Medals and awards

Penrith & District

County: Cumberland
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 11/07/1901, 02/08/1901
Number issued: 3

 

Gold alberts & medallions, suitably inscribed, to:
 

11/07/1901 presentation

24th (Westmorland & Cumberland) Company, 8th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
3966 Saddler Robert BROWN

3874 Trooper Thomas CHEESMAN

Presentation made at the Crown Hotel, Penrith.

Both of these men had already received watches from their respective native towns (Cheesman, from Shap; Brown, from Keswick), and therefore received gold medallions & alberts instead of silver watches.
 

02/08/1901 presentation

24th (Westmorland & Cumberland) Company, 8th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –

3979 Trooper William MOUNSEY

Presentation made by Mr William Castlehow, in the school, Watermillock.

This man had already received a watch from his native town (Watermillock), so received a gold medallion & albert instead of a silver watch.
 

 

Inscribed: "PRESENTED BY THE INHABITANTS OF PENRITH & DISTRICT TO ________ OF THE 24TH COMPANY I.Y. In commemoration of his Services IN SOUTH AFRICA 1900-01".

Supplied by Mr J. Simpson Yeates, goldsmith, Penrith, who executed the engraving at his own expense.

 

 

 
 
_______________________________________
 
 
 
Penrith Observer, 9th July 1901
 

THE PENRITH WELCOME HOME BANQUET.

The committee’s arrangements for the welcome home banquet are now almost complete. The 24th Company of the Imperial Yeomanry, under Captain Parkin, accompanied by the Active Service Volunteers, under Captain Haswell, and the active servicemen of the Ambulance Brigade, under Superintendent Yeates, will muster at the Drill Hall, on Thursday evening at 6.30. They will march, headed by the Volunteer Band, to the Crown Hotel, where the banquet will take place at seven o’clock.

The members of the Yeomanry who are subscribers and who intend being present at the banquet are to wear dress jackets, overalls, boots, spurs, and forage caps, but it will not be necessary for these men to assemble at the Drill Hall. The townspeople are again desired to place flags and bunting along Portland Place, Middlegate, Devonshire Street, and King Street.

The Volunteer Band will play from 7 to 8 p.m. in Crown Square, and afterwards in Devonshire Street, in front of the George Hotel. The Town’s Band will play from 8 p.m. in the Crown courtyard until the royal toast has been honoured in the Assembly Room, after which it will play in Crown Square until ten o’clock. It is also arranged that at the conclusion of the banquet, a smoking concert will be held, and a presentation of English silver lever watches made to the members of the 24th Company residing in this district, though gold albert guards and pendants will be given to those men who have already received watches at other places. In order to prevent any misunderstanding, the secretaries wish it to be made known that there will be no tickets issued for the smoking concert.   
 
 
Penrith Observer, 16th July 1901
 

THE YEOMANRY CAMPAIGN.

WELCOME HOME.

BANQUET AT PENRITH.

PRESENTATION OF WATCHES AND CHAINS.

The final instalment of the welcome home festivities to the various local war representatives was celebrated on Thursday night, when the Crown Assembly Room was the scene of a very gay and enthusiastic gathering. The response to the appeal for funds to entertain the Yeomen and give them souvenirs was so good that the committee found themselves able to invite the Volunteers and the ambulance men who had seen active service. The whole of the “men in khaki” assembled at the Drill Hall, the Yeomen under Captain PARKIN, and the Volunteers under Captain HASWELL. Led by the Volunteer Band they marched to the Crown Hotel, where a large company had assembled to meet them. Many flags and mottoes were shown in the streets, and the weather being fine there was a considerable turn-out of townspeople. The guests in khaki were accommodated at one long table in the centre of the assembly room, two others being required for the general company, and the chairman’s table was a transverse one at the top of the room. The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers and plants, and the dinner altogether was worthy of the repute of the Siddle family as caterers. …….

The guests invariably took away as souvenirs the menu cards and toast lists, both of which were beautifully printed. The khaki menu card showed the crossed Union Jack and Royal Standard, in relief, the colours being red, blue, and gold, and the same hues were used for the letter press. The toast list, which had the crossed flags, and letter press in blue and red, bore a portrait of Captain PARKIN, which was accompanied by the description from “Hamlet” that he was “The pink of chivalry and / The mould of form”. There were many other Shakespearian quotations on the toast list, which were prefaced by the lines: “We would have all as merry / As first-good company, good wine, good welcome / Can make good people”. Henry VIII.

In the absence of Mr J. Scott, Mr H. Winter, as vice-chairman of the Urban Council, presided, and Mr R.B. Neville was in the vice chair. …….

The 24th Company was represented by: Captain PARKIN, Ravenscragg; T. HUDDLESTONE, Arrad Foot, Ulverston; T. CHEESMAN, Shap; Quarter-Master Sergt. LITTLEFAIR, Gaythorne Hall; W. MOUNSEY, Watermillock; J.H. MASHITER, Lancaster; Trooper PRATT, Rookby Scarth; J.E. SWEDENBANK, Kendal; J.A. ATKINSON, Kirkbarrow, Greystoke; C. BANNER, Halesowen, Birmingham; C.E. MASHITER, Milnthorpe; Corpl. E.W. LITTLEFAIR, Hartley Fold, Kirkby Stephen; J. NELSON, Keswick; H. RENNICKS, Routenbeck, Bassenthwaite Lake; Sergt. J.W. PEARSON, Penrith; J.W. TAIT, Brampton; Sergt. HARRISON, Carlisle; W. BULMAN and G. BULMAN, Carlisle; J.J. TOMLINSON, Low Row; J. THRELKELD, Skirsgill; H.T. WILSON, Lindale, Grange; G. HOGARTH, Penrith; Sergt. HUTCHINSON, Stanwix; J. BELTON, Workington; J. HETHERINGTON, Stainton, Penrith; J.H. GRAHAM, Morton, Carlisle; T. KIRKBY, Preston; H. COOPER, Grange-over-Sands; F. KITCHEN, Penrith; G.G. COULTHARD and F.J. COULTHARD, Stanwix; W.J. MUIR, Clifton; R. KITCHEN, Hackthorpe; J. RUDDICK, Cummersdale; J.H. SIMPSON, Penrith; F. DORRIAN, Whitehaven; J. PARK, Calthwaite; R.M. WITHERS, Selside, Kendal; W. MATTINSON, Keswick; H. BARKER, Grange-over-Sands; J.C. ANDERTON, Greenhead, Carlisle; N. RUSHFORTH, Penrith; E. MUNCASTER, Carlisle; C. TAYLOR, Culgaith; T.H. CLEMENTS, Penrith; E. SPRUCE, Penrith; A.R. MUIR, Wood Street, London; R. FEDDON, Scotby; W. SCOTT-BROWN, Penrith; R. BURNS, Askham; T.J. SIDDLE, Hesket; E. SCOTT-BROWN, Penrith; J. ROUTLEDGE, Scotby; FAULDER, E.H. FENTON and F.J. FENTON, Penrith.

PRESENTATIONS.

The Chairman said a begging circular was issued on behalf of the Yeomen, and in response to it they had a very handsome sum of money sent in. It amounted to more than it was thought judicious to spend in that room, and the committee came to the conclusion that it would be more fitting to spend it on some articles to be given to the Yeomen. (Applause). It was now his pleasant duty to make the presentations. They consisted of a watch for each man in the town and neighbourhood of Penrith. (Applause). Captain PARKIN, he felt sure, would not think it incumbent on Penrith to supply the men who came from the South of England to join the Company with watches, but the committee had decided to limit their work to the men of Penrith and neighbourhood. In one or two cases men had received watches from their native villages, and to those men a gold albert of equal value would be given. (Applause). The committee were making no distinction between Captain PARKIN and his men, and he had pleasure in asking Captain PARKIN to accept a watch. He hoped it would be a good timekeeper, both for the credit of the silversmith who supplied it and the committee. He trusted Captain PARKIN would be up to time, in the future as in the past, and what he said to their Captain was equally applicable to the men. When they looked at those watches, he hoped it would remind them not only of that time of conviviality by that there was an end of time. (Applause). He then presented the watch to Captain PARKIN, who shook hands with the chairman as an expression of his thanks.

Mr Winter afterwards handed over fifteen watches and two alberts, the following being the full list of those who ultimately will have received the presents:

Watches: Captain PARKIN, Quarter-Master Sergeant T. LITTLEFAIR, Sergeants G. HUTCHINSON and J.W. PEARSON, Corporals H.W. ATKINSON and MUIR, Shoeing-Smith R. BURNS, Troopers E.H. FENTON, T.H. CLEMENTS, MUIR, G. HOGARTH, J. PARK, R. KITCHEN, J.A. ATKINSON, W. SCOTT-BROWN, E. SCOTT-BROWN, C. TAYLOR, T.J. SIDDLE, J.H. SIMPSON, F. KITCHEN, J. HETHERINGTON, R. NICHOLSON, N. RUSHFORTH, E. SPRUCE, J. THRELKELD, F. HALL, A. WARWICK, C. BANNER, W. SIDDLE, F.J. FENTON, R. HODGSON, W. SLEE, F. DORRIAN, C. LOWTHER.

Gold alberts: Saddler R. BROWN, Troopers W. MOUNSEY, and T. CHEESMAN.  

There were thus 34 watches and three gold alberts with medallions, the latter being for men who did not wish to have watches. All the watches and the gold albert chains were supplied by Mr Simpson Yeates, goldsmith, Penrith, who secured the contract from the committee in competition, the committee acting on the advice of an expert in the trade, who had examined the sample watches submitted. The committee was determined to have a first-class watch, which should also be of English manufacture, and they believe that in the English-made keyless silver watch they supplied to the men, they have given an article which will not only last a lifetime, but will always be an interesting memento of a very trying period of their lives. Each watch and pendant bears the same inscription, handsomely engraved, with the name of the recipient, the following being an example: “Presented by the inhabitants of Penrith and district to Captain W.H. Parkin, of the 24th Company, I.Y., in commemoration of his services in South Africa, 1900-01”. Each watch and pendant cost the committee £3 10s. It is worth noting, however, that this was below the cost at which watchmakers could purchase for ordinary retail trade, and Mr Yeates had the inscriptions done at his own expense – a large item for 34 watches.
 
 
Penrith Observer, 6th August 1901
 

PRESENTATION AT WATERMILLOCK.

On Friday evening Private W. MOUNSEY, Watermillock, 24th Company Imperial Yeomanry, was the recipient of a handsome gold English lever watch, subscribed for the people of Watermillock, as a token of their appreciation of his services in South Africa. Messrs T. Watson, Knotts, and W. Harrington, Watermillock, were secretaries for the fund, and they found their work very easy owing to the heartiness with which their invitations to subscribe were received. The watch was inscribed as follows: “Presented to Trooper W. Mounsey, of the 24th Company I.Y., by his friends at Watermillock on his return from the war in South Africa, 1900-1901”. The school was well filled by Watermillock people, including Mrs Bush and party from Beauthorn. The chair was taken by Mr Wm. Castlehow, who was supported by Mr Wilson Harrington and Mr Thos. Watson, joint secretaries. The Chairman read a letter from Mr J. Bush, regretting his inability to attend through the effects of his late illness. Mr Castlehow referred at length to the services of the Yeomanry whilst in South Africa, and asked Trooper MOUNSEY to accept the watch. The Chairman afterwards presented him with a gold albert and pendant given by the Penrith Banquet Committee, and Trooper MOUNSEY in returning thanks referred to the warm welcome which he had received, and thanked all the subscribers very kindly, and especially the secretaries for their trouble in getting him such a handsome present. The secretaries each made a few remarks, and thanked the subscribers for their kindness in contributing so liberally. The Chairman then invited Mr Gedge (a guest of Mr Bush’s, and closely connected with the war, he having a son out at the front as a chaplain), to speak. He gave the company some very interesting facts in a speech of some length. Mr E. Mounsey and Miss F. Greenhow having contributed songs, votes of thanks were accorded the chairman, secretaries, and vocalists.
 
 
Carlisle Journal, 6th August 1901
 

MORE PRESENTATIONS TO LOCAL YEOMEN.

On Saturday evening practically the whole of the inhabitants of Tirril and Sockbridge turned out to the village green (there not being a room large enough to hold them) to witness the presentation of a gold English lever watch, subscribed for by the parishioners, and the gold albert and medallion given by the Penrith Committee, to Trooper J.T. SIDDLE, of the 24th Company Imperial Yeomanry. Mr C. Bird, chairman of the Parish Meeting, presided, and made the presentation. In acknowledging the presents Trooper SIDDLE said the men had had some tough times, but they did not expect anything less. None of them thought they would be as well fed and as lightly worked as when they went up for their annual training. At the same time they were all pleased to get back home, but there was not a member of the Company who would not very willingly go back if it were necessary.
 
 
Penrith Observer, 6th August 1901
 

HONOURING LOCAL YEOMEN.

PRESENTATION AT TIRRIL.

On Saturday evening a very interesting ceremony took place at Tirril. The inhabitants of this picturesque village are always ready to do honour to any of their neighbours whenever an opportunity offers, and it was not to be expected that they would allow the fact that one of their number had brought credit on himself and on the village by fighting for his country as an Imperial Yeoman to pass without fitting acknowledgement. As soon as it was known that the 24th Company were coming home, and that Trooper J.T. SIDDLLE, son of Mr F. Siddle, Queen’s Head Hotel, was among the number a committee was formed for the purpose of marking the appreciation of the services of Trooper SIDDLE, felt by his fellow-villagers. The response was ready and generous, and the committee within a short time found themselves in possession of a sum of money which would allow them to present Trooper SIDDLE a memento worthy of the occasion.

There being no room in the village large enough to accommodate the whole of the villagers, it was decided to make the presentation on the village green. Mr J. Davidson, Penrith, was asked to make the presentation on account of his long connection with the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry, and of the great friendship existing between him and the family of the man to be honoured. Unfortunately, he was not able to be present on Saturday, and his placed was filled by Mr C. Bird, Thorpe. By eight o’clock almost the whole of the villagers of Tirril had assembled about the stone steps which are the only remaining parts of the ancient village cross, and they were joined by friends from Yanwath, Penrith, Sockbridge, Pooley Bridge, Askham, and Lowther, the gathering being the largest seen in the village for many years.

Mr Bird said he supposed he was called upon to lead on that occasion for the simple reason that he was chairman of their parish meeting, and if ever he felt pleased at holding that position in the parish it was that night, since it gave him the opportunity of expressing the feelings of the parishioners towards a worthy family. (Applause). They were met to do honour to one of England’s brave sons, who at the call of duty left his home and friends and went out to fight for his country thousands of miles across the sea. (Applause). It was during the very darkest days of the present war that the call was made for volunteers, and it required a brave heart to come forward. The Boers had shown that they were not an enemy who were conquered easily, and it was well known that whoever went to South Africa to fight carried his life in his hands. The danger was great, but that did not deter men from offering their services. (Applause). It never had and he felt certain it never would be the case that Englishmen were kept back from doing their duty by the danger of the enterprise. (Applause). It had always been the principle of Englishmen to stand up for their country and their rights without thinking of the consequences, and it was that spirit which filled the breasts of the men who went out with the Imperial Yeomanry and the Volunteers. (Applause). That was the spirit which actuated their good friend Trooper SIDDLE, and now he had come back safe and sound, having done his duty to his King and country like a brave man, they would be sadly lacking in their duty if they did not show that they appreciated the efforts of their friend. (Applause). It was because they were anxious to show their friend that they did appreciate his services that they had gathered in such numbers on that occasion, and he had much pleasure in asking Trooper SIDDLE to accept that gold albert and medallion, and a gold horse-shoe breast pin. The inscription on the medallion was: “Presented to Trooper J.T. Siddle, 24th Company I.Y., by his Tirril and Yanwath friends on his return from South Africa. 1901”. (Applause).

Trooper SIDDLE said he wished to thank all his friends for their great kindness to him, and for those very handsome presents, which he would value as long as he lived. (Applause). It was very nice to have such receptions as he and his comrades had met with since their return, but he could not help asking himself if what they had done was deserving of such recognition. They had certainly had some very rough times, but then they did not expect anything else when they went out. None of them thought they would be as well fed and as lightly worked as when they went up for the annual training, so that they did not think so much of the hardships. All the same they were all pleased to get back home. (Applause). There was one thing he could truly say, and that was that if he was wanted to go out again, he would be ready and willing, and he believed there would be very few men in England but would willingly do the same. (Applause). He did not know how he could thank them for their kindness; he could only tell them that he would never forget the reception they had given him. (Applause).

Mr F. Siddle proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Bird, the committee and the subscribers. He said he felt exceedingly pleased to think that one of his sons should have been so highly honoured by his fellow villagers. He was proud that one of his boys should have been privileged to fight for his King and country, and if anything could make that feeling stronger it was the fact that his fellowmen recognised and appreciated his services. (Applause).

Mr Bird, in reply, said that reception had been well earned. The collection of subscriptions for the testimonial had been one of the pleasantest jobs he had taken part in, and there was no wonder. Mr F. Siddle and his family had endeared themselves to the people of the district by their geniality and kind-heartedness, and in honouring Trooper SIDDLE they also honoured his family. (Applause).

Cheers were given for Trooper SIDDLE, his father and mother, and Mr Bird, and the gathering dispersed after having sung the national anthem. A smoking concert was afterwards held in the hotel, Mr Bird presiding, and a very pleasant time was spent.
 
 
 
 
RECIPIENTS OF THE SILVER WATCHES (34)
 
24th (Westmorland & Cumberland) Company, 8th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
Captain William Hugh PARKIN
3905 Quartermaster-Sergeant Thompson LITTLEFAIR
3851 Sergeant George HUTCHINSON
3852 Sergeant Joseph William PEARSON
3857 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] Herbert Workman ATKINSON (absent - presented on 14/07/1901)
3913 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] William James MUIR
3872 Trooper [Shoeing-Smith] Robert BURNS
3858 Trooper John Alfred ATKINSON
3860 Trooper Charles BANNER
3875 Trooper Thomas Herbert CLEMENTS
3880 Trooper Fred DORRIAN
3883 Trooper Ernest Henry FENTON (invalided)
3975 Trooper Frederick James FENTON
3891 Trooper John HETHERINGTON
3889 Trooper Frank HALL
3894 Trooper Robert HODGSON
3895 Trooper George HOGARTH
3901 Trooper Fred KITCHEN
3902 Trooper Robert KITCHEN
3906 Trooper Charles LOWTHER
3912 Trooper Albert Robinson MUIR
3915 Trooper Roachford NICHOLSON
3982 Trooper Isaac PARK
3930 Trooper Norman RUSHFORTH
3932 Trooper Ernest SCOTT-BROWN
3933 Trooper Walter SCOTT-BROWN

3935 Trooper Thomas James SIDDLE
3936 Trooper William SIDDLE
3940 Trooper Thomas William SLEE
3938 Trooper Joseph Herbert SIMPSON
3941 Trooper Edward SPRUCE
3943 Trooper Clement TAYLOR
3946 Trooper Joseph THRELKELD
3951 Trooper Arthur WARWICK
3955 Trooper John WRIGHT (K.I.A., Faber's Put, 30/05/1900 - did his family receive a watch?)

 
 
Details
Parent Category: Tribute medals
Category: P
Hits: 465