County: Ayrshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 10/06/1901
Number issued: 3
Gold badges, to:
7572 Private James TYRE
Presentation made by Mrs McAndrew (of Knock Castle), on a platform erected on the esplanade, Largs.
LARGS.
The men who volunteered for South Africa 16 months ago, returned to Largs on Monday evening. They were met at the station by the Artillery and Rifle Volunteers, the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Councillors, and a large number of the inhabitants. A procession was formed, and the company, accompanied by a band of pipers, marched along Main Street to the esplanade north of the pier. Here a platform had been erected, and in addition to the municipal authorities, there were present Mr and Mrs McAndrew, of Knock Castle; the Rev. J. Keith, D.D.; Rev. Canon Low, and a number of prominent townsmen. The chair was occupied by Provost Dewar Paton, and after prayer by the Rev. Dr Keith, the chairman said he had been asked by the Town Councillors as representing the community, to welcome our fellow-townsmen returned from South Africa. After mentioning the occasion, as being unprecedented in the annals of the parish, and the meeting, numbering about 2,500, as being the largest public gathering ever held in Largs,
The Chairman said: – Patriotism has ever flourished on Scottish soil. With the single exception of the ancient Jews, whose wonderful history as a nation is recorded in the oldest of all histories – there is no nation which has a nobler, or a grander history than our beloved Scotland – whether we regard her wars for independence, or her battles for civil and religious liberty, and in no part of our country will you find more of the patriotic spirit than in the old historic town of Largs. Forty years ago, when the volunteer movement was started, there was no town in Scotland which enrolled a larger number of volunteers in proportion to its population than Largs, and the record is still maintained. In my school days there was no history used in the school but the history of Scotland, and no pages in it were so often read, or so well thumbed, as those which recorded the battle of Bannockburn and the Battle of Largs. Since 1263, when this famous battle was fought with the Norwegians on the plain south of Gogo Burn, no foreign foe has ever landed on the British Isles, and to that memorable battle “Fought so long ago, Do we our independence owe”. This victory is famed in Scottish song and story, and to the patriot this battlefield is classic ground. With such a record, it would be strange indeed if a town which witnesses such deeds of patriotism, and around which cluster so many historical memories of days gone by – it would be strange indeed if we did not give our brave Volunteers a right hearty “welcome home”. One other remark, I would like to make. In many towns where a “welcome home” has been given to those who have returned – there has been a feeling of sadness mingled with the general rejoicing. Not every Volunteer who went to the front has returned to home and friends. In many a home there is a vacant chair, and many a mother childless, owing to this regrettable war. But in the good Providence of God, whose protecting Hand has preserved them from all dangers, none of our local men have been killed in battle, or been decimated by disease, and today we welcome their return, safe and sound, to the dear old country and their dear old homes. When we reflect on all the hardships and the privations our Volunteers have undergone – living for weeks at a time without even changing their clothing – exposed in summer to the fierce heat of a burning tropical sun when marching day after day; when we reflect on all that our brave Volunteers have done and suffered in such an inhospitable country, I venture to say that your welcome to them will be a more enthusiastic one. May I, therefore, now call upon you to give expression to your joy at their safe return, by giving to them a loud cheer, a long cheer, and a cheer altogether.
After the cheering had subsided, the chairman introduced the returned volunteers to Mrs McAndrew, of Knock Castle, who, after shaking hands with them and congratulating them on their safe return, presented them with handsome gold badges, subscribed for by the inhabitants.
The Rev. Canon Low, D.D., moved a vote of thanks to Mrs McAndrew for so gracefully making the presentations, and Mr McAndrew replied.
