State: Tasmania
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 12/07/1901, abt. 06/08/1901
Number issued: 16 or 18
Cased gold medals, suitably inscribed, to:
12/07/1901 presentation
108 Private Edwin PACKETT (absent - medal handed to his brother Charles)
169 Private Robert Rumney WOOD
Abt. 06/08/1901 presentation
71 Trooper Clarence Albert James JOHNSTONE
"It was decided to purchase sixteen gold medals, to be suitably inscribed, for the men who were sent from the Sheffield corps" (Launceston Examiner, 22/01/1901).
"Eight men are still on active service" (North Western Advocate, 28/06/1901).
SHEFFIELD SOLDIERS.
MEDALS TO BE PRESENTED.
SHEFFIELD, Monday.
PRESENTATION TO SOLDIERS.
PRESENTATION OF MEDALS.
THE SHEFFIELD CONTINGENT.
SHEFFIELD, Saturday.
When the first of our men, under Colonel Cameron, returned home, it was decided to make them some present as a token of appreciation of the way they had behaved while fighting for the Empire in South Africa. As a result, 16 gold medals were obtained and inscribed on one aide "South Africa", and on the other "Presented by residents of Sheffield". As a good proportion of the men have returned safely home, it was decided to hold a concert on Friday and distribute the medals. Needless to say, the Roland Hall was packed with an audience that showed a sympathetic feeling towards the returned men, who, with a number of visiting comrades, occupied front seats. On the platform with the chairman (Mr John Hope. M.H.A.) were seated Colonel Cameron, Major G.H. Brown, Major Wallace Brown, Captain J.H. McCall, Captain Hope, Lieutenants Clerke, Luttrell, and Roberts. The proceedings included a miscellaneous programme, items being contributed by Misses Ada Morse and Fanny Atkinson, Major Wallace Brown, Captain McCall, Lieut. Luttrell, Messrs. G. Harrison, Montmorency, and Tonmor. The Sheffield Dingo Club gave a farce.
During an interval, the chairman called on Colonel Cameron to make the presentations. The colonel, on rising, spoke of the extreme pleasure it gave him to come among such a patriotic people as Sheffielders were, and also to notice that they were recognising the service rendered by their fellow-citizens in the great South African war.
Troopers John HOPE, James MORSE, John COLEMAN, W. LUPTON, C.[sic] PACKETT, R. LAWSON, R. WOOD, G. JUDGE, W. LYON, and M. BEST then stepped on to the platform, saluted their officer, and received some words of commendation from the colonel as he handed the souvenirs to them. Each man was lustily cheered as he received his present.
After the medals had been distributed, Colonel Cameron asked the members of his company to accept a photograph of himself.
SHEFFIELD, Tuesday.
The Returned Tasmanians.
AT SHEFFIELD.