State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 07/03/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, suitably inscribed, to:
Reverse: "Presented by the inhabitants of Morpeth and district".
The edges are raised, and it is surrounded with a cable, whilst the muzzles and stocks of two rifles, having the appearance of being crossed, project from the edges. On one side is the inscription “Presented by the inhabitants of Morpeth and district”, and on the over, “Farrier Sergeant Connors, in recognition of his conduct in South Africa, 1900”.
Return of Sergeant Connors.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME AT MORPETH.
Notwithstanding the huge counter attraction in the circus the public welcome accorded at Morpeth last evening to Farrier-Sergeant CONNORS, who recently returned, invalided home from South Africa, was of a most cordial and enthusiastic character. It was formerly intended to hold the reception a few weeks back, but owing to the lamentable death of her late Majesty Queen Victoria, the movement was postponed. However, the matter was subsequently taken in hand again, and much enthusiasm was evinced in the undertaking. A committee was formed, and subscriptions were solicited, the collectors meeting with very liberal responses from all those whom they approached. At a subsequent meeting it was decided to present Farrier-Sergeant CONNORS with a, medal and purse of sovereigns in recognition of his services to the Empire.
The returned soldier was met at the Morpeth railway station by Major Waddy and the committee, and a torchlight procession, headed by the Morpeth Band, and in which the Fire Brigade and many citizens took part, was then formed, and the main streets of the municipality were paraded, after which an adjournment was made to the School of Arts. Considerable enthusiasm wits manifested in this part of the proceedings, Sergeant CONNORS being frequently lustily cheered.
At the Council Chambers the Mayor (Alderman Fox) and the Aldermen, officially received Sergeant CONNORS, and the visitors.
An adjournment was then made to the School of Arts, where the public reception took place. The hall was filled to overflowing, the majority of those present being ladies. The Mayor (Alderman Fox) presided and there were also seated on the platform, Sergeant CONNORS (the returned soldier), Major Waddy, Captain Scobie, B Company, and Captain Langwill, D (Morpeth) Company of the Fourth Infantry Regiment, together with Aldermen Sim and Swan. Trooper A.C. TUCK, late of Brabant's Horse, was also present.
Apologies wore received from the Hon. J.N. Brunker, M.P., and Colonel Ranclaud, Commandant of the 4th Infantry Regiment, (who stated that he had requested Major Waddy to represent him) and Captain Markwell of the Lancers.
The Mayor, introduced Sergeant CONNORS to the audience, and in making the presentation referred to the gratitude that they all should feel for the volunteers in general for their services to the Empire and more especially to Australians. He heartily congratulated Sergeant CONNORS on his safe return, and tendered him a very hearty welcome on behalf of the residents of the town. He then handed the returned soldier on behalf of the citizens a very handsome gold medal and purse of sovereigns, as a slight appreciation of their esteem.
Addresses were also delivered by Major Waddy, Captains Scobie and Langwill, and Aldermen Swan and Sim, all of whom expressed their pleasure at seeing Sergeant CONNORS back amongst them again.
Sergeant CONNORS suitably replied.
The medal, which is a massive and handsome one, was procured from the establishment of Mr J. Hart, of West Maitland, where it was specially made. It is of very unique design. The edges are raised, and it is surrounded with a cable, whilst the muzzles and stocks of two rifles, having the appearance of being crossed, project from the edges. On one side is the inscription “Presented by the inhabitants of Morpeth and district”, and on the over, “Farrier Sergeant Connors, in recognition of his conduct in South Africa, 1900”.
MORPETH.
RETURN OF A SOLDIER.
It was proposed to give a welcome to Farrier-Sergeant CONNORS to celebrate his return to Morpeth from South Africa, but the news of the death of the Queen arriving the meeting was adjourned sine die. The present Mayor of Morpeth, thinking the matter should not lie dormant, brought it forward again with a very successful result, for with such enthusiasm as will be brought to the movement when Mr G. Flouse is secretary, Major Waddy principal speaker, and several committeemen who desire to go one better than Major Waddy, success is certain.
Mr CONNORS was met at the Morpeth railway station on Wednesday evening by the committee, and headed by the town band, the procession marched to the School of Arts. At the door of the council chamber the Mayor (Mr F.E. Fox) formally welcomed the returned soldier.
An adjournment to the hall of the School of Arts at once took place, and the large hall was soon packed by an admiring audience.
In introducing the returned soldier, the Mayor said that they had met to perform a very pleasing duty, namely to welcome home from South Africa one of the Australian Bushman Contingent and to present him with a slight token of their appreciation of his conduct when there. He also thought they owed a debt of gratitude to their volunteers, men who, regardless of time and expense, had employed their leisure hours for years past in preparing themselves in case of need to defend the honour of the old country, and who when the occasion arose had shown to England, Europe, and the whole world that Australia is British to the core. Sergeant CONNORS, whom he now begged to introduce to them, is a volunteer among volunteers. Long before he (the Mayor) had the pleasure of his personal acquaintance he heard of his enthusiasm military matters – an enthusiasm which had led him to volunteer for every contingent leaving Australia from the Soudan to the present time. He was one of those who had helped to prove to the whole world that Australia is a power to be reckoned with by any nation meditating an attack upon the British Empire, and he had helped to make the name of the Australian Bushmen's Contingent a record in history. He was sure they were all pleased to see Sergeant CONNORS home again safe and round, and he wished them to join with him in extending to the gallant sergeant a hearty welcome upon his return home. Addressing the guest of the evening, the Mayor said it was his pleasing duty on behalf of the inhabitants of Morpeth and the district to present him with a medal and purse of sovereigns as a small token of their appreciation of his conduct in South Africa. After the kind remarks made to him by his superior officers he felt that there was little left for him (the Mayor) to say except to trust that he might long be spared to wear the medal as a memento of the kindly feeling and high esteem expressed towards him that evening.
Major Waddy, Captains Scobie and Langwill, Aldermen Swan and Sim, also addressed the meeting, and expressed their pleasure at being able to take part in the presentation.
The medal, a massive gold one, has a cable surrounding it, whilst projecting are the muzzles and stocks of a couple of rifles, as though they were crossed. In the interior it is inscribed "Farrier-Sergeant Connors in recognition of his conduct in South Africa, 1900", and on the other side, "Presented by the inhabitants of Morpeth and district".
Sergeant CONNORS, in replying, said that he appreciated the kindness of the townspeople towards him in presenting him with such a handsome medal which would be treasured not only by himself, but by his children, and handed on to their children in the future.
