County: Cumberland
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 15/05/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold albert & Maltese cross, suitably inscribed, to:
Presentation made by Mr W.J. Leigh, on behalf of his fellow-bandsmen, at the General Wolfe Hotel, Penrith.
Inscribed: "Presented to R. Moffat by his fellow bandsmen on his return from the South African War, 1901".
Private Moffat also received a gold-filled watch from Penrith & District on the same day (presentation made by Mr James Scott, Chairman of the District Council, in the Market Hall, Penrith).
Watch inscribed: "Presented to ________ by the town of Penrith, for services as a Volunteer in the South African War, 1900-1901".
PRESENTATION TO PRIVATE R. MOFFAT, PENRITH.
On Wednesday evening the members of the Penrith Town’s Band entertained Privates R. MOFFAT and J. ASKINS to dinner at the General Wolfe Hotel, Penrith. Private MOFFAT was a member of the band before going to South Africa, and Private ASKINS is the son of the oldest bandsman. About 30 were present. Mrs Kitching served an excellent repast. Mr W.J. Leigh presided, and Mr W.J. Patrickson occupied the vice-chair.
During an interval in the programme, the Chairman said he had a very pleasing duty to perform, to present Private MOFFAT a slight token of the esteem of his fellow-bandsmen. The present had been subscribed for entirely by members who played in the band with him prior to his going on active service in South Africa, and it was thought right that they should all have an opportunity of meeting Private MOFFAT on his return for a pleasant evening. (Applause). He congratulated Private MOFFAT and all his comrades of the Active Service Company on their pluck and devotion to duty. (Applause). He had much pleasure in presenting a gold albert, with a pendant in the shape of a Maltese cross. (Applause). On the pendant was the inscription: “Presented to R. Moffat by his fellow bandsmen on his return from the South African War, 1901”. (Applause).
Private MOFFAT said he did not expect anything of that kind when he was invited to attend the gathering, and he could not tell what he had done to deserve it. He simply volunteered for active service in the same way as hundreds of others had done, and he could not claim credit for having gone through the whole campaign. That, however, was his misfortune, not his fault. (Applause). While in South Africa he often thought about the band, especially on New Year’s Eve. He was on outpost duty on a bridge at Kroonstadt, and at twelve o’clock the doctors and sisters from the hospitals came out in the open and sang “Auld Lang Syne”. As he heard the old refrain he thought of old times and of what the band would be doing at home that New Year’s Eve, until he wished to be back among them. (Applause). Now they had got home they had been surprised at the way in which they had been received. They had been treated splendidly since their return, and he and his comrades were very thankful for the kindness shown them. (Applause). He would always prize the gift as coming from a body of chums with whom he had spent many very pleasant hours. (Applause).
