State: Quebec, Canada
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 09/11/1900
Number issued: 2
Gold lockets, to:
Presentation made by the Mayor (Mr J.J. Kirkpatrick), in the hall, Montreal West.
MONTREAL WEST.
Warm Welcome Extended to Two Men Returned from South Africa.
Notwithstanding the severity of the storm on Friday last, the citizens of Montreal West turned out in full force to welcome home from South Africa Messrs Wm. BAMFORD and R.D. McDONALD.
The pyrotechnic display which had been planned for the early portion of the evening, had, of course, to be abandoned. The hall was beautifully decorated with flags. Messrs BAMFORD and McDONALD were escorted to the platform by a guard of honour composed of the khaki-clad Montreal West Cadets, who occupied the platform; the chair being occupied by Mr J.J. Kirkpatrick, mayor of the town. In the audience were many uniformed men, a number of citizens wearing service medals, a squad of Westmount Cadets in their brilliant uniform, under the command of Capt. Greaves, and Piper Singleton.
The events of the evening were the presentation to the guests; the first being a very handsome gold locket bearing on one side the monogram of the recipient and on the other a suitable inscription; the lockets were presented by Mayor Kirkpatrick, on behalf of the Town of Montreal West; the second presentation was made by Mr B.W. Grigg, on behalf of the citizens and consisted of a purse containing ten sovereigns for each; the purses were borne by the two smallest members of the Montreal West Cadets.
The evening’s entertainment was made up of patriotic songs by the school children; patriotic speeches by the Rev. T.A. Pratt, and Dr Kelly, and Messrs B.W. Grigg, Chas. McClatchie; recitations by Mr B.W.N. Grigg, and exhibitions of physical drill, bayonet and sword exercise by the Westmount and Montreal West Cadets, and selections on the pipes by Piper Singleton.
Mr W. BAMFORD, in a few remarks, thanked the donors for their consideration and assured them of his willingness to answer the call for Queen and Empire at any time, and concluded by asking three hearty cheers for “The Widow of Windsor”, which were given with a right good will.
Mr McDONALD after returning thanks, gave an interesting account of the work of our boys in South Africa, growing particularly eloquent when describing the engagement at Paardeberg and following the march from there to Pretoria.
