County: Sussex
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 17/06/1901, 18/09/1902
Number issued: 13
17/06/1901 presentation
7082 Private S.A. WILLIAMS
One of the six medals was presented to the parents of Private J.F. Floyd, who died in South Africa. This was inscribed: "Presented by the town of Lewes. Private J.F. Floyd, 1st C.P.R.V., died on active service in South Africa, February 18th, 1901".
18/09/1902 presentation
7160 Private William STEPHENS
Presentation made by the Mayor (Major William Gates), in the Assembly Room, Lewes Town Hall.
Reverse: "PRESENTED BY THE TOWN OF LEWES / to / [Capt. A.F.A. Howe] / (1st C.P.R.V.) / on his return from / ACTIVE SERVICE / in / SOUTH AFRICA / June 17th, 1901".
Reverse: "PRESENTED BY THE TOWN OF LEWES / TO / [Pt H. Humphreys] / (1st C.P.R.V.) / on his return from / ACTIVE SERVICE / in / SOUTH AFRICA / June 1902".
"The medals were made of the finest gold, circular in shape, and of chaste design. The face of each was neatly ornamented with enamels of different colours, the arms of the Borough of Lewes being set in the centre, and surrounded by a blue border, on which was engraved in letters of gold 'Sigillum commne burgi de Lewys'".
THE SMOKING CONCERT.
The Mayor, who was warmly received, said the entertainment they were giving the men that night would not be complete without some tangible recognition of their services in South Africa. The Reception Committee had been enabled, through the generosity of the people of Lewes to entertain the contingent at dinner, to give them some amusement in the shape of a smoking concert, and as a fitting conclusion to present them with some memento which would express the appreciation felt by their fellow townsmen. The memento was something which they could treasure up in years to come, and which would serve to remind them of the time when they were called upon to do forth and fight for their Sovereign and their country. That duty they had performed most manfully (cheers). He was sure that the medals which they would be the proud possessors of would be treasured with feelings of pride, and he hoped that these tokens of their townspeople’s gratitude would be worn by them with no less feelings of pride than the other medal which they would receive from the country (cheers). In the name of the people of Lewes, it was his privilege and pleasure to ask Captain HOWE and the four men who had been out to the front to accept these small mementoes of appreciation of the service they had rendered on behalf of their country – he could say their Queen and country, for when they went out Queen Victoria occupied the Throne, but now, on their return, they found that high position filled by her son, the King. He had no doubt that if the necessity ever again arose they would come forward with the same enthusiasm, and the same military ardour to fight for their King and country (cheer).
The Mayor, in terms of congratulation and gratitude, then handed the mementoes to Capt. HOWE and his four comrades, each recipient being loudly cheered as he proudly accepted the mark of honour from the hands of the Chief Magistrate.
Captain HOWE, who had another tremendous reception, on behalf of his comrades and himself thanked the people of Lewes for the kind way in which they had recognised their services in South Africa. Speaking for himself and his men, he could say they would treasure those medals all their lives. They could have no greater pleasure than to know what little they had done had given satisfaction to the people at home (cheers).
LEWES ACTIVE SERVICE VOLUNTEERS ENTERTAINED.
YESTERDAY.
The dinner and smoking concert, at which the Lewes contingent of the 2nd Sussex Volunteer Service Company were entertained last (Thursday) evening, gave every promise of being a successful gathering and a worthy recognition of the services which they rendered to their King and country at a critical time. The dinner took place at the White Hart Hotel at six o’clock, and was to be followed by a smoking concert at the Assembly Room, at which it was arranged to present the late Active Service Volunteers with medallions. About forty local Reservists and Volunteers who have served at the front were invited to the dinner, which was also attended by the Mayor (Alderman Major Gates), the ex-Mayor (Councillor Holman), Captain A.F.A. Howe, Lieutenant H.F. Holman, Lieutenant A.J.R. Uridge, Councillor Every, Councillor Pelling, Mr Aubrey Hillman, Mr A. Russell, Mr W. Lintott, Mr Martin Cobbett, Mr G. Newington, Mr R. Weston, and Mr F. Newington. The members of the 2nd Contingent of the Volunteer Active Service Company present were Colour-Sergeant WILLIS, Privates ARMITAGE, ANSELL, DAVIS, SAXBY, HUMPHREYS, and STEPHENS.
LEWES ACTIVE SERVICE VOLUNTEERS ENTERTAINED.
PRESENTATION OF MEDALLIONS.
The dinner and smoking concert , at which the Lewes contingent of the 2nd Sussex Volunteer Active Service Company were entertained on Thursday evening, were successful gatherings and a worthy recognition of the services which they rendered to their King and country at a critical time. The dinner took place at the White Hart Hotel at six o’clock, and was followed by a smoking concert at the Assembly Room, at which it was arranged to present the late Active service Volunteers with medallions. …….
THE SMOKING CONCERT.
The company then adjourned to the Assembly Room, where a smoking concert was held in honour of the returned Volunteers. There was a moderately large attendance of townspeople and members of the local companies of Volunteers. The Mayor took the chair, and was supported by the Ex-Mayor, the Rev. Dr Belcher, Alderman Buckman, Dr Burbidge, Councillor Miles, Mr F. Newington, Mr H. Tuff, Colour-Sergt. Willis, Sergeant Crosskey, and the men of the second section of the Active service Volunteers.
……. The only decorations were at the platform end of the room, where the loyal sentiment, “God Save the King”, was displayed amongst the embellishments. Small tables covered with scarlet bunting were dotted about the room, the centre table being reserved for the Mayor and the men from the front. Most of the Volunteers present wore their uniform, which gave a touch of colour to the scene.
……. The Mayor then rose to perform the ceremony of presenting the medals (subscribed for by the townspeople) to the members of the second section. He said the Ex-Mayor and himself had already that evening welcomed the Volunteers, and therefore he did not think it necessary to say much in performing the ceremony of presenting the medallions which the people of Lewes were pleased to give to the returned Volunteers. Perhaps he ought to say some few words in reference to the pride which the people of Lewes felt at having so many boys at the front. They came forward at a time when they were wanted, at a time when it was thought necessary to call upon the Volunteer forces of the country to go and assist the Army in South Africa. They in Lewes felt proud that there were so many Volunteers in the town who were willing and anxious to represent them in South Africa (cheers). He could assure them that the townspeople had watched their doings, had thought of them, and were always glad to hear of their welfare at the front. The Volunteers were doubtless proud of having had the opportunity of showing that the military work they had been doing year after year was a reality, and that they were ready to fight for their King and country, side by side with the Regular Army. They were delighted on that eventful day – the 26th June – to welcome back the second Active Service Section. They came back just at the time when many of the townspeople were at church supplicating God to restore the King to health, and it was most fitting that the returned men should have gone to the church as they did to join in that supplication. He was glad to see them all apparently in good health, and trusted that they would live long and happy lives. The townspeople wished to do something more than simply welcome them back; they wished to give them something which would remind them of their having helped to fight the battles of their country. It was his pleasant duty, on behalf of the townspeople, to ask them to accept a medallion each, as a memento of their fellow townspeople’s gratitude for the services they had rendered (cheers).
His Worship then handed each of the members of the section a medallion, the gallant fellows being heartily cheered as they received the interesting souvenirs.
The programme was then resumed, …….
