County: Denbighshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 27/06/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold albert & medal, suitably inscribed, to:
Presentation made by Miss Oldfield, in the Town Hall, Rhuddlan.
Inscribed: "S.A. War, 1900-01. Presented to E G Jones by his friends at Rhuddlan, in appreciation of his patriotism, and his safe return".
The article only mentions a gold albert, but the report of an inscription indicates that there must have been a medal/pendant attached.
PRESENTATION AT RHUDDLAN TO RETURNED VOLUNTEERS.
Some time ago when the inhabitants of Rhuddlan were made aware of the fact that Trooper Walter K. BELL and Private E.G. JONES would soon be returning home from the South African War, they determined to give the two gallant soldiers a reception worthy of the sacrifice they had made. Accordingly, a representative committee was formed, who carried out the wishes of the inhabitants as far as a worthy reception was concerned. Another thing was decided upon by the committee, and that was to make a presentation to the two men, not as any reward for the services they had rendered in taking up arms on behalf of the rights of their country, but to show how their fellow-townsmen appreciated the self-sacrifice exhibited by them.
On Thursday night, at the Town Hall, Rhuddlan, a meeting was held to present Trooper W.K. BELL and Private E.G. JONES with a mark of good feelings towards them.
Mr J. Jones (timekeeper) occupied the chair, and amongst those present were the Rev. T.W. Vaughan (Vicar), Mr R.C. Enyon, J.P., Messrs Roger Hughes, J.O. Hughes, Oldfield (King's Head), T. Davis, J. Stanley Hughes, W. Wynne, &c.
The Chairman observed that he was proud to take the chair on that occasion, as he considered that, not only was the war a non-political one, if viewed in a proper light, but the movement spontaneously taken up to make that presentation was also non-political, and he thought they both deserved all the honour the people of Rhuddlan could bestow upon them. It was something to be proud of that these young men were not bound to go out, but readily volunteered to do so.
The Chairman called upon Miss Hughes to make the presentation of a valuable lever watch to Trooper W.K. BELL. The watch bore the following inscription: – "S.A. War, 1900-01. Presented to W.K. Bell by his friends at Rhuddlan, in appreciation of his patriotism, and his safe return".
Afterwards, Private E.G. JONES was presented with a gold albert by Miss Oldfield. The albert bore the following inscription: – "S.A. War, 1900-01. Presented to E.G. Jones by his friends at Rhuddlan, in appreciation of his patriotism, and his safe return".
The Rev. T.W. Vaughan said he was pleased to take part in the proceedings, and said he thought his young friends were deserving of every praise and credit for the sacrifice they made in going out to fight the enemies of the country. They were not afraid of going out, and he and everyone else in Rhuddlan were pleased that they were spared to come back. He hoped that the spirit shown by them should not be minimised, as it was by a great many.
Trooper W.K. BELL responded to the remarks made concerning himself, and heartily thanked them for their kind appreciation of his services. He did not pretend that he had done much, but he did his best.
Private E.G. JONES also responded, and said he thought he was only doing his duty towards his country in going out to defend her rights. He also wished to thank those friends, and especially the Rev. T.W. Vaughan and Mrs Vaughan, for the kindness shown to his widowed mother during his absence.
Mr J.O. Hughes was also pleased to take part in these proceedings, and said he failed to see any justification for the part taken by a great number of people in this country to belittle the services of those who had sacrificed themselves on behalf of their country.
Mr Roger Hughes also expressed the opinion that the services rendered by their two young friends was a fit subject for their appreciation.
A vote of thanks was proposed to the Chairman by the Rev. T.W. Vaughan, and seconded by Mr R.C. Enyon, who thought they had done a very appropriate thing in having an old soldier in the chair.
