State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 11/05/1901
Number issued: 6
15-ct gold Maltese crosses, to:
284 Trooper Victor YATES
254 Trooper Edward SWEENEY
104 Trooper Daniel Peter MEEHAN (died, Pretoria, 18/01/1901 - medal given to his mother)
Presentation made by Mr FitzGerald, in the School of Arts, Muswellbrook.
Reverse: "MUSWELLBROOK / 11.5.01 / [TROOPER E. SWEENEY] / SOUTH AFRICA 1900-1 / FROM THE PEOPLE OF / TOWN & DISTRICT".
Sweeney example sold through eBay, 15/03/2015 (worn & brooched).
Smoke Concert.
The final public welcome to our returned soldiers was tendered on Saturday night last at a smoke- concert in the School of Arts, when the walls were well filled with volunteers and other townsmen. The hall was nicely decorated for the occasion with various flags of the Empire, and round the hall were displayed the words, "When the Empire Calls", "Australia, home and beauty", "Australia's sons are ready", and "Fidelis et Paratus", besides the English Coat of Arms.
The Mayor (Mr E.C. Brecht) presided, and tendered apologies for the absence of Messrs J.C. White, R.T. Keys, E. Higgens, T. Blunt and J.P. Gradwell. He then proposed the first toast on the list "The King", and soon afterwards "The Governor-General".
Mr P. Healy proposed "The Army and Navy, coupled with the name of Major-General French". He said we were proud of our army and navy, and hoped that Britain would long continue to hold the proud position which she has so long enjoyed — Mistress of the Seas. British soldiers were renowned for their bravery, and Australians now being part of the British army, we could appreciate those soldiers all the more.
Captain Bowman responded. He said that a little more than 12 months ago he looked upon himself and the men under his command as New South Wales volunteers, but, as a result of the actions of the Australians in the South African war he was proud to think that they were now reckoned among the soldiers of Great Britain.
The Chairman proposed, "The returned soldiers". He said that we knew from reports by leading gentlemen in South Africa the soldiers from Australia formed a part of those who received the highest praise that could be bestowed on any body of men. They had proved that they were equal to any soldiers in the world, and in the particular class of warfare in South Africa they proved that they were superior in being able to readily adapt themselves to all conditions. All present were pleased to see Messrs YATES, SWEENEY, ALLWOOD, DOWSE, and GRANVILLE return, and were also glad to welcome a very old resident of Muswellbrook, Mr Bertie DOYLE, who went to the war from Scone.
After the toast was honoured the Hon R.G.D. Fitz Gerald ascended the platform to present the mementoes to the returned soldiers. He said it was a very pleasing duty indeed, to have to present to each of them a well-earned recognition from the residents of the town and district of Muswellbrook. On the night previous he took part in a similar entertainment, when one of the honoured soldiers of Australia, D. CAMERON, was welcomed at the Rouchel, and he was in the happy position of being able to say that he was member of Parliament for Robertson when the government thought fit to answer to the call of the Empire in enlisting Australia's sons to go to the help of the good old Empire. The Government did well by New South Wales by that action, and if ever he felt proud of any of his political actions it was in taking part in that movement. Our sons did better still, because they willingly volunteered to go to South Africa and fight for the liberty of British subjects there. We felt proud of our men, and we have had evidence of the fact that they stood shoulder to shoulder with the best of Britain's soldiers, and did themselves and us credit. They went determined to do their duty, and did it, but while we feel proud of them we must not forget to say a word of praise for Tommy Atkins. He had been told that Tommy Atkins did his duty, fought courageously, and that our soldiers were not behind taking example from the great old Tommy Atkins of the British Empire. When our men went away from comfortable life in Australia, it was with the full realisation that they were going to meet death or glory, and they had experienced both. Those who would never return were covered with glory in filling honourable graves. While those who did return were sharing in all the glory which an Australian people could bestow upon them. They had done more to cement the British Empire than a hundred years of trade and commerce could ever do, and their action had gone to strengthen — to use the words of a late great Australian Statesman — "the crimson thread of kinship" between Great Britain and her possessions. Those who had lost relatives there had the sympathy of all British people, but they also had the consolation of knowing that when Tommy Atkins dies on tile battlefield there is an eternal reward for him to hope for, because he dies fighting for the liberty given under the rule of the British Empire, that being of the greatest decree that can be possessed in the civilised world. The names of those who died in South Africa would be written among the heroes of Waterloo and the Crimean. The young men who had returned thoroughly well deserved the medals which they were about to receive. They had made names for themselves, which would be handed down in the history of our country; they had the satisfaction of knowing that they had followed in the footsteps of their ancestors who made the name of Britain great; and they had shown the world, which stands aghast in wonderment at the action of Australia, Canada and India, that the British Lion lies in the four corners of the earth ready to defend liberty and the justice of the people.
The returned soldiers were then escorted by the Mayor on to the stage, and to each of them Mr Fitz Gerald resented a suitably inscribed gold medal as a memento of the occasion. He also handed to Lieutenant McIntyre, for presentation to Mrs Meehan, a medal that her son, Trooper Daniel MEEHAN, would have received had he returned — a man, he said, full of impulsive generosity, good loyalty and true heartedness, who went to do his duty, met a soldier's death, and occupied a soldier's grave; and his memory would be green in this district while any of the present inhabitants were alive and would be honoured by all who come afterwards.
Captain Bowman said he was pleased because the local volunteers had been able to send a few good men to South Africa. He always felt proud of being their commander, but was doubly so on this occasion; and he always did believe that good men were under him, but now he was certain. He hoped this reception would prove an inducement to other young men to join the company under his command, and prepare themselves for any emergency in our own State of Commonwealth. Although it was not desirable to have too great a military spirit, they would find it of great benefit to be trained as soldiers. He wished for those who had returned every success in life.
Mr C.J. Spratt also expressed his pleasure in seeing the troopers again, and said he was proud to know that the Australian soldiers could vie with any other soldiers in the world, because they had shown ability and courage equal to that of the greatest Tommy Atkins who ever shouldered arms.
Trooper DOWSE, on behalf of his comrades and himself, returned thanks, for the grand welcome and the mementoes. He said that they left Muswellbrook about twelve months ago and went to do their duty, and had tried to do it. He regretted that Trooper MEEHAN was not with them to share in the welcome; but he had heard from his comrades that he was a brave and good man in the field.
Lieutenant McIntyre, on behalf of Mrs Meehan, returned thanks for the presentation in remembrance of Trooper D. MEEHAN. He also mentioned that Mrs Meehan lost another son on his way to the war.
The returned soldiers then left the platform and were loudly cheered.
The remaining toasts were then honoured as follows: "The Federal and State Parliaments", proposed by Mr J.W. Humphries and responded to by the Minister for Justice; "The Ladies", "The Press", and "The Chairman". The ceremony terminated with the singing of a verse of the National Anthem and "Auld Lang Syne".
During the evening the local brass band played several appropriate selections, and several gentlemen assisted with songs and recitations. The catering was in the able hands of Mr E.A. Smith, of the Royal Hotel.
