State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 02/03/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, suitably inscribed, to:
New South Wales Army Medical Corps (2nd Contingent) –
324 Sergeant Harry William BURDEN
Presentation made by Mr Wilson, on behalf of fellow employees of the Harbours & Rivers Department, at Tattersall's Hotel, Newcastle.
Obverse with monogram "HB".
Reverse: "Presented to / SERGT. BURDEN / for rescuing a / SOLDIER / under heavy fire in / South Africa / BY HIS / FELLOW EMPLOYEES / OF / H & R Department / NEWCASTLE MAR 2ND 1901".
Note: this was a unique presentation, given to Sergeant Burden for his gallant conduct in rescuing a comrade under heavy fire.
With thanks to Moranthorse1
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner's Advocate, 04/03/1901
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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner's Advocate, 4th March 1901
On Saturday night a number of the Harbours and Rivers employees met at Tattersall's Hotel for the purpose of entertaining and presenting Sergeant Harry Burden, of the Army Medical Corps, who has recently returned from South Africa, with a token of their appreciation of the services rendered by him at the front, while serving the country and the empire. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. Ross, who after explaining the purport of the meeting, called upon Mr. Wilson to make the presentation, which consisted of a gold trinket of an artistic design, and suitably inscribed.
Mr. Wilson said that on behalf of a number of Harbours and Rivers employees it gave him great pleasure to ask Sergeant Burden to accept this gift. It was not an elaborate one, yet it was a token of their appreciation and recognition of the services rendered at the front by one of their fellow workmen. When they saw Sergeant Burden's name so honourably mentioned in despatches, they knew that he had done all that man dared do. They also knew that the heroic actions of their guest were prompted by the best instincts of human nature, belonging as he did to the noble order of the Red Cross. Their country's cause in South Africa was a just one, inasmuch as it was the cause of liberty. He concluded by wishing Sergeant Burden success in life, and hoped that he would be spared and ever ready to render his services in the interests of his country.
Sergeant Burden,in replying, thanked the donors for the presentation. It was one that he by no means regarded as a small one, coming from the source it did. It was one that he appreciated and would treasure all his life. He was pleased to know that he had been remembered by his fellow workmen, while serving on the battlefield in South Africa. He related several of his experiences while at the front. He had on one occasion to lie for an hour and a half beside a dead body, while bullets were flying all around him. In his opinion Tommy Atkins was a generous, kindhearted fellow, who when wounded, liked to be placed under the care of the Australian Army Medical Corps. He trusted that the war in South Africa would soon be brought to an end.
The remainder of the evening was spent pleasantly, vocal items being rendered by Messrs. Boden, Walker, Ross, Brent, Rooney, Seers, McFarlane, and Sergeant Burden.
Mr. Wilson said that on behalf of a number of Harbours and Rivers employees it gave him great pleasure to ask Sergeant Burden to accept this gift. It was not an elaborate one, yet it was a token of their appreciation and recognition of the services rendered at the front by one of their fellow workmen. When they saw Sergeant Burden's name so honourably mentioned in despatches, they knew that he had done all that man dared do. They also knew that the heroic actions of their guest were prompted by the best instincts of human nature, belonging as he did to the noble order of the Red Cross. Their country's cause in South Africa was a just one, inasmuch as it was the cause of liberty. He concluded by wishing Sergeant Burden success in life, and hoped that he would be spared and ever ready to render his services in the interests of his country.
Sergeant Burden,in replying, thanked the donors for the presentation. It was one that he by no means regarded as a small one, coming from the source it did. It was one that he appreciated and would treasure all his life. He was pleased to know that he had been remembered by his fellow workmen, while serving on the battlefield in South Africa. He related several of his experiences while at the front. He had on one occasion to lie for an hour and a half beside a dead body, while bullets were flying all around him. In his opinion Tommy Atkins was a generous, kindhearted fellow, who when wounded, liked to be placed under the care of the Australian Army Medical Corps. He trusted that the war in South Africa would soon be brought to an end.
The remainder of the evening was spent pleasantly, vocal items being rendered by Messrs. Boden, Walker, Ross, Brent, Rooney, Seers, McFarlane, and Sergeant Burden.
The N.C.O.'s of the New South Wales Medical Corps. Sergeant (then Corporal) Burden can be seen in the front row (sitting), on the far right. Image from "The New South Wales Contingents to South Africa", compiled by Lieutenant W. Henderson, Sydney 1900.
