State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 17/12/1900, 14/05/1902
Number issued: 15
17/12/1900 presentation
106 Private George Alexander STAYNER [Staynor] (of South Brighton)
53 Private [Lance-Corporal] Thomas MATSON (of East Brighton)
375 Private William George Webster RIGG (of Mordialloc)
14/05/1902 presentation
1239 Private Stanley Moore REYNOLDS
31748 Trooper Leslie Stephen TUCK
Private T. DICK
"Cr. Bent said that he had been asked by the Moorabbin council to present to each of the four returned members of the contingent who were present, a gold medal suitably inscribed as an expression of the gratitude of councillors and ratepayers of an important shire" (Oakleigh Leader, 22/12/1900). The recipients were from East Brighton, South Brighton & Mordialloc.
SUBURBAN WELCOMES.
RETURNED FROM THE WAR.
WELCOME HOME.
TO PRIVATES MATSON, STAYNOR, DAFF AND RIGG.
MOORABBIN.
Privates MATSON (East Brighton), STAYNOR [sic] and DAFF (South Brighton), and RIGG (Mordialloc) received a most enthusiastic welcome home from the South African war at the Shire Hall South Brighton on Monday evening last. As the result of a public meeting the demonstration was made a shire affair and arranged and carried out under the supervision of the shire officers and a large committee of ratepayers.
The hall being too small for the large gathering that was expected a marquee was erected, and the exertions of a section of the committee made it a comfortable rendezvous for some 700 people.
Cr. Bent, M.L.A., the shire president occupied the chair, and he was a surrounded by his fellow councillors, and supported by Colonels Templeton and Otter, Major Rigg, Lieutenant Kessel, and Privates MATSONJ, STAYNOR [sic], DAFF and RIGG, the returned heroes, who occupied a prominent place on the platform. At the foot were the Victorian Rangers and the Moorabbin brass band, who each played appropriate pieces. The following interesting programme was satisfactorily carried out under the directorship of Mr Wilson, Miss Hotton acting as pianiste. Mr Etchells sang boldly, "Scarlet and Blue", and "Soldiers of the Queen", as the chairman remarked, "the opera house canaries joining in the chorus". Miss Ellin sang "Home Sweet Home" very sweetly and feelingly; Miss Parsons sang thie "Dear Home Song" with enthusiasm. Mr C. Judd pleased the lads and lasses with "When Tommy comes Marching Home", and "Where's the War?" Miss Wilson recited "The English Flag "; Mr Elburn rolled out "Majuba" and "The Motherland"; and Miss Barnett with silvery sweetness rang out "To the Front". Two little girls from East Brighton danced a national dance.
When the young warriors entered they were received with cheers and counter cheers, and the proceedings throughout were enlivened with choruses and plaudits from the large concourse and the brazen throated trumpeters, which reminded one of a Salvation Army demonstration.
Cr. Bent said that he had been asked by the Moorabbin council to present to each of the four returned members of the contingent who were present, a gold medal suitably inscribed as an expression of the gratitude of councillors and ratepayers of an important shire. (Cheers). He had been a soldier himself (laughter), and rose to be a sergeant (cheers); but the volunteers were not thought much of, and when New South Wales sent a contingent to the Soudan, it was said that they were playing soldiers. However, they made their mark, and received well-deserved thanks. Wiseacres had said the same thing of the men who went out to South Africa; but they too had altered their mind and they were present that night to welcome them back and to cheer them. (Cheers). Anxious fathers and mothers had watched events in the battlefield. Many aching hearts were made, as strong and valiant men fell before the fire of the enemy or succumbed to the fever. There was cause for rejoicing that night that these "boys" had returned to them safe and sound. (Cheers). They had reason to be proud of the sons of the pioneers of the colony, for they had proved as good as the stock from which they had sprung. (Cheers). He (the speaker) mentioned one important result of the outward march of these men – it had greased the wheels of the new Commonwealth and had hastened its consummation. (Cheers). He expressed the sincerest wishes for the prosperity of the guests, and then proceeded to distribute the medals, and in doing so eulogised their parents who were also held in high esteem for their loyalty and usefulness. (Cheers).
Private MATSON said it had been clearly demonstrated during these welcome meetings that Tom MATSON could not make a speech to save his life. The Australians had the reputation of being able to get under cover; yes, they could get behind a stone, but they always managed to secure their object. In attacking a point at Pretoria, his detachment was well to the front with the Lincolns. The colonials had only one casualty, while the Lincolns lost 40 men in the same place doing the same work. The English soldier did not know much about Australia; they would ask "Are there many white men there?" "What language do they speak?" (Laughter). He thanked them for the hearty welcome accorded. (Cheers).
Private STAYNOR [sic] said that while he was in South Africa he had witnessed many wonderful sights and experienced some very rough times. They had to make good beds on hard stone. It was remarked that our eyes would be opened when we saw the British soldiers. But, as the President had remarked, we came from the same stock, and could more than hold our own. (Cheers). The people were pleased with what we had done, and that repaid them for their trouble. He was not over willing to go out again, but if necessary, he would not hold back. (Cheers). He would tell one of the many incidents in his experience. The day after they entered Pretoria, they were sent out to get wood. They made their way to a house, where the inmates had just cleared out, leaving everything behind. They sold the piano to a woman for 30s., and while she was away getting a cart to remove it one of them sold it to a man for £2. The latter purchaser was a Jewey kind of man and took it away at once, so the woman was left to grieve over the loss of her 30s. He could not tell how much he was grateful for the reception given him that night. (Cheers).
Private DAFF said it did a chap good to be there to receive such a hearty greeting, and the gift would be treasured by him. He referred to the ignorance of the middle classes of the strength of the English. On one occasion while with a flanking party he was asked by a Dutchman, "Is that the British party?" ''Yes", he answered. "How many men are there?" "About 50,000". "Is that all! " "Oh, no! General So-and-so has 50,000", and so on. The astonished man said, "Are there any more left in England?" (Laughter and cheers). To see the British army on the battlefield in south Africa gives me some idea of England's might. It was a sight never to be forgotten. (Cheers).
WELCOME HOME TO EAST AND SOUTH BRIGHTON SOLDIERS.
The “welcome home” and presentation concert and social to the returned soldiers of East and South Brighton last Wednesday proved an unqualified success. The East Brighton Hall was crammed to the doors by an audience fairly boiling over with enthusiasm. The dozen returned soldiers were greeted with cheer upon cheer, and the details of the gathering will live in the minds of those present for many years to come. Cr. W.G. Burgess presided, and was supported by Hon. Thos. Bent, Crs. Storey and Barnett, Major Rigg, and others. The Rangers' Band, under Bandmaster J. Riley, supplied the overture, and also subsequently played selections when light refreshments were handed round. Several musical numbers having been contributed, the chairman proceeded with the presentation of the medals “from the residents of South and East Brighton” to the returned soldiers of their districts. Cr. Burgess referred to the work of the Australians in South Africa in the Empire's cause, which had gained for them a name to be respected throughout the world. Moorabbin had been well represented, and her sons shared in the glory of Australia. The guests of the evening had represented Moorabbin — he did not go because he would make too good a mark for the enemy. Cr. Burgess's remarks were interspersed with cheers, and the building fairly shook as each of the following soldiers received his medal — Corporals DAFF and ETHELL, Lance-Corporal NEWHAM, Privates S. and E. BLACK, T. DICK, F. COLLINS, L. TUCK, F.L. MOLYNEUX, W. NEWHAM, and REYNOLDS. The men each briefly responded, Corporal DAFF being the most eloquent of the contingent.
Corporal DAFF, when trying to express his appreciation of the kindness shown the returned soldiers that night, said that words failed him; but he meant what he said, and they knew what he meant to say. (Laughter). Their welcome was a hearty one, for those who went to South Africa — and came back again. (Laughter and cheers). The blacks formed a considerable portion of the population over there, and for years to come they would; and wiser heads than his would be engaged in the solution of a great, social problem. On one occasion the Boers had taken cattle from some “niggers”, and a party of us was sent with an interpreter to get information. When we got to the kraal, we found that the men were out after the Boers to regain their property, and they returned with 30 or 40 head. We were met by the women, a lot of nice-looking girls — (laughter) — between 18 and 20 years old. (Applause.) You can't tell their age by the way they do up their hair, or the dresses they wear, (Cheers). Well, we had a talk with them — through the interpreter, of course — (“Oh!”). “Are you married?” we enquired. “No”, was the ready response. “How much are you worth in the matrimonial market?” “Two cows a-piece”. The price was too high for us, for we had not a cow between the lot of us, so we had to remain single. (Applause). One night, when they visited a Kaffir kraal, the blacks joyfully handed over to us two prisoners. It had been dark and misty, and two Boers came along, and demanded, in their usual bullying way, to be guided. They went on a little distance, and after gaining a little confidence from the Boers, knocked them in the head and made them prisoners — and proud they were of this piece of business. (Applause). When at Dundee he saw a happy couple out for a drive — oh! it was nice! (Laughter). The conveyance was a Scotch cart— something like a tip dray — but it doesn't tip! (Laughter). Two bullocks were yoked to it, and a black boy in charge of them. And this happy couple were out for a drive; oh! it was nice! (Cheers). He would give them an incident of the war as the column approached a kopje. “Click-clack” came from the summit. We halted, turned all our guns to the “kop”, and boomed away, “click-clack” came the answer. Cannon, Maxim, and rifle poured shrapnel ball into the “kop” with terrible vigour. And “click-clack” was the feeble response. The angry officer gave the order to dismount, and with a rush the column swarmed up the hill. What did they find? An old man sitting in a wheelbarrow popping his Mauser. (Cheers). We captured the poor old man, and wheeled him back with us. (Applause). He had seen the graves of some of bis comrades; at such times he thought of the sorrowing friends at home. These fellows had fought and died for their King and country. He was proud of such fellows ss Fred Clay, of the Scottish Horse, who was brave to the very last. (Applause).
ENTERTAINING RETURNED SOLDIERS.
A hearty welcome home was given in the public hall, East Brighton, to Corporals DUFF [sic], ETHEL and NEWHAM, and Privates E. BLACK, S. BLACK, DICK, COLLINS, MOLLINEUX [sic], NEWHAM, REYNOLDS and TUCK, soldiers of Moorabbin, returned from the war. Mr Burges, J.P., who presided, on behalf of the residents presented each soldier with a gold medal. The proceedings continued with a dance.
