State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Departure/Return
Dates of presentations: 10/01/1900, 21/12/1900
Number issued: 3
Gold medals/horseshoes, to:
10/01/1900 presentation (departure)
1st Victorian Infantry Company [1st Victorian Contingent] –
46 Private Robert HUNTER (absent - already in S. Africa; presented on his return - see below)
2nd Victorian (Mounted Rifles) Contingent –
229 Driver Henry HAMILTON
375 Private William George Webster RIGG
Presentation made by Councillor Voysey, in the Malvern Town Hall.
The gold horseshoe for Private Hunter was given to Hamilton & Grigg, with the instruction to deliver it to Hunter "even at the cannon's mouth". The presentation below implies that Hamilton & Grigg failed in this venture.
21/12/1900 presentation (return)
1st Victorian Mounted Infantry Company [1st Victorian Contingent] –
46 Private Robert HUNTER
Presentation made by Councillor McKinley, during a musical concert held in the High Street Gardens, Malvern.
Each of the recipients also received a pocket compass.
On his return Private Rigg received a second medal from the inhabitants of Moorabbin.
When Private Hunter (a widower) went to the front, he left behind eight motherless children, whom he left in the charge of a local woman named Miss Griffiths/Griffin. Miss Griffiths/Griffin received a gift of £5 from the inhabhitants of Malvern for performing this duty.
_____________________________________
Melbourne Herald, 11th January 1900
An enthusiastic send-off was given last night in the Shire Hall, Malvern, to Messrs GREIG [sic] and HAMILTON, members of the second contingent for service in South Africa. The shire president (Cr. Vosey) presided. The departing soldiers were each presented with a gold medal and a pocket compass. A collection was taken up in the room for the Patriotic Fund, and a good sum realised.
Melbourne Argus, 12th January 1900 (first report)
FAREWELLS TO CONTINGENT MEMBERS.
A crowded meeting was held in the Malvern Town Hall on Wednesday evening, at which a “send-off” was given to the Malvern representatives of the Second Contingent, viz., Messrs HAMILTON and RIGG. Patriotic songs and speeches were delivered, and the president (Councillor Voysey) presented gold medals and compasses to the members of the contingent as souvenirs from the ratepayers. The sum of £7 0s 3d was collected for the “Empire War Fund”.
Melbourne Argus, 12th January 1900 (second report)
A send-off was accorded in the Malvern Shire Hall on Wednesday night to Messrs Henry HAMILTON and G. RIGG (son of Major Rigg), members of the Second Contingent. The president (Councillor Voysey) was in the chair, and during the evening presentations of gold horseshoes and pocket compasses were made to the men. The two members were charged by Councillor Mason to convey Private R. HUNTER, another Malvern resident now “at the front”, the best wishes of the residents, and a gold horseshoe and a compass, and to deliver them “even at the cannon’s mouth”. This injunction was received with the greatest enthusiasm.
Prahran Chronicle, 22nd December 1900
PRESENTATION TO PRIVATE HUNTER.
At the musical concert given in the gardens on Wednesday evening by the local military band presentations were made to Private HUNTER (first contingent), who has recently returned from South Africa, and to Miss Griffiths, the lady who looked after Private HUNTER’s children during his absence, by President Cr. McKinley. Private HUNTER was handed a handsome gold medal, suitably inscribed, together with a pocket compass, while Miss Griffiths was presented with a purse of money, subscribed by her friends. President McKinley said he was glad to give Private HUNTER a welcome on behalf of the residents of Malvern. In Miss Griffiths’ case Mr McKinley said it showed considerable pluck to undertake the care and management of eight children during their father’s absence. An adjournment was then made to the supper-room at the shire hall, where the toasts of “The Queen”, the “Band”, “Private Hunter”, and “President McKinley” were drunk with musical honours.Prahran Telegraph, 22nd December 1900
The second open-air municipal concert at Malvern took place on Wednesday night in the High Street Gardens, when the local band played musical selections. The gardens were decorated with Chinese lanterns. A large crowd of citizens attended partly to hear the music, and also to witness a presentation made to Private Robert HUNTER, of the First Contingent, in honour of his return home. The President (Cr. McKinley) made the presentation, which consisted of a gold medal and a compass, subscribed for by the residents of Malvern some time ago, but which were unable to be forwarded to the recipient when at the front. A purse with £5 was given to Miss Griffin, the lady who had charge of HUNTER's eight motherless children while be was away. Both recipients received a cordial reception.
