State: South Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 21/02/1902
Number issued: 1
Silver medal, suitably inscribed, to:
5th South Australian (Imperial Bushmen's) Contingent –
420 Trooper Charles De LONGVILLE
Presentation made by Mr S. Rickard, in the Friendly Societies' Hall, Port Macdonnell.
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Adelaide Observer, 22nd February 1902
PORT MACDONNELL.
February 11.
A welcome social was tendered last night in the Friendly Societies' Hall to Tpr. C. De LONGVILLE, who has just been invalided home from South Africa. Mr De LONGVILLE, who is a native of this place, went to China as a member of the naval reserve on H.M.C.S. Protector. Directly he returned he joined the fourth contingent just then being formed, and proceeded to South Africa, where he saw much active service before being wounded in that terrible almost hand-to-hand engagement outside Harrismith, where he received two bullets through his legs and one through his arm. His injuries are not, however, likely to be permanent, and though he cannot walk without the aid of a stick it is only a matter of time when his wounds will be healed. Mr S. Rickard occupied the chair at the social. After the toast of "The King" had been honoured Mr C. Fisher proposed "The Army and Navy", to which Messrs Milstead and H. Clifford responded. The chairman submitted the toast of "Our Guest". He referred to Mr De LONGVILLE's pluck in serving both on sea and land, and to his heroism in action. On behalf of many old schoolmates and friends he had, at their request, to present Mr De LONGVILLE with an inscribed silver medal as a token of their admiration of his pluck and as a memento of their esteem and regard. Tpr. De LONGVILLE briefly responded. He mentioned that perhaps the saddest thing he had to do during the whole of the campaign was to assist in burying two of his old schoolmates, one of them being Tpr. EWENS, a native of this town. Mr Ellard proposed "The Ladies", for whom Mr Edge replied. Songs and recitations were given by Messrs H.E. and G. Brooksby, Perryman, Ellard, Hunt, Edge, Richardson, and Rickard.
