Country: New Zealand
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 29/07/1901
Number issued: 2
Gold Maltese crosses, suitably inscribed, to:
4th New Zealand Mounted Rifles –
1067 Trooper Thomas Wilson HOLDEN
1330 Trooper Robert SUTHERLAND
Presentation made at a welcome-home social.
_____________________________________
Dunstan Times, 30th July 1901
Matakanui.
Last Monday night the Tinkers people turned out in force to welcome home their contributions to the South Africa contingent. The welcome took the form of a social, to which Troopers SUTHERLAND and HOLDEN were invited, and presentations were made during the course of the evening. Mr Will Laidlaw formally welcomed the contingenters home, and on behalf of the Tinkers folk presented them each with a gold Maltese Cross, inscribed. Mr Murphy also spoke in words of welcome. The Troopers shortly replied in speeches which were full of the refrain — "There's no place like home". The hall had been beautifully decorated by the ladies, and dance music was provided by Mr Frank McLean. Mr Thompson, for Mrs Sheppard, had charge of the catering department, and succeeded in satisfying everybody. Songs were sung by Miss Hoffman and Messrs Thompson, Williams and Austin, and Mr Thompson danced a hornpipe in costume.
EMBARKATION DATABASE
Surname: HOLDEN
Reg No: 1067
Given Names: Thomas Wilson
Contingent: Fourth
Rank: Private
Unit: No 9 Company
Joined from: no previous service
County/City: Vincent
Age: 24 years, 5 months
Occupation: Miner
Ship: “Monowai”, 20 March 1900
Address: Matakanui, Otago
Next of Kin: Holden, Mr Richard
Next of Kin Address: Clyde
Surname: SUTHERLAND
Reg No: 1330
Given Names: Robert
Contingent: Fourth
Rank: Private
Unit: No 7 Company
Joined from: no previous service
County/City: Vincent
Age: 22 years, 11 months
Occupation: Station Hand
Ship: “Gymeric”, 31 March 1900
Address: Matakanui, Otago
Next of Kin: Sutherland, Mrs Jessie
Next of Kin Address: Matakanui, Otago
Relationship to Soldier: Mother
