Country: New Zealand
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 04/06/1902
Number issued: 2
Gold medals, to:
SOCIAL TO RETURNED TROOPERS.
A social, under the auspices of the Lawrence Football Club, was tendered to Trs. R. McKAY and A. WILSON, of N.Z. Sixth Contingent, in the Town Hall on Wednesday night. The evening was fine and there was a very large gathering to do honor to the returned soldiers. The ladies, who had kindly volunteered their assistance in carrying out the details of the social, had the hall tastefully decorated with evergreens and numerous flags, the Union Jack being prominent. Over the proscenium the motto "Welcome" was prominent, other mottos and pictures of Lords Roberts and Kitchener adorning the sides. His Worship the Mayor (Mr W.F. Smyth) presided, and on the platform with him were Mr Eyes (President of the Football Club), Rev. J.A. Will, Mr B. Winn, and Trs. McKAY, WILSON, LABES (Tuapeka Flat), and McKENZIE (Waitahuna). The Tuapeka Brass Band played several appropriate selections in front of the hall prior to the social.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said one had only to look around the hall at the very large audience to do honor to their young friends to realise the splendid loyalty that existed towards the Mother Country. He hoped all present would thoroughly enjoy themselves. ……..
The Chairman said they were present under the auspices of the Lawrence Football Club to celebrate the home-coming of Trs. McKAY and WILSON, ex-members of the Club. A characteristic of the British was their love of field sports and athletic games, and among the latter football and cricket held a prominent place. It had been said that the British soldier was made on the cricket fields of Britain, and he thought the same remark applied equally to the football ground. Whether that was so or not, they found their young footballers taking with them to the battlefields of South Africa all the qualities of their ancestors – bravery, endurance, and devotion to the Mother Country. They would remember how, when the first call for aid was made, the young New Zealanders came forward in thousands, eager to risk life and all its pleasing associations in defence of the triple cross, the grand old Union Jack, beneath the folds of which their forefathers both on land and sea had won honor and renown. It was gratifying to know that the New Zealanders had, throughout the campaign, taken a distinguished part, and that their soldierly qualities had won the admiration of their generals and commanding officers. They knew that they were fighting a brave, subtle, and stubborn foe, who by their continued fighting — now happily at an end — endurance, and devotion to a lost cause had merited admiration. New Zealanders had, by their conspicuous bravery and endurance in the great struggle, proved themselves, worthy scions of the fighting race from which they had come. He could not pay them a higher compliment. He was sure they were all proud to know that New Zealand was nurturing a race of young men who, should the call to arms ever resound on their shores, would be found willing, ready, and able to protect the hearths and homes of their native land. He could not refrain from commenting on the fact that considering the number of men who had gone from this district not one had come home with a wound or scar to remind them of their experience on the battlefield. He was sure Trs. McKAY and WILSON would be highly pleased at seeing such an enthusiastic gathering to celebrate their home-coming and he had no doubt the memory of the event would be cherished by them during the remainder of their lives. He concluded by wishing them both a very hearty welcome home. — (Loud applause). …….
Songs having been contributed by Mr McClymont and Miss Leech, Mr Eyes, president of the Lawrence Football Club, said he had a very [pleasant] duty to perform, – viz., to make a small presentation to Troopers McKAY and WILSON. He expressed hist great pleasure at seeing so many present to take part with the Football Club in according them a thoroughly enthusiastic welcome home from the Transvaal. — (Applause). The movements of the Sixth New Zealand Contingent had, he said, been watched with considerable interest by members of the Club knowing as they did that it contained two of their old comrades in the football field. The members of the Club were proud to see them go forth to fight for their King and country and they were now equally pleased to have the opportunity of welcoming them back to their native town. In appreciation of their service to the Empire, he had now much pleasure on behalf of the Club in presenting each of them with a gold medal which they all hoped they would be long spared to wear and at the same time wishing them, "good luck, prosperity, ana happiness". He then called for three cheers for Trs. McKAY and WILSON which were heartily responded to.
Trs. McKAY and WILSON each briefly expressed their thanks for the very hearty welcome accorded them by their football comrades. The first part of the programme was brought to a close by the footballers giving an enthusiastic rendering of their well-known football song, "On the ball".
At this stage a liberal supply of refreshments were handed round, the wants of all being eagerly attended to by quite a host of willing assistants.
The second part of the programme opened with a song by Miss Le Brun who had to respond to an undeniable encore. Miss Morrison and Mr D. Mitchell followed with a duet, the theme of which was domestic troubles which kept the audience in continual laughter during its recital. An encore was demanded, but the singers merely bowed their acknowledgment.
Mr B.W. Winn, vice-president of the Football Club, said he was pleased to have an opportunity of saying a few words on so important an occasion. In the course of a lengthy speech he eulogised the loyal spirit that had been manifested by the young men of the district in volunteering and going to the front, and said it was only right on the part of the inhabitants when they returned, that they should receive some recognition for their services and a hearty welcome home. He gave it as his opinion that had it not been for the great assistance rendered by the colonies in South Africa they would not yet have celebrated the declaration of peace. He referred to the excellent health that had been enjoyed by their local representatives. So far, they had all come back better men in every respect than when they went away. He referred to the unfriendly feeling that had been shown towards Britain by the Continental nations during the earlier stage of the war. They looked upon her as a worn-out old lion with a lot of useless cubs, which, instead of being a source of help were a source of weakness to her. To their amazement they had found it to be exactly the reverse. The colonies had rallied round the Mother Country in such a manner and with such effect as to cause them to alter their views and probably to think twice before picking a quarrel with the ancient lion. He predicted that in a very short time we would find the Boers a source of strength to the British Empire. They would quickly recognize the benefits of British rule and heartily join in upholding it in South Africa. He concluded a very enthusiastic speech by calling for three cheers for the parents of the returned troopers.
The Chairman said he did not think they could bring this celebration to a close without awarding a just meed of praise to their Premier, the Right Hon. R.J. Seddon. To him was due the honor of proffering to the Mother Country the services of the First Contingent and by his subsequent actions during the war he had placed himself in the first rank of colonial statesmen and won for himself a niche in the roll of Britain's patriots. He had no doubt when he reached London for the Coronation ceremony, he would make a name for himself there as he had done in the colonies. — (Applause.)
Cheers were then called for Trs. LABES and McKENZIE.
Mr J. Bryant, captain of the Football Club, thanked those present for their attendance and also the ladies who had so kindly come to their assistance in carrying out the details of the social.
This was carried by acclamation, and the meeting concluded by the singing of the National Anthem.
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