Medals and awards

LOUGHBORO’ ACTIVE SERVICE VOLUNTEERS.

PRESENTATION AT THE TOWN HALL.

At the Town Hall, Loughborough, yesterday afternoon, each of the eleven Loughborough members of the Active Service Company of Volunteers was presented with a silver three-quarter English keyless lever watch, with bracket hair-spring – fully jewelled – and a sterling silver albert of graduated curb pattern, to which is attached a silver medal as pendant. These were supplied by Mr F. Stubbs, of Loughborough. On the obverse of the medal is embossed the borough arms, and on the reverse is the following inscription: “South Africa, 1900-1901”. There has not been sufficient time for the watches to be engraved on the domes with the initials on the backs, but this will be done later on.

At five minutes past two the eleven men, who were in khaki uniform, marched through the hall, under the command of Sergeant-Instructor Rudge, and took up seats immediately in front of the platform. They had a splendid reception. The Mayor (Ald. T. Mayo) presided. …….

The Mayor, rising amid loud cheers, said: “Before presenting these watches, chains, and medals, I must make a few remarks, and I quite accept my part of the responsibility in calling the meeting this afternoon – an untimely meeting as some may call it – but under the circumstances I thought it was best to do so. I may say that on the 30th of May the Active Service Volunteers belonging to the borough, who, I am sure, we are all pleased to meet and honour on this occasion, were welcomed home after voluntarily undergoing the perils of war at their country’s call. (Cheers). The enthusiasm which marked every step of those proceedings, remarkable though it undoubtedly was, and giving striking expression to the spontaneous feelings of our townsmen towards these gallant men who had brought by their conduct not only lustre on themselves but credit to the town, was no more than they deserved. (Loud cheers). In fact, it is an honour to any town, and is certainly so regarded, to possess such worthy sons. (Cheers). On the evening of their homecoming, I intimated that we intended to make some tangible recognition of their services, and we meet now to give that intention effect. No more agreeable office has fallen to my lot during my Majority than the making of this presentation. (Hear, hear). What I say of myself I am sure is also equally true of every subscriber. It is with the greatest pleasure that I now proceed to make the presentation on behalf of the subscribers. (Loud cheers).

The men then mounted the platform one by one and received their present amid loud cheering. The following are the names of the recipients: – Corporal LOVETT, Privates PARTRIDGE, TANSLEY, FLETCHER, PERKINS, HIGGINS, SWANN, MORRIS, DAKIN, ANGRAVE, and HARRIS.

The presentation over, Councillor W.H. Wootton proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor for making the presentation.

Corporal LOVETT begged to second the proposition on behalf of his comrades. They would never forget the kind way in which they had been treated by the Mayor both on going away, returning home, and on the present occasion.

The Mayor, in reply, referred to the reception which awaited them at Leicester, and hoped they would spend a pleasant afternoon and evening. They would not get a better welcome in Leicester than they had received in Loughborough, he felt sure. (Cheers). The inhabitants of Leicester would give them a county welcome undoubtedly as hearty as they in Loughborough had done, but then they were their own people, and the welcome Loughborough gave them must naturally be greater than that of comparative strangers, as it were. He must once more thank them for the privilege they had given him in presenting the presents, and he hoped the recipients would be long spared to wear the watches and chains, and that they would hand them down to their children. (Loud cheers).