British army. Private McCURDY had been an eyewitness of scenes which had made their blood run cold as they read the harrowing details of what had taken place at the war. After the experiences their guest had gone through he would, no doubt, appreciate being home again. They had had their comfortable beds to lie upon, while he again and again had to lie upon the cold damp ground, with only the heavens for a covering. He (Cr Curlett) felt very proud of the conduct of their guest, and had come there to welcome him in the name of the citizens of Kerang and the residents of the shire. He hoped he would long live to enjoy the honors showered upon him, and though he did not come back with the Victoria Cross, he had proved himself a hero. (Cheers). The chairman then, on behalf of the citizens, presented Private McCURDY with a beautiful gold locket suitably inscribed.

Song, Australia, Mr Neilson.

Captain Davidson said he was glad to have the opportunity of joining in the reception to Trooper McCURDY. It was only a few months ago that he was a private in the K Coy. Rangers, and since then he had been to South Africa and made a name for himself. The manner in which he and others had acquitted themselves on the battlefield showed that they were equal to their forefathers. Their guest had had some trying experiences and had been in some tight places, but he (the speaker) felt deeply grateful that he had been allowed to return home again and hoped he would remain and give them the benefit of his experience.

Song, Soldiers of the Queen, Lieut. Coleman.

Lieut. Williamson commenced by reading an extract from the London Times, giving a graphic account of the engagement at Elands River, when the British were surrounded by 3000 Boers and defended their convoy against desperate odds. In Trooper McCURDY they had one of the boys who stood in that fight, and he (the speaker) hoped he would live long enough to be able to tell his grandchildren the story of that engagement.

Song, Mr Fraser, Rule Britannia.

Trooper McCURDY, who was received with load cheers, said he desired to thank them very sincerely for the hearty reception they had given him, and also for the presentation. He knew he had a few friends in Kerang but did not expect to meet so many. He then proceeded to relate some of his experiences after landing at Beira, where they had to remain seven days before they could commence landing their horses, which occupied three days. They then started by train for Umtali on a 2ft. gauge line, which passed through some of the most beautiful country he had ever seen in his life. A number of English people lived at Umtali but Beira was mostly peopled by blacks. Their next place of call was Marandellas, where they stopped a week, and then Bamboo Creek, where they camped for a month. During his stay in this part of the country he had tasted the flesh of every wild beast except the lion. They travelled from Marandellas to Bulawayo on horseback, a distance of 250 miles. The travelling was very slow, they could only do 12 miles a day. At Bulawayo they were formed into a rear guard to assist in the advance on Mafeking, but when that town was relieved they were 500 miles away. In due course they arrived at Mafeking, but there was very little to see there, only a few iron houses and some trenches. From what he saw there was no great feat in defending Mafeking after the trenches were dug; the great difficulty was the want of food. From Mafeking they proceeded to Elands River, where their first engagement took place. He gave a graphic description of the fight, and the blood curdling scenes to be witnessed on a battlefield. Subsequently the troops returned to Mafeking and then proceeded to Pretoria by rail. Then a further 70 miles in a north easterly direction, where he received the bullet wound in his head. Trooper McCURDY concluded his interesting address by a brief reference to the nature of the country. He said the Transvaal was admirably suited for farming purposes, and irrigation was practiced on a small scale. The Boer farmer only grew about 20 acres of grain, and used no machinery except a thresher.

BACK FROM THE WAR.

RETURN OF PRIVATE GRIMES.

RECEPTION AT THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Private W. GRIMES, of Cohuna, who proceeded to South Africa with the fifth contingent, returned to Victoria last week, and arrived in Kerang by the afternoon train yesterday. There was a large crowd at the railway station, and as the train came in the Kerang Town Band, under Mr Harridge, acting bandmaster, played a martial air. The military forces were represented by Adjutant-Captain Davidson and Sergeant-Major Wood, K Co.; Lieutenant Williamson, V.M.R.; and Lieutenant Bossence, in command of the Cadets, who mustered in full force. The following acted as a reception committee: — Cr McDonald, president, and Mr D.G. Rattray, secretary of the shire; the Hon. H. Williams, M.L.C., Mr John Cullen, M.L.A., Mr Geo. Adams, J.P., and others. On Private GRIMES walking on crutches alighting from the train he was loudly cheered, and after the usual hand shaking, congratulations, etc., a procession, led by the band, was formed, and marched to the Mechanics' Institute, where a reception was held. Cr McDonald occupied the chair, having the returned soldier on his right, and there were also on the platform members of the military forces and leading citizens already mentioned. The hall was well filled, and at the request of the chairman all joined in singing the National Anthem.

Cr. McDonald said he was pleased to be there to preside over that gathering; but at the same time the duty was not altogether a pleasant one, because Private GRIMES had come back maimed, and would be maimed for life. He had gone forth at his country's call, had taken up arms in its defence, and had thus shown he was possessed of pluck and courage. Private GRIMES, by his conduct on the battlefield, had shown he was one of those men of which heroes were made. When shot down in the Wilmansrust battle he got up and commenced firing away again, and it was through that he had the misfortune to have his right knee injured, which necessitated amputation. The result was he had come back, leaving a portion of his body on the South African veldt. He had been, in the truest sense of the word, a fighting soldier. It was a matter for regret that the war had been prolonged up to the present, but the people on the continent and others who were continually backing up the Boer cause, were to blame for that. What were the Boers fighting for, and what could they hope to gain by prolonging the struggle? They were opposing the only nation where true liberty existed. This war should have terminated long ago. They had heard a good deal about the inhumanity of the British troops, but no enemy had treated the Boers better than they had been treated; in fact they had had far too much consideration. The chairman concluded his remarks by presenting Private GRIMES with a gold locket suitably inscribed, expressing a hope that he would live long to wear it. (Applause).

The Hon. H. Williams remarked that it was often said "Good wine needs no bush", and he felt no words of his were needed to add to the hearty welcome that had been extended to Private GRIMES. Still, he was glad to be able once again to take part in the function of greeting a returned soldier, one of their own lads, and who had proved himself a hero in the battlefield. He had had a varied experience, and had passed through every phase of a soldier’s life. Trooper GRIMES had laid down his life for his country, but in the providence of God he had been able to take it again, and he (the speaker) hoped his life might be long spared and that he would be honored and reverenced everywhere. (Applause).

Mr Wade here recited effectively "The Little Hero".

Mr Cullen expressed the pleasure he felt at being able to join in the welcome to Private GRIMES. He was a native of the Kerang district, and he (the speaker) had known his parents for the last 25 years. He was glad to know that Private GRIMES had answered his country's call but pained that he had had the misfortune to lose a portion of his leg. He had, however, found his way home again and looked in the best of health. This was all the more gratifying when they remembered that he had to travel through difficult country and endure many hardships. (Applause).

Adjutant-Captain Davidson said the duty once again devolved upon them of welcoming back another returned soldier. He had come back minus a portion of one of his limbs, which he had lost at the front, and would never be able to recover it again. Those who went to the front had to pay the penalties of war, and they had ocular demonstration of that by the presence of the soldier who had returned that day. This fact suggested another matter, and the country would have to recognise the fact that Private GRIMES had come back in a condition which would prevent him earning his living, which he had been able to do before leaving Victoria. He would have to be provided with some light employment and he hoped their representatives in Parliament would take the matter up and urge that provision be made for such cases. (Applause).

Song, Army and Navy, Mr E. Williamson, Miss Williamson playing the accompaniment.

Lieut. Williamson said he also felt great pleasure in being able to join in the welcome to a comrade. Of all who had returned none had done their duty more faithfully than Private GRIMES had. The loss of part of a limb carried with it a great honor, which any soldier might envy. A good deal had been said and written about the war, and that it should have been concluded long ere this. It must be remembered that they had not only to fight the Boers in South Africa, but a section in England and a small section in Australia. These people, by their action had helped to prolong the war. If they had belonged to any other nation but Great Britain they would have been in gaol long ere this. It had been said by a previous speaker that Private GRIMES should be rewarded. There was no doubt he would be, if not they would know the reason why. He deserved it at the hands of his country. (Applause).

Private GRIMES was loudly cheered on rising to speak. He desired to thank them sincerely for the reception accorded to him. While fighting for king and country he had only striven to do his duty, and those left behind would, he believed, do likewise. He did not think the war would be over for another two years, as there was too much leniency shown. He knew of his own knowledge that the same men had been captured over and over again. Before the Wilmansrust disaster occurred, a warning had been given that the Boers were about. But no notice was taken of it. The leaders said there was no cause for apprehension. But they soon found out to their cost that there was every cause for alarm Then after the disaster mistakes were made. Medical assistance was not sent at once; if it had been many lives might have been saved. He knew of one doctor who wanted to leave at once in order to assist the wounded and dying, but he wasn’t allowed to travel at night. There was bad generalship somewhere, which was helping amongst other things to prolong the war. He desired once again to thank them for the hearty reception which had been accorded to him. (Applause).

Mr G. Adams, J.P., was glad on behalf of the townspeople to join in welcoming home Private GRIMES, who had been compelled to return home invalided. He hoped his services would be recognised, and he believed there were funds in all the colonies which could be utilised for the purpose. He had no doubt that those who came back maimed would be suitably provided for.

He thought they ought to recognise the liberality of the townspeople in subscribing the necessary funds wherewith to purchase medals as a slight recognition of what their returned soldiers had done for king and country in South Africa. He concluded by moving that the best thanks of that meeting be tendered to the people of Kerang for their donations.

Lieut. Bossence, in seconding the motion said on previous occasions when they had met under similar circumstances it had been an unalloyed pleasure. But it was not so on that occasion. He hoped that those who had been unfortunate enough to be maimed would receive proper treatment at the hands of the authorities. He also hoped that the Cadets would look up to their returned soldiers with respect, and strive to do as well as they had done.

The motion was carried unanimously.

BACK FROM THE WAR.

Kerang, 3rd December.