County: Ayrshire
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: aft. 05/10/1900, 10/06/1901, 12/12/1901
Number issued: 4
Gold medals, to:
Aft. 05/10/1900 presentation
Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Scots Fusiliers ["G" Company, 2nd V.B.R.S.F.] –
7606 Private Robert McCLIMONT (invalided, 05/10/1900)
No record of this presentation found.
10/06/1901 presentation
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Scots Fusiliers ["G" Company, 2nd V.B.R.S.F.] –
7603 Private William MORTON (absent - in hospital, Cape Town)
7626 Private Thomas YOUNG
"Private Morton, who was expected to accompany him, was unfortunately detained by sickness in Cape Town".
Presentation made by Mr McFarlane, at the Crown Hotel, Newmilns.
12/12/1901 presentation
Volunteer Active Service Company, Royal Scots Fusiliers ["G" Company, 2nd V.B.R.S.F.] –
7602 Corporal Joseph MITCHELL (of Bank House)
Mitchell also served with the Scottish Horse.
Presentation made by Mr James Goldie, in the Crown Hotel, Newmilns.
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Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, 14th June 1901
NEWMILNS.
The return of Private YOUNG, one of the men who volunteered for active service in South Africa, was made the occasion of a great popular demonstration on Monday night. Private MORTON, who was expected to accompany him, was unfortunately detained by sickness in Cape Town, but one hero was quite enough to rouse the enthusiasm of the populace. Intimation had been received that Private YOUNG would arrive in Newmilns by the 6.30 train, and immediately this was known flags were hoisted here, there, and everywhere. Following in the wake of the Burgh Band the members of the old Town Council marched to the railway station, while the Volunteers, led by the band of pipers, also fell into line. The result was an immense crowd, who cheered their heartiest when the train steamed into the station. Carried shoulder high by his comrades of the Volunteer Company, the returned warrior was marched from the station to the Crown Hotel, where he was entertained in right royal fashion. Major Morton presided over the gathering, and Mr McFarlane presented Private YOUNG with a gold medal and a purse of money. Altogether it was a function attended with much enthusiasm, and must, we are sure, have touched the champion of his country’s cause very deeply. At the close the pipers escorted him home again, followed by a cheering and jubilant crowd.
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, 13th December 1901
BACK FROM THE FRONT.
CORPORAL JOE MITCHELL’S WELCOME.
Newmilns has now got all her volunteers home again. The last to return was Corporal Joseph MITCHELL, of Bank House, who was formally welcomed home, and at the same time presented with a gold medal and a purse pf money, by the old Town Council on Thursday night. It is nearly two years since Corporal MITCHELL left Newmilns to fight his country’s battles, and in that time he has, undoubtedly, seen a great deal, first as a member of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, and latterly as a unit in the Scottish Horse. Yet he returns to Newmilns hale and hearty, sun-baked, weather-tanned, and eminently fit. Thursday night’s function was entirely managed and carried through by the Town Council, with the volunteers present as invited guests. The function was held in the Crown Hotel, and created a great stir in the town. Assembling first in the old Town Council Chambers, a procession was formed, and, led by the Burgh Band, marched to Bank House. Here Corpl. MITCHELL was hoisted on the shoulders of his comrades-in-arms and carried shoulder high to the Crown Hotel. The town was out en masse, and cheers, right hearty cheers, greeted the honoured soldier. Once inside, Bailie McFarlane took the chair, and the company sat down to light refreshments. The Chairman’s speech was pithy and to the point, and evoked repeated applause. The loyal toasts having been duly pledged, Major Shields, Glenrosa, proposed the toast of the “Reserve Forces”, coupled with the name of Major Morton. Both speeches were eminently worthy of the occasion. The other toasts were “The Old Town Council”, proposed by Sergt. McFarlane, and replied to by the Chairman; “Town and Trade of Newmilns”, proposed by Bailie Mitchell, and replied to by Major Shields. But the most interesting part of the evening’s proceedings was the presentations. These comprised a gold medal, presented by Mr James Goldie, and a purse of money, presented by Bailie Steel. Our space will not permit of the speeches being reproduced, but they were in every way worthy of reproduction. To the presentations Corpl. MITCHELL very modestly replied. He thanked them very deeply for their kindness. During the evening Major Morton also presented the three returned volunteers with bars, inscribed Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State. From start to finish it was a highly successful and thoroughly enjoyable function.
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, 19th January 1900
