Country: New Zealand
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 26/11/1900 (gold), 07/02/1901, 03/06/1901, 10/07/1901, 09/12/1901
Number issued: 5 silver; 1 gold
26/11/1900 presentation (gold medal)
832 Trooper William John HEIFFORD [Heiford] (wounded, Uitval's Nek, 01/08/1900; invalided, arr. Wellington 21/11/1900)
07//02/1901 presentation
832 Trooper William John HEIFFORD [Heiford] (wounded, Uitval's Nek, 01/08/1900; invalided, arr. Wellington 21/11/1900)
03/06/1901 presentation
424 Trooper [Lance-Corporal] Ernest John WEST (absent - no record of this presentation found, but known to have joined from the Napier Rifles)
Presentation made by Captain Halpin, in the Drill Shed, after the Napier Rifles' parade.
10/07/1901 presentation
Lieutenant H.C. COLLET (of Waipawa)
09/12/1901 presentation
831 Sergeant William Edward HAWTHORNE (subsequently 7331 S.S.M. W.E. Hawthorne, 9th N.Z.M.R.)
Described as a silver medal, with two clasps, bearing the inscription “South Africa”.
Although the description could be that of a QSA, the article in the Hawke's Bay Herald, clearly states that this medal was "from comrades in the Rifles".
According to the Hawke's Bay Herald (04/06/1901), "other returned troopers who were members of this corps [the Napier Rifles]" had already received medals. As of Oct 2023, I have only found reports for one earlier presentation: that given to Tpr William John Heifford.
Trooper Heifford received two medals (one gold & one silver), both from his comrades in the Napier Rifles.
The Second Contingent
NAPIER, Dec 30
RIFLES SOCIAL.
The annual social of the Napier Rifles was held at the Café last evening, Lieut. Miller, lieutenant commanding, being in the chair. …….
The following toast-list was honoured in heart fashion: –
NAPIER TROOPER WOUNDED.
WELLINGTON, Friday.
TROOPER HEIFORD.
His Return to Napier.
Enthusiastic Public Reception.
Trooper William John HEIFORD, of the Third New Zealand Contingent, returned to Napier last night, fresh from the thick of the hostilities in South Africa, and was accorded a most enthusiastic public reception. When the express from Wellington steamed up to the railway platform the precincts of the station were densely thronged, and right from there along the line of march to the Marine parade rotunda crowds of people were assembled to cheer the returning soldier and participate in the rejoicings. Flags were flying everywhere, many of the principal buildings were illuminated, the town as a whole presented a most animated and brilliant spectacle, and in every way the proceedings were worthy of an occasion so memorable. Trooper HEIFORD was received by the Mayor (Mr G.H. Swan), Mr A.L.D. Fraser, M.H.R., Major Chicken, and the officers of the local volunteer corps, and conducted by them to a landau. In this vehicle, — drawn by four splendid greys with postilions and a guard of honour furnished by the Ahuriri Mounted Rifles — the party were driven to the Parade, the Battalion Band leading the way and playing appropriately martial music. The rotunda was brightly illuminated and surrounded by an immense gathering of the public, and as Trooper HEIFORD ascended the platform he was greeted by tumultuous cheering. Time having been allowed for the partial abatement of the popular feeling, the official ceremony of welcome was performed.
The Mayor began by apologising for the unavoidable absence of Dean Hovell, and then proceeded to say that he believed he was the last to shake Trooper HEIFORD by the hand just before the departure of the Knight Templar from Lyttelton on the 17th February last. It was now his (his Worship's) proud privilege and pleasure to welcome him back, after nine months' hard campaigning, after being wounded at Uitval's Nek, and after having suffered from enteric fever, ague, and dysentery. It was almost wonderful that after these dangers and experiences they had Trooper HEIFORD back amongst them again, and the assemblage of so many people to do him honour was another reminder of the greatness of the Empire to which they belonged. The response from all the colonies to the call of the Mother Country had been truly marvellous, and among the many brave men who had gone forth here (indicating Trooper HEIFORD) was one of the best. (Cheers). He had returned not by his own wish or desire. He had wanted to see the finish of the campaign, but the authorities would not allow him. Being wounded he was ordered away, and the duty of a soldier was to obey orders. And so he had come home, and they were gathered to congratulate him on his safe return. All would agree that it was a glorious occasion, and all would be proud not only of Trooper HEIFORD but of all the men and of how they had comported themselves. Upon the latter point they had the testimony of Lord Roberts, and there could be no higher compliment than that. His Worship concluded by calling for three cheers for Trooper HEIFORD.
The cheers were heartily given, and the band played "For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow".
Mr A.L.D. Fraser was the next speaker, and expressed the great pleasure it gave him to welcome one of our boys back from the war. He knew that Trooper HEIFORD had been breaking his heart to go to South Attica. He had tried persistently to get into the contingent, had travelled to Wellington for the purpose, and on coming back had practically "tomahawked" himself into the ranks. His only anxiety had been about his mother, and that anxiety had done him infinite credit. Trooper HEIFORD had not come back with the Victoria Cross, but he had come back with the noble distinction of a wound received in actual warfare. And not only had he fought for the Empire, but he had been compelled to struggle for life against the diseases his Worship had mentioned.
"Trooper HEIFORD", concluded the speaker, "I welcome you".
Short addresses followed from Major Chicken and Captain Halpin, the former speaking on behalf of the East Coast Battalion and the latter on behalf of Trooper HEIFORD's old volunteer company, the Napier Rifles.
Trooper HEIFORD, on stepping forward to respond, was again loudly cheered. He said he was proud and glad to have been honoured with such a reception. He had only done his best to maintain the honour of Hawke's Bay. As Mr Fraser had told them, he was anxious to get to South Africa, and with what he had seen of it he was satisfied. (Laughter). He again thanked them all for the great kindness they had shown him. (Cheers).
NAPIER NEWS.
Napier, Yesterday.
RETURNED TROOPERS
WELCOME AT THE GARRISON HALL.
A right royal welcome, an enthusiastic reception, is the only way to describe the function which took place at the Drill Shed last evening. …….
Responses were made by moat of the returned troopers.
Lieutenant HUGHES said he was proud to have been associated with such a fine lot of men as those of the First Contingent, even as a ranker. No officer ever had better men. Colonials were all fighters, and the difficulty was to get them away from any position, as they never wanted to leave. The pleasantest part of the war to him was being connected with Tommy Atkins. From the regulars they had always received the greatest kindness, and while they were proud that they had been able to assist the regular troops, yet it must be remembered the colonials formed only a very small portion of the army, and that the credit for the success which had been attained rested with the British troops, who had fought splendidly. Hawke’s Bay had every reason to feel proud of her representatives, said Lieutenant HUGHES, Troopers HOLROYD, CATHERALL, and EMERSON, be had fought with, and they were a credit to the province. Of Trooper PETERSEN be could not speak from personal knowledge, but be had it from the officer who unfortunately shot PETERSEN, that he had never met a pluckier soldier, and he would never cease to regret having unwittingly wounded him, while General Broadwood had described PETERSEN's escape as the most gallant escape of the whole war.
Lieutenant Ross endorsed Lieutenant Hughes's remarks as to the anxiety of the men to fight. He had been asked since he returned, in reference to one of those who had gone away with his contingent, "if he was any good". Well, he could tell them something which would he thought, answer the question. This trooper was always in a position in which he had to bold the horses, and time after time, when a fight was in progress, he appealed to Lieutenant Ross, and said, "Look here, there’s a scrap on, can’t you get me changed, so that I can have a go". Well, he (Lieutenant Ross) asked many of the men, but they all wanted to "have a go" too, and it was with the greatest difficulty he managed at last to effect a change, and let the trooper referred to have a smack at the enemy, and he got very keen on it too.
Troopers EMERSON and CHAPMAN spoke briefly. The latter had experienced rather a rough time of it since leaving Napier, but that was all forgotten.
Trooper HOLROYD said he had learnt something in South Africa. He had fought a little, starved a little, had some jolly good feeds of poultry, and occasionally ran away, but he hoped if they were wanted they would all be there again.
Trooper PETERSEN said it would take too long to explain how he got away from the Boers. He found the only way to get clear was to burrow, and as there was no underground railway just there, he had to make one. He had bad luck in being shot by one of his own side, but the soldier was only doing his duty, and he would rather be shot by one of them than by an enemy. In the hospital he had been treated with the utmost kindness, and they did not seem as if they could do too much for him. He had the pleasure of shaking hands with Lord Roberts, and had received from the British officers and soldiers that kindness with which the New Zealanders were always treated wherever they went in South Africa. When escaping he found himself near the Boer camp, and a long way from the British lines, and he came to the conclusion that if he wanted to reach the latter it would have to be on horseback, so he got amongst the Boer horses and helped himself. He was not tangled in the wires when shot, as he had got over the fence before then. It was unfortunate, but it was one of the incidents of war.
Troopers PUFLETT and KROGH, of the South African Light Horse, also spoke in high terms of the manner in which they had been treated everywhere, both in South Africa and since returning. They had met Lieutenant Williams while at the front and found him a very popular officer in the Dorsetshires, to which regiment be was attached. He had been in charge of his company at Laing’s Nek and other places. When they met Lieutenant Williams they were ragged and hungry, and he gave them a good feed, &c.
Trooper CATHERALL said he had bad luck, having been a prisoner of war for two months, but during that time he had plenty of opportunity to study the other side, and he could only say that he and his fellow prisoners were always well treated by the enemy. When the New Zealand Government heard of their capture the Premier at once put himself in communication with the American consul and cabled £100 for the boys who were captured, and this allowed them to have medical comforts.
Mr H.A. Cornford, in one of his customary eloquent speeches, proposed the toast of the "Ministry and House of Representatives".
Mr A.L.D. Fraser, M.H.R., responded. He said that while in Sydney a cable came that this colony had raised a sixth contingent but could not yet a transport. Federal Australia was in the same predicament, and cables were despatched in all directions without result. Then one evening they read that a vessel called the Cornwall had passed a headland, or a lighthouse, or something, and would be in Sydney the next morning. With the dawn of the next day, however, the Hon. R.J. Seddon was on the deck of a specially chartered steam launch on his way to Sydney Heads, to meet the approaching vessel, and before she reached the wharf he had practically bought her, and in less than 12 hours had over 300 men at work unloading her and equipping her for a troopship.
At the request of Captain Halpin, Dean Hovell then presented Trooper HEIFFORD with a medal on behalf of the Napier Rifles as a mark of their respect and esteem. Trooper HEIFFORD suitably responded.
Tho toast of "Major Chicken and Officers of the East Coast Battalion" was proposed by his Worship the Mayor and responded to by Major Chicken. "His Worship the Mayor", proposed by Dean Hovell, was responded to in a neat speech by the Mayor.
WELCOME HOME.
At the conclusion of the usual weekly parade of the Napier Rifles held last evening, at which there was a good muster, an adjournment was made to the supper-room, where a smoke concert was held as a reception to Sergeant HAWTHORNE, who has recently returned from South Africa, where he went as a member of the Third Contingent. Captain Halpin occupied the chair, and was supported by Major Chicken, the chaplain of the corps, the Very Rev. Dean Hovell, Captain Eagar, of the Ranfurly Rifles, and the guest of the evening.
The toasts of "The King", "Army, Navy, and Volunteers", were proposed by Dean Hovell and responded to by Sergeant HAWTHORNE, Trooper HEIFFORD, Sergeant White, and Major Chicken; "Our Boys at the Front", proposed by Major Chicken and replied to by Dean Hovell; "The Staff", proposed by Captain Eagar and responded to by Major Chicken; "Non-commissioned officers", proposed by Captain Halpin, and replied to by all non-coms present, were drunk with musical honours.
The toast of "Sergeant HAWTHORNE" was proposed in a pithy speech by the chairman, who said the company were proud of their representatives who had seen service in South Africa, and of the way in which they had acquitted themselves. In welcoming back Sergeant HAWTHORNE, they were receiving amongst them the last of the members of the Napier Rifles who had been to the front, and the corps extended to him their heartiest congratulations upon having risen to the rank of sergeant during the campaign. Sergeant HAWTHORNE had expressed his intention of resuming his place as a member of the rifles, and the chairman proposed that he be received into the company with the rank of sergeant, which was carried by acclamation.
Captain Halpin, also on behalf of the company, presented Sergeant HAWTHORNE with a handsome silver medal suitably inscribed, similar to those which had been presented to the other members of the company who had gone to South Africa.
Major Chicken also paid a flattering tribute to Sergeant HAWTHORNE for the enthusiasm he had shown in volunteering and the perseverance with which he mastered all the details. He felt confident that in securing their late comrade as a sergeant they had gained a really good officer for he had been a first-class recruit, and a good recruit made a good ranker, and a good ranker a good officer.
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