Medals and awards

9034 Private E. Peter WILLIAMSON [DRAFT]

7336 Private Herbert WALKER

and further unidentified volunteers

abt. 23/10/1901 presentation (by post)

LOYAL DEMONSTRATION AT NORTHWICH.

IMPERIAL YEOMANRY AND VOLUNTEERS ENTERTAINED.

On Thursday evening the residents of Northwich and district demonstrated in a remarkable degree their loyalty and patriotism. The occasion was that of those belonging to Northwich, Winsford, and district, whose services have been accepted in the Imperial Yeomanry, and the Volunteers who have been attached to the Cheshire Regiment, being entertained at dinner by the Chairman of the Northwich Urban Council. A hearty welcome was given to them on their return to town after undergoing drill, &c., at Chester during the past fortnight. They were met at the station by the Chairman of the District Council, many of his fellow-members, as well as a number of gentlemen belonging to the town. They were dressed in khaki, and their appearance outside the station was the signal for continued cheering. …..

THE BANQUET.

The chair was occupied by Mr J.W. Deakin, and those who accepted invitations were: Captain Mosley LEIGH, Lieutenant REYNOLDS, Sergeant-Major BARRETT, Troopers S.T. VYVYAN, A. PICKERING, F. DAVIES, E.G. PRESTON, J. REEVES, R. BARNES, F.W. HICKSON, J.H. LOWERY, W. HALL, W.T. GRAY, G. HINDLEY, C.E. SMETHURST, G. SMETHURST, E. SPIBEY, LIGHTFOOT, E. HOPLEY, FRITH, PETERKIN, S. HENSHAW, T. PHILBIN, J.T. BARLOW, P.F. NORRIS, A. CLARKE, H.H. HEATLEY, C. CAWLEY, J. LITTLER, and GLEAVE. …..

GLORIOUS SEND-OFF AT NORTHWICH.

THE NORTHWICH MEN FOR THE FRONT.

THE NORTHWICH MEN FOR THE FRONT.

Letters which have just been received from Northwich men who have been drafted to Aldershot as Imperial Yeomen point to the fact that there is little hope of the men being sent out together. They are separated in different companies, and it is extremely unlikely that they will sail together. The military discipline is very strict, but the men agree that it is none too severe in order to fit them for the work which they must necessarily face in the campaign in South Africa.

ANOTHER SEND-OFF AT NORTHWICH

There was another outbreak of patriotic fervour at Northwich on Tuesday evening, when five young men who have joined the Imperial Yeomanry took their final departure for Aldershot, preparatory to sailing for South Africa. Included amongst them were Joseph Henry CLARKE, Regent Street, Moulton, who for some years has been a member of the Verdin Institute brass band. In honour of their admiration for him, his comrades decided to “play” him to the station. About eight o’clock a procession was formed in the village, headed by the band and a number of torch bearers. Then came a waggonette containing CLARKE, in his khaki attire, together with his relatives. This was followed by  a large crowd, who cheered again and again, and sang patriotic songs. On reaching Davenham anther Volunteer, Alfred BUCKLEY, who for some time has been employed by Mr Hirst, Northwich, as a grocer’s assistant, boarded the vehicle, and left the village amidst much cheering. As the procession wended its way the crowd augmented, so that on its reaching Northwich, it was a very large one. In London Road, three other Yeomen – Joseph SMITH, an employee of Messrs Brunner, Mond, and Company; Walter DEAKIN, Huxley Street, a member of the Witton Villa Football Club; and Tom BARLOW, nephew of Mr J. Barlow, butcher, High Street, who has been invalided home, but is again returning – entered the waggonette. On arrival at the railway station, the platform was soon packed to its utmost capacity, the railway officials failing in their efforts to keep the crowd back. As the 9.50 train from Manchester steamed into the station, there were many affecting scenes, and in order to be with those about to depart for a few minutes longer, a number of persons accompanied them to the next station, where the leave-taking was equally as pathetic. Prior to the departure of the men from Northwich, Mr J. Jones, on behalf of Mr J. Arthur Cowley, secretary of the local South African Relief Committee, handed presents to the men.

RETURN OF THE CHESHIRE YEOMANRY.

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION AT NORTHWICH.

LETTERS FROM THE WAR.

A NORTHWICH MAN’S EXPERIENCE.

Presentation of Medals to Warrington Yeomen.

NORTHWICH IMPERIAL YEOMEN.

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS.

An interesting function took place at Mr Whate’s café, Northwich, on Monday evening, when the local members of the second detachment of the 22nd Company of the Imperial Yeomanry met to receive the Queen’s and town’s medals. The presentation was prefaced by a sumptuous spread in excellent style. Afterwards a brief toast list was gone through. Mr J.W. Deakin (chairman of the South African War Committee) presided, and there were also present, in addition to the Yeomen, Messrs J. Arthur Cowley (secretary of the committee), T. Wilkinson (chairman of the Urban Council), J.T. Jones (deputy clerk), G.A. Hughes, Charles Roberts and Sergeant Cain Rowe.

The health of the King was drunk with musical honours, and then the Chairman gave “The Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal family”, which was most enthusiastically honoured.

Mr G.A. Hughes, the treasurer of the local war fund, proposed “The Imperial Forces”. He said that toast included all branches of the Army and Navy, and he asked them to pardon him from enumerating them all. As a loyal Briton, and thought had been proven by the pleasure it afforded him to officiate as treasurer of the local war fund, he highly appreciated their services in the late war. He thought he has done his duty to the local men who formed part of the Imperial forces, to the town from which they went, and to the Empire at large. He paid a high compliment to the Navy, and also the regiments of the line. Independent of the criticisms passed on the officers, he felt sure the rank and file were equal to anything the world had produced, so far as pluck and perseverance was concerned. (Hear, hear). The war could not have been prosecuted to such a successful issue without such admirable forces.

Quartermaster-Sergeant FORSTER, in response, referred to the part they played in the war, and said the Northwich Urban Council and the South African War Committee, ably assisted by Mr J. Arthur Cowley, must have worked exceedingly hard in looking after those at the front, as well as their dependencies at home. (Hear, hear). He learned a number of parcels were sent out to the men, but he was never so fortunate as to receive one, the fact undoubtedly being that his got lost in transit.

The Chairman said a pleasing duty devolved upon him, and that was to present the medals subscribed for by the local war fund, and also the Queen’s medals, which they hoped to have had long ago, but which only came into the possession of the war fund secretary two or three weeks ago. It was a pleasure to him to see the men back again, apparently strong, hale and hearty, and judging from the experience he had had of almost all those who had returned from South Africa he should say it was a salubrious climate, because nearly all came back looking better than when they went out. He well remembered the time, when the glamour and glory of the war had been almost taken out of it, that they in response to the call for volunteers laid themselves on the alter of sacrifice for their nation’s good. They were told then the war was practically over, and their duty was not only to attempt to elude De Wet as far as their own captures were concerned, but also if possible to try and bag the one who was such a trouble to the generals and forces in that part. He was glad none of them were taken prisoners, or if there was one they were glad to see him at liberty again, and he was sure the company he was in that night would make up for the custody he was in then. (Laughter). He referred to the sterling pluck and the constant endurance of the rank and file, and also made reference to the imperial bond which had united that great Empire together. For the first time in the history of the Empire the volunteer forces, at the call of duty, and the call of the nation, had proved themselves ready to lay themselves out to do the work set before them. (Hear, hear). In the final work in connection with the campaign, those present took their full share of the duties which devolved upon the Volunteer forces. They gave them a very hearty welcome back to the town to which they belonged, and he felt great pleasure in handing the medals to them, trusting they would remind them, their children and even their children’s children, of the part they took in fighting the Empire’s battles abroad. The recipients were: – Quartermaster-Sergeant F.J. FORSTER, Sergeant S.L. GORST, Sergeant J.H. CLARKE, Sergeant G. PRESTON, Corporal W. SMALLWOOD, Lance-Corporal E. SHARPE, Privates W. ROSE, S. NEWTON, E. TAYLOR, A. DUNNING, J. HIGGINS, G.F. DALE, A. BUCKLEY, W.R. POOLE, B. TOMLINSON, F.F. DUDLEY, W.H. DEAKIN and W. FIELD.

Mr T. Wilkinson submitted the toast “Our Guests”, and in so doing said he considered it the most important toast of the evening. Northwich had always held her own in any forward movement, and when the appeal was made to the country for volunteers, he was pleased to see the town was well to the front. (Hear, hear). Many of their young men left good situations to respond to the country’s call, and he hoped and trusted those who had been fortunate enough to return after enduring the perils and dangers to which they had been subjected, would not suffer in the least. He felt sure their dependencies had been admirably looked after by the committee, and Mr Cowley, and they themselves were never forgotten when abroad. (Hear, hear).

Sergeant CLARKE, in response, expressed their hearty approval of the efforts put forth by the Northwich South African War Committee, and especially Mr Cowley. Little presents which received from time to time from the committee satisfied them that they were not forgotten at Northwich; and he could assure them they proved most encouraging to them. He thought a good many at home were equally as much entitled to a medal for the part they played, as well as those who went to the front. Mr Cowley had done much for them, for which they were all very thankful, but they would like to trouble him a little more, and that was to communicate with the War Department relative to two more bars to which they thought they were entitled. (Hear, hear). They went through the Cape, and then for about ten months they were trekking all over the Orange Free State, whilst afterwards they took part in the big drives in the Transvaal under Ian Hamilton.

Quartermaster-Sergeant FORSTER spoke in a similar strain.

Mr Cowley gave the health of the Chairman. He said they were getting to the end of their tether with that gathering which should have been held long ago. The men must have been thinking in their secret hearts that it should have taken place, because it was promised to them. However, the delay had not been caused by the local War Committee. For some time past he had been in communication with the War Office, but he only received the medals a few weeks back. He wanted to give expression of their feelings with regard to the part which Mr Deakin took in all movements connected with the war. It was well said by Sergeant CLARKE that although they went out nobly and did their duty, there was work to be done at home, and there was no one who took his part more cheerfully than Mr Deakin, who was the chairman of the Council at that time. (Hear, hear). In season and out of season he was always at the front, ready to take in hand or help on any movement connected with the war. He did not want to make any boast of what he had done himself, but the duties which devolved upon him were heavy, and had it not been for the circumstances under which he was placed , he should have been included amongst those who were receiving medals that night, or a previous batch. (Hear, hear, and applause). It was always his desire to take part in the war, but he could not go, so he resolved to do all he could at home for those who had gone and their dependencies. (Applause). He had had a lot to do in regard to the settlement of men’s accounts, &c.; he referred particularly to those men who had come back unfortunately maimed for the rest of their days. There were several in Northwich. Referring to the War Department, he said he had never had an experience of a Government Department more willing to take minor details into consideration. He had never had reason to complain of them in one single instance, although they had not done everything they (the committee) should have liked. (Hear, hear). At a great sacrifice of time and money had Mr Deakin given his services in connection with the South African war movement. The war fund was one of the most successful movements the town had ever launched.

The toast was drunk with musical honours.

Mr Deakin, in acknowledgment, said his mind had been going back two or three years when they were in the height of the war fever. He was afraid they had toasted the wrong man altogether, and he would have joined most heartily in toasting the secretary of the war fund, Mr Cowley. (Hear, hear). If he had been able to do anything in voice and movement during the recent campaign, it was because he was so well backed up by Mr Cowley, Mr Hughes, Mr Rowe, Mr Roberts, and the other members of the committee. The war fund was one of the most successful, if not the most successful, movement ever launched in the town. They raised nearly £2,000, and they had still some few hundreds in hand. If the War Committee had erred in any way it had been on the side of liberality.

Mr C. Roberts and Mr C. Rowe also delivered addresses.

On the motion of the Chairman, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the caterer, Mr Whate, for the admirable spread.