Country: New Zealand
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 19/07/1901, 11/07/1902, 03/10/1902
Number issued: c. 41
Gold Maltese crosses, to:
19/07/1901 presentation
424 Trooper Ernest John WEST
1057 Trooper John SORENSON (also claimed as a resident of Caversham, Dundein; K.I.A., Zeerust, 18/10/1900 - did his family receive a medal?)
1696 Trooper Charles William WATT
???? Trooper WHITE (absent - in hospital)
Presentation made by the Mayor (Mr W.B. Anderson), at the North-East Valley Hall.
11/07/1902 presentation
1678 Trooper Robert S. REID
3768 Trooper Robert McKENZIE
4569 Trooper Thomas Paterson SHORT
33817 Trooper Crofton UMBERS
03/10/1902 presentation
Trooper BEATTIE
6224 Trooper James SHORT
5970 Trooper Lewis SKINNER
7965 Trooper John TAYLOR
9544 Trooper Alfred PRATT
Presentation made by Councillor Evans, in the Town Hall.
Reverse: "PRESENTED / TO / TROOPER RONALD HENDERSON / 9TH CONTINGENT / FROM THE RESIDENTS OF N.E. VALLEY ON / RETURN FROM / TRANSVAAL WAR / 1902".
Trooper Henderson example sold through Noble Numismatics, 11/09/2023, for $900 AUD / £485.46 GBP.
MEETING AT NORTH-EAST VALLEY.
A meeting was held at the Town Hall, North-East Valley, last evening to make arrangements for entertaining returning troopers belonging to the district. There were about 30 persons, among them a number of ladies.
Mr Anderson, Mayor of the Borough who was voted to the chair, explained that at a preliminary meeting held on Saturday evening it was decided that the welcome function should take the form of a social, followed by a dance, and that an endeavour he made to present to each trooper a medal, which would no doubt be treasured as a memento of the occasion. Canvassers were appointed to obtain the necessary funds and they had already had satisfactory success, and expected to get sufficient to carry out the full programme proposed. The North-East Valley Band had volunteered its services to play the troopers to the hall, and contribute to the evening’s programme and the Borough Council offered the free use of the hall for the function and the preliminary meetings. The present meeting was for the purpose of settling all details, and he now invited suggestions.
The first matter discussed was the date of the proposed function, and it was eventually decided to fix on the evening of Friday, 19th inst.
The Chairman announced that those to be entertained would number about a dozen, and that the intention was to present a souvenir to each. He invited suggestions as to the most suitable articles, and it was decided to procure gold pendants, suitably inscribed.
Mr Calder suggested that it should be definitely arranged that no spirituous liquors should be provided at the social, and the proposal was adopted without dissent, the Chairman remarking that the matter had been brought up at the former meeting, and the same decision arrived at.
NORTH-EAST VALLEY.
A highly successful social was held in the North-east Valley Hall last evening in honour of the Valley troopers who recently returned from South Africa. The Mayor (Mr W.B. Anderson) presided; and seated on the platform were Troopers H. McDONALD, E. LEAR, G.F. SMITH, C.W. WATT and W.N. BROWN (Fourth Contingent), T. BUTTERS (Fifth Contingent), and E.J. WEST and W. FARQUHARSON (Second Contingent). Trooper BEATH also occupied a seat on the platform. The North-east Valley Band opened the proceedings by playing “The Red, White, and Blue”, after Which The Chairman said that on behalf of the residents of North-east Valley he extended a hearty welcome home to the returned troopers. Since they had left the Valley their career had been watched with interest, and every morning the papers had been eagerly scanned for news of their welfare. He was sure that the commendation they had received from their officers for their bravery and devotion had been well merited. Despite the hardships they had undergone and the privations they had suffered, he must compliment them on their appearance. He was sorry that they were not able to welcome all who had left the Valley for South Africa for as they all knew young SORENSON had been shot in action, and his bones were left on the veldt. They sympathised, too, with Troopers BROWN and WHITE, at present in the hospital, but who were making good progress towards recovery. Trooper CRAWFORD, too, had been taken ill that afternoon, and he also had their sympathy. He (the chairman) had much pleasure in presenting each of the troopers, on behalf of the Valley residents, with a small memento as a token of their appreciation of the splendid manner in which the troopers had behaved.
The Mayor then handed to Troopers H. McDONALD, E. LEAR, W.N. BROWN, T. BUTTERS, E.J. WEST, W. FARQUHARSON, G.F. SMITH, and C.W. WATT a handsome gold watch pendant in the shape of a Maltese cross, bearing the following inscription: "Presented to Trooper (the name inscribed) from the residents of the North-east Valley on their return from the Transvaal War".
SOCIAL AT NORTH-EAST VALLEY.
The dirty weather in no wise interfered with the attendance at the North-East Valley Hall on Friday on the occasion of the social tendered by the Valley residents to the troopers recently returned from South Africa. The Mayor (Mr W.B. Anderson) presided, and seated on the platform were Troopers H. McDONALD, E. LEAR, G.F. SMITH, C.W. WATT, and W.N. BROWN (fourth contingent), T. BUTTERS (filth contingent), and E.J. WEST and W. McFARQUHARSON (second contingent). Trooper BEATH also occupied a seat on the platform. The Chairman read apologies for non-attendance from Colonel C.S. Reeves and Trooper WHITE, the latter on account of illness, after which the North-East Valley Band, under the conductorship of Mr R. Cook, played "Red, white, and blue".
The Chairman said that, on behalf of the residents of the North-East Valley, he had great pleasure in welcoming home the returned troopers. Since they had left the Valley their career had ben watched with interest, and every morning the papers had been eagerly scanned for news of their welfare. He was sure that the commendation they had received from their officers for their bravery and devotion had been well merited. Despite the hardships they had undergone and the privations they had suffered he must compliment them on their appearance. He was sorry that they were not able to welcome all who had left the Valley for South Africa, for as they all knew young SORENSON had been shot in action, and his bones were left on the veldt. They sympathised too with Troopers BROWN and WHITE, at present in the hospital, but who were making good progress towards recovery. Trooper CRAWFORD too had been taken ill that afternoon, and he also had their sympathy. He (the chairman) had much pleasure in presenting each of the troopers, on behalf of the Valley residents, with a small memento as a token of their appreciation of the splendid manner in which the troopers had behaved. Although not of much intrinsic worth yet it would be treasured as coming from the residents of the North-East Valley, where most of the returned troopers had been born. The Chairman then handed to Troopers H. McDONALD, E. LEAR, W.N. BROWN, T. BUTTERS, C.J. WEST, W. McFARQUHARSON, G.F. SMITH, and C.W. WATT a handsome gold watch pendant, in the shape of a Maltese cross, bearing the following mscuption – " Presented to Trooper (here followed the name in each instance) from the residents of the North-East Valley on their return from the Transvaal war". In making the presentation, the Chairman said I welcome you home, and trust that you have returned to live amongst us again. You have had a taste of war such as few colonials can boast of. From what I have heard you say, I think you will be very willing to remain in the Valley, for often when sleeping on the veldt you must have come to the conclusion that the North-East Valley was not such a bad place. — (Applause).
SOCIALS TO RETURNED TROOPERS.
NORTH-EAST VALLEY.
The social and presentation of gold medals, subscribed for by the residents of North-east Valley, to the returned troopers of that district, at the Town Hall last evening, proved a great success. The hall was draped with banners and flags, and refreshments were provided in the upstairs rooms.
His Worship the Mayor (Mr Duncan) occupied the chair, and in introducing the object of the gathering said that he felt he should say a few words in regard to His Majesty the King. The illness that had overtaken His Gracious Majesty had, for a little while, precluded his entering upon his high office as the crowned heal of the greatest nation the world had ever seen, but he was now making rapid progress toward recovery, so much so that he (the mayor) felt sure the intercessory prayers of a righteous nation had been heard by the King of Kings and that our noble Sovereign would be spared to his loyal people for many years to come to wield the sceptre and wear the crown which was the symbol of liberty, mercy, and justice. — (Applause). He would ask the audience to sing two verses of the National Anthem. The audience then rose and responded feelingly.
A short programme of vocal items followed, those contributing being Miss Orange, and Messrs Murray, Drake, Flynn, and Brittenden.
The Mayor then made the presentation of gold medals to the troopers, as follow Trooper R.S. REID (Fifth Contingent) Troopers J. G. LECKIE, R. McKENZIE, and G. BRITTENDEN (Sixth Contingent), Sergeant LECKIE and Troopers T.P. SHORT, J. DRY, and McKAY (Seventh Contingent), and Trooper C.G. UMBERS (Scottish Horse). In referring to the various contingents representing New Zealand at the front, the Mayor said that they had all acquitted themselves with honor and added glory and lustre to the name of New Zealand. — (Applause). The men had fought nobly, and had maintained the honor of the Flag. No higher praise could be accorded than this. — (Applause.).
Mr Murray responded on behalf of the troopers. He said that he was proud to stand in the position of sponsor for the men, three of whom had been trained in his school — (Applause). He referred to the departure of the men from New Zealand and their gallant deeds on the field. They had taken part in the wars of the Empire at the call of the Mother Land, towards which every heart was turned in the hour of struggle. Those who had gone to the front had not only fought for the honor and dignity of the nation, but for hearths and homes, for upon the prestige of Britain depended the freedom and justice and rights and laws of our own bright little colony itself. — (Applause). He had been called the father of the cadet movement in the Valley; if so, he was proud of the name. — (Applause). While the boys had returned to warm welcomes, there were some perhaps who had returned to homes made desolate by the loss of loved ones, and they might long for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that was still. To those all hearts went out in sympathy. In conclusion, he referred to the King, and called for three cheers for His Majesty, which were given. Mr Murray thanked the people for their handsome presents to the troopers, whom he knew would treasure the mementoes while life lasted, and hand them down to generations to come. — (Applause). At Mr Murray’s call the troopers cheered for the residents of North-east Valley.
