Country: New Zealand
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 25/07/1902
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, gold ring, and umbrella, to:
7th New Zealand Mounted Rifles –
4508 Trooper H. CORKIN
Presentation made by Mr John Ramsay (manager of Round Hill goldmine), during the district ball.
Medal and ring designed and supplied by Mr G. Munroe, of Invercargill.
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Western Star, 1st August 1902
ROUND HILL.
The Bachelors of this district gave a moat successful ball on the evening of the 26tb. Over 100 invitations were issued by the ball committee, and the lucky recipients showed their sense of favor bestowed by turning up in crowds from all parts of Southland. …….
The meeting together of so many friends of Trooper H. CORKIN was taken advantage of to give him a hearty welcome and a most valuable presentation. The proceedings were characterised by great heartiness and good fellowship, the general public opinion being that the Trooper deserves all he got. Trooper CORKIN is one who has "been and seen" to quote the words of that patriotic song "Soldiers of the Queen". One of the heroes of Botbasburg, he saw and felt war at its grimmest and fiercest. The presentation took the form of a gold medal, gold ring, a beautiful travelling bag and last, but not least, in Southland at any rate, a valuable umbrella. Mr J. Ramsay presented the gifts in a neat speech. In doing so he referred to the splendid stand made by the Seventh Contingent at Botbasburg and the admirable soldier-like qualities evinced by them throughout their campaign in Sown Africa. He made a feeling reference to Trooper Corkin's comrade, from Round Hill, the late lamented Trooper F. GOODE, who freely laid down his life, and not in vain, to help to build up our great and glorious empire. Mr J. Ramsay then pinned the medal on the trooper's breast, who on rising to respond, was greeted with round after round of hearty cheering. The trooper thanked the Round Hill people for the princely manner in which he considered be had been treated, referred touchingly to bis late comrade, and gave a resume of the sayings and doings of Ihe gallant Seventh. The medal and ring are made of Round Hill gold, and it is of course fit and right that they should be so, for the trooper, before going to the war, worked us a miner at the Hill, and the presentation came from the miners led by their manager, Mr Jno. Ramsay. Mr G. Munroe, of Invercargill, designed and manufactured the medal and ring and suitably inscribed all the articles down to the family umbrella. Apart from chaste design and clever workmanship, Mr Munroe deserves credit for the alacrity and despatch displayed in executing the order.
EMBARKATION DATABASE
Surname: CORKIN
Reg No: 4508
Given Names: Hugh
Contingent: Seventh
Rank: Private
Unit: No 25 Company (Otago Section)
Joined from: Riverton Rifles (Private, 3 yrs)
County/City: Wallace
Age: 27 years, 8 months
Occupation: Miner
Ship: “Gulf of Taranto”, 6 April 1901
Address: Riverton, Southland, Otago
Next of Kin: Corkin, Mr Francis
Next of Kin Address: Oraki
Relationship to Soldier: father
