County: Northumberland
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 21/05/1901
Number issued: 18
Medallions, to:
Volunteer Active Service Company, Northumberland Fusiliers –
Lieutenant W.E. STEPHENSON
7401 Sergeant James Earnshaw FREEBORN
7468 Private James HILL
7469 Private John KERRIGAN
and 14 or 15 unnamed volunteers
Presentation made on a platform that had been erected in front of the Mechanics' Institute, Newburn.
_________________________________________
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 19th February 1900
Supper to the Newburn Men.
Those men of the F (Newburn) Company of the 2nd Vol. Bat. Northumberland Fusiliers who have been selected for active service, and who are under orders to leave Newcastle for Southampton en route for South Africa on Wednesday first, were entertained to a supper at the Newburn Hotel, Newburn, on Saturday night. Mr Henry Scott presided, whilst Mr David Owen occupied the vice-chair, and in addition to the 18 Fusiliers who were being honoured there were also present Sergt. T.S. Brodie, Lance-Corpl. Colgan, Mr Harrison Gregg, Mr Chas. Thackawray, and others. The proceedings were most enthusiastic throughout. A pleasant feature was the presentation to each of the volunteers by the chairman of a purse containing a sum of money subscribed by their fellow workmen, friends and well-wishers. A small present was also handed over to Bro. John KERRIGAN by Bro. Brodie on behalf of the Percy (Newburn) Lodge of the R.A.O.B.
Morpeth Herald, 25th May 1901
NEWBURN.
The home-coming of the Newburn volunteers was marked by the greatest enthusiasm, the feeling pervading all classes. Flags and streamers were observable in every street of Lemington and Newburn, and a number of people carried Union Jacks in order to more definitely display their patriotism. From Newcastle Barracks the men were conveyed in a brake. At Scotswood Railway Station, they were met by the Newburn detachment of the 2nd V.B.N.F., under Captain T.R. Rowell and Captain Spencer. A procession was formed, with the cyclists’ section of the corps at the head, followed by members of the reception committee, a carriage containing Lieut. STEPHENSON, who had been in charge of the company in South Africa, and Miss Stephenson, and another containing Ald. Dodd, and the service company in the brake. An escort was formed of Newburn volunteers. As the carriages were coming along the main roads bands of enthusiastic young men took out the horses, and for the remainder of the journey to Newburn they were drawn triumphantly along by them. When the village was reached the procession was met by the vicar, choir, and boys’ brigade of Newburn Parish Church, who led the way to the sacred edifice, where a short service was held. The Rev. Dr Nowell and the Rev. C.A. Fox officiated. Subsequently the men were taken to the platform, which had been erected in front of the Mechanics’ Institute, and congratulatory speeches were delivered, medallions presented, and the memorial tablet unveiled. Mr J.W. Spencer occupied the chair, and he was supported by Sir W.H. Stephenson, Ald. M. Dodd, Mr D. Henderson, Mr Wm. Kirton, and the members of the reception committee. In the evening, a banquet was held in a spacious marquee, which was erected in a field at Lemington. After a capital repast, served by Messrs Higginbottom, of Newcastle, Mr J. Spencer took the chair, and a long list of toasts was gone through. Subsequently a torchlight procession took place. The proceedings throughout were most enthusiastic.
