County: Ulster
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 28/06/1901
Number issued: 25
Gold medals and parchment scrolls, to:
35499 Trooper Stewart SCOTT
11123 Trooper John THOMPSON
11083 Trooper Robert McILWEE [McElwee] (absent)
31970 Trooper John Alexander IRWIN
Presentation made by the Mayoress of Londonderry (Mrs Miller), in Gwyn's Park.
PRESENTATION OF GOLD MEDALS TO LOCAL YEOMANRY.
The ceremony of presenting gold medals to the members of the Imperial Yeomanry from Derry and locality was none the less interesting because there was a complete absence from it of that shouting, staggering and swaggering which brought discredit on the London C.I.V. reception, and turned many sensible people in England against the “Mafficking methods” which were largely in the air last year. Though lacking in extravagant enthusiasm it is but right to say that Friday’s proceedings were very orderly, and as a social fixture the event was very well arranged. Not a little of the success attending the presentation was due to the weather, which was magnificent, and made Gwyn’s Park, where the assemblage met, look very attractive in the bright emerald tints of early summer.
From the Guildhall, at 3.30 p.m., the band of the Royal Irish Rifles, under its conductor, Mr Cunningham, led the way, and with the Mayor (Councillor Miller) and the hon. secretary (Sir Newman Chambers) were, amongst others, the following members of the Reception Committee – Sir E. Reid, Mr William Tillie (lieutenant of the city), Colonel Knox, D.L., Mr J.A. Alexander, J.P., Mr S.M.K. Smiley, Mr William Colhoun, Mr W. Ferris, Mr J.C. Glendinning, Mr D.W. Boal, Mr A. McC. Stewart, Mr C.S. Caldwell, Mr Matthew Ballantine, Mr A. McClintock, Mr T.G. Bible, Dr McCurdy, Mr R.H. Algeo, Mr Thomas McCully, &c.
Behind the Reception Committee came the members of the 1st Derry Boys’ Brigade, with Captain Hogg and Lieutenant Jack as officers.
Upon the arrival of the procession, an interval of over half-an-hour was agreeably occupied by the ladies and gentlemen having tea, which was supplied by Mr Foster with a well-organised body of attendants.
At half-past four, the Mayor, who presided, requested Captain Leo MOORE to have the Yeomen formed up in front. Under Captain Moore were Sergeant-Major W. BYRON, Sergeant WHITESIDE, Sergeant J. MOODY, Sergeant J.E. HENDERSON, Troopers John HENDERSON, J. ALLEN, M. DONNELL, Joesph CAMPBELL, Arnold HENRY, Ben JOHNSTON, J. THOMPSON, R. BURGESS, and J. IRWIN, Farrier-Sergeant ROBINSON, Sergeant-Major KIRK, and Trooper SCOTT. In addition, medals were struck for Lieutenant David MOONEY, who is still in South Africa, and Troopers Austin HALL, Arthur JEFFREYS, M. LOWRY, R. McELWEE, Hugh LYLE, Ernest ADAIR, and C. COWAN, who were absent.
Mrs Miller wore a dress of blue poplin, with cream applique trimming, white chiffon ruffle and chiffon toque, with pink roses.
The Mayor, who on rising was cordially received, said – Captain Moore, men of the Imperial Yeomanry, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the reception committee and the citizens of the native city of most of you, I beg to bid a hearty welcome on your safe return from the seat of war – (cheers) – a war probably the most eventful that has happened or will happen in our time; and in bidding you welcome, I can only say that your fellow-citizens, as well as the whole nation, are deeply grateful for the way in which in the dark days that occurred in the end of the year 1899, when the call was made upon you, you responded to it. For the manner in which you gave up the home comforts to which all your lives you have been accustomed and showed that you were prepared, if necessary, to give up that which is dear to us all – your lives – has endeared you in the hearts of your fellow-countrymen. (Cheers). For this conduct we are deeply anxious to show you our appreciation of your services. This is not the time to enter into the question of the rights and wrongs of the war. We leave that to others to discuss, but whatever our feelings may be as to the rights or wrongs of it, an Irishman can always appreciate worth wherever he finds it; and I say, without fear of contradiction, that in the annals of this war, when they come to be written, there will be no more glorious page than that which tells of the pluck, the endurance, and the heroism which has been shown by Irishmen through it from start to finish. (Cheers). The opening days of that war showed that wherever the fighting was hardest, wherever the danger was greatest, Irishmen, no matter whether from North or South, no matter what their class or creed – Irishmen were there, prepared to take what might come. (Cheers). You have shown yourselves “Strong, with strength of race, To command, to obey, to endure” – (cheers) – and we are proud of you today.
While we congratulate you on your safe return, I feel I should be wanting in the duty placed upon me if I did not say a word about those comrades you have left behind. For some of them the “Last Post” has sounded, and we can only say to those who are sorrowing that they have our deepest sympathy, (Hear, hear). They have the solace that their friends gave their lives for their country. To those invalided we wish a speedy return to health and strength.
I would ask you, Captain Moore and your men, not to judge our appreciation for your services by the intrinsic value of the souvenir we are about to present. We only ask you to accept these medals that they may remind you of the appreciation of your fellow-citizens for the manner in which you offered your services, and we also hope that in the days to come, and when you are no more, that those who come after you may feel proud of their forbears who received such a token of appreciation. (Applause).
The Yeomen then advanced singly, and, amid applause, the Mayoress fastened the medal on the left breast of each. Each Yeoman received, in addition to the medal, a parchment scroll signed by the Mayor and hon. secretary, bearing the words – “You have this day received from the hands of the Mayoress of Derry a golden badge as a lasting memorial of your fellow-citizens’ admiration of your courage, loyalty, and obedience to duty in the South African war. You voluntarily devoted your life to the service of your country, and it is by such deeds that the annals of a nation are enriched and heroes created. May this golden token and this parchment transmit the memory of your bravery to your remote descendants, and may God ever guide and guard you”. The vellum scroll was enscribed at the Sentinel Office. The medal bore the City Arms, enamelled in heraldic colours, and enclosed in a circlet of gold bearing the words “South Africa”. The medals were ordered from Messrs Deane & Co.
Captain MOORE, amid cheers, stepped upon the dais and begged to be allowed to return grateful thanks on his own and his men’s behalf for the kind manner in which they had been welcomed home. The welcome was no greater than the pleasure it gave the men to receive it. During many a long march and many a hard day’s fighting they had been buoyed up by a knowledge of the faith the people of Londonderry had in them. (Cheers). He was unfortunate in his own squadron in losing two Derrymen, both well-known – one Trooper AUSTIN, the other Trooper D.M. CARRON – both excellent soldiers and good fellows. He knew that Captain Ward was thoroughly delighted with his Derry Yeomen, and he was no more so than he (Captain Moore) was with his. (Cheers). He assured the Mayoress that the medals she had been good enough to present to them they would always honour in the same way as her husband did the one he wore so worthily round his neck. (Cheers).
