Medals and awards

WELCOME AT PORTSMOUTH.

The Active Service Section of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own), which has been out in South Africa for 17 months, returned to Portsmouth on Monday afternoon, and received a very cordial welcome and hearty greetings from the town authorities, from the populace, and from their own comrades of the regiment to which they belong. The men arrived at Southampton on Friday, but were detained in barracks at Winchester until Monday afternoon, when they were despatched home to Portsmouth by the train which left Winchester at 1.12, and arrived at the Harbour Station about half-past 2 o’clock. The Harbour Station, the neighbourhood of the Hard, and the whole length of Queen Street were profusely decorated. The Station buildings were festooned with various coloured buntings; streamers were flying from every convenient coign of vantage; and flags of all sorts and sizes were displayed on every hand. A large and expectant crowd waited outside the Station to witness the proceedings.

When the train steamed in, the arrivals, bronzed and weather-beaten, were formed up, numbered, and marched off the platform. They formed up outside, facing the Station steps, on which stood the Mayor and the Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs A. Leon Emanuel), Colonel-Commandant A.R. Holbrook, the Chief-Constable (Mr A.T. Prickett), and the two Chaplains of the Corps (the Rev. C. Darnell and the Rev. E.S. Finch-Smith). As the men debouched from the Station, the crowd cheered them, and the Band struck up a lively and appropriate air. This concluded and silence restored, the Mayor addressed the men.

At the conclusion of the address the crowd cheered again, and his Worship invited the men to a banquet to be given in honour of the Naval Brigade and the whole of the Portsmouth Volunteers from the Front on the following evening.

THE BANQUET.

In accordance with precedent, the Mayor of Portsmouth (Alderman A. Leon Emanuel), representing the town at large, entertained at dinner in the Town Hall, on Tuesday evening, the men who have returned from the War; and the event was made the occasion of a remarkable demonstration of popular favour. Outside the Town Hall was an immense concourse of people waiting to see the arrival of the guests, who marched up from their various depots, barrack-rooms, and drill halls in one body, headed by the Band of H.M.S. Excellent. At the foot of the Town Hall steps they were met by the Mayor and the members of the Corporation in their robes, and cocked hats, and with all the insignia of civil office. Vice-Admiral Sir Harry Rawson was among those who accompanied the Mayor; and both arms of the Service were otherwise well represented.

The Service guests included men from the Doris, the Monarch, the Forte, the Philomel, the Sybille, the Tartar, and a few of the Powerful men who were left behind in South Africa when she returned, and who are now on the books of the Excellent, the Duke of Wellington, or the Vernon. Altogether about 230 men were entertained, consisting of about 20 men of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, about 80 sailors, and about 100 Volunteers of the Engineers and 3rd Hants (D.C.O.) Active Service Section. The dinner was served in the great hall, which had been handsomely and appropriately decorated for the occasion with all the various forms of military devices. Everywhere were displayed the national colours; and the table decorations were in the same direction. Flowers and ribbons were plentiful; and the scene was one of gay animation. The galleries, too, were full of the friends of the men who watched with delight the fêting of their heroes. The Mayor, of course, presided.

In proposing the toast of “The King”, the Mayor remarked that, before long, his Majesty would probably permit the Volunteer Regiments to carry colours, seeing that they could now emblazon them with deeds worthy of their names and the names of the memorable battles in which they had taken part. (Hear, hear).

THE TOWN’S WELCOME TO THE CREW OF H.M.S. TERRIBLE.

BANQUET AT THE 3RD HANTS DRILL HALL.

Yesterday Portsmouth publicly welcomed home and entertained Captain Percy Scott and the officers and men of H.M.S. Terrible. It was done from a purely patriotic spirit, as the Mayor put it, and as a recognition of the services rendered to the country by Captain Percy Scott and his gallant comrades during a critical period.

For some reason the reception seems to have aroused little enthusiasm in official quarters. Sailors could not be spared to line the streets, nor were any troops available for this purpose. But what the demonstration was lacking in this respect was fully made up for in the warmth and enthusiasm of the greeting by the general public.

THE MARCH TO THE HALL.

It was just before six o’clock when the 750 officers and men who were to be entertained by the Mayor (Major W.T. Duprée) at the Connaught Drill Hall, left the Dockyard, headed by the bands of the Royal Marine Artillery, H.M.S. Excellent, and the 2nd Hants Artillery Volunteers. Long before six, however, Queen Street, Edinburgh Road, and Commercial Road had been crowded with spectators, who were kept to the sides of the roads and pavements by lines of policemen under the command of Superintendent Moss. The appearance of Captain Percy Scott and Commander Ogilvy walking at the head of their men was the signal for an immense outburst of cheering. The Captain and his officers walked in front of the column, the petty officers and men following. All through Portsea, as well as along Edinburgh Road, the crowds took up the cheers and kept them going until the Drill Hall was reached.

At the junction of Edinburgh and Commercial Roads the gathering of spectators and the enthusiasm of the crowds were the greatest. The bluejackets looked a splendid body of men, and fit for any duty. They entered the Drill Hall just before half past six, the throngs outside giving them a parting cheer as they disappeared inside the capacious building.

THE SCENE INSIDE.

The scene in the hall was brilliant. Suspended across the roof were festoons of gaily coloured flags, while around the sides were numerous trophies of side arms. The gallery fronts were adorned with white lifebuoys, alternated with shields bearing the Union Jack. On the wall facing the entrance was the inscription, “Welcome Home. South Africa, 1899-1900. North China, 1900”. The decorations were most tasteful, and reflected great credit on Mr Rice, of the Gunwharf, and the staff of H.M.S. Vernon, under whose direction they were carried out. Colonel Barrington Baker also assisted in this department. The Ladysmith guns around the sides of the hall on the carriages invented by Capt. Scott were also notable features.

Extending down one side of the hall was a platform on which was the Mayor’s table, those of the petty officers and men and the general company being arranged across the floor at right angles to it. Facin the Mayor was a stand for the children of St Luke’s School, with the band stand, occupied by the Royal Marine Artillery band, in front of it. Very pretty the children looked, the little girls dressed in white sailor costumes, and the boys having red, white, and blue sashes. The galleries were filled with friends of the officers and men. Twelve large arc-lamps, lent for the purpose, with additional incandescent lamps over the Mayor’s table ensured that the hall should be brilliantly illuminated, Mr Grossmith being entrusted with the fitting-up of the electric lighting. A word of praise, too, is also due to the tasteful manner in which the tables were decorated.

The non-diners had all settled down comfortably before the “Terribles” arrived. When the cheers outside announced that the heroes of the evening were coming everyone rose, and loud and hearty were the cheers as the gallant fellows marched in with the usual sailor’s swing and took their places at the tables with not the least confusion.

Soon afterwards the Mayor’s procession, with the principal guests, entered. It was headed by the mace-bearer, the Mayor following with Capt. Percy Scott and Com. Ogilvy. Then came the other officers and guests. …….

THE DINNER.

There had been plenty of offers of assistance for refreshments. Every local brewer, as well as Messrs Mew, Langton, and Co., of Newport, and Messrs Amey, of Petersfield, had undertaken to supply beer, while Messrs Mumby and Co. provided mineral waters. Every man was supplied with bottled ale, or minerals ad lib, while Messrs Cavender and Co., of Queen Street, Portsea, ensured the sailors having the wherewithal for a smoke, a packet of tobacco with a pipe being placed alongside each man’s plate. Altogether there were 750 officers, petty officers, and men from the Terrible, including those who had left the ship, but to whom the Mayor’s invitation had been extended. In addition there were 150 townsmen. The dinner was well served, and there was not the slightest hitch or delay all through. …….

PRESENTING SOUVENIRS.