County: Aberdeenshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 10/10/1901
Number issued: 6
Gold Maltese crosses, to:
8167 [9018] Private [Lance-Corporal] Alexander C. THOMSON
Presentation made by Captain Walker, on behalf of "C" (Portlethen) Company, 5th Volunteer Bn. Gordon Highlanders, in the Prince of Wales Hotel, Aberdeen.
"The medals are in the form of Maltese Crosses, with raised centres, and bear the name of the recipients, stating that they were presented on the volunteers' return from service in South Africa by C Company, Portlethen".
Privates Morrison & Whyte were absent, as they were still on active service in South Africa.
PRESENTATION TO PORTLETHEN SERVICE VOLUNTEERS.
In the Prince of Wales Hotel, Aberdeen, last night, the members of C (Portlethen) Company of the 5th (Deeside) V.B. Gordon Highlanders entertained their comrades who have returned from South Africa after serving with the volunteer companies attached to the Gordon Highlanders. Altogether, Portlethen Company sent six men to the front, and of these Private G. COWIE was invalided home in December last year suffering from a wound through the muscle of the arm, from which he has now recovered; Private G. COUTTS, transferred from the Gordon Highlanders to the Scottish Horse, and although at present home, he intends to go to South Africa again; Private G. MORRISON is in the Scottish Horse in South Africa, and Private G. WHYTE is with the 3rd Service Company of Gordon volunteers at the front. The other two – Privates A. THOMSON and J.G. JOHNSTON – have both returned home. The movement to present the men with some tangible token of the company’s appreciation of their action was heartily taken up, and as a result a gold medal was procured for each of the six service volunteers. The medals are in the form of Maltese crosses, with raised centres, and bear the name of the recipients, stating that they were presented on the volunteers’ return from service in South Africa by C Company, Portlethen.
Captain Walker presided at the entertainment and expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large company present. One of the objects of their meeting was that they should give to four of their fellow-volunteers a small token in expression of their appreciation of what they did in volunteering for the front. (Applause). When men were asked they had all wanted to go, but they could not all get. They were pleased to see that four of those who had gone had come back again. (Applause). Private COWIE had had the misfortune to come back early in December, and Privates JOHNSTON and THOMSON had come back about April or May. Private COUTTS had appeared unexpectedly on the scene one day, beaming all over and looking fit and healthy. (Applause). Captain Walker then, in name of the company, handed the medals to Privates THOMSON, COUTTS, COWIE, and JOHNSTON. They were all very proud of these men, and glad to see them safe back. He wished them every success in life, and asked the company to drink to their health. (Loud applause).
The toast was enthusiastically pledged.
Private JOHNSTON thanked the company for the presents they had given to himself and his comrades. If the call came again, they were ready to serve their King and country. (Loud applause).
Captain Walker said that he might mention that there were medals for Private MORRISON and Private WHYTE, who were still in South Africa. (Applause).
