State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 15/05/1901
Number issued: 3
18-carat gold medals, to:
338 Trooper Thomas Hamilton MORROW
Reverse: "In honor of the flag / Transvaal".
"On the obverse side a laurel wreath encircles a shield which bears the inscription [see above]. On the reverse, is a representation of the Union Jack, encircled by the legend ‘In honor of the flag’ and at the base ‘Transvaal’. The whole surmounted by the Australian coat-of-arms".
"The medal is of 18 carat gold, was designed by Mr F.E. McGuren, and executed in Sydney".
Complimentary Social.
The complimentary social tendered by the residents of South Grafton last Wednesday evening to Corporal WILSON and Troopers OAKES and MORROW attracted an attendance of about 80 couples, the result boing that the School of Arts hall was crowded to a most uncomfortable degree. Mayor Schwinghammer was M.C., and kept the ball rolling merrily from start to finish. Early In the evening the returned troopers put in an appearance, their arrival being the signal for a tremendous outburst of cheering. They were conducted to the platform, where the Mayors of both municipalities and a number of prominent citizens were seated.
Mayor Schwinghammer, after reading several apologias, including one from Ald. Glissan, Mayor of Ulmarra, said he had known the three young men, whom the citizens were welcoming home, for many years, and the fact that they had always conducted themselves as gentlemen made his duty that evening a doubly pleasant one. He personally, on behalf of the citizens of South Grafton, extended to each of the returning soldiers a hearty welcome to that township, and assured them that the citizens felt justly proud of the way they had acquitted themselves. When they enlisted for active service, 18 months ago, felt sure they were prompted by feelings of loyalty and a spirit of patriotism, willing to face the dangers and discomforts of a soldier's life, and ready to lay down their lives if necessary. He asked each of the three men to accept as a souvenir of the occasion a gold medal from their many friends in South Grafton.
The Mayoress thereupon pinned the medals to the breasts of the volunteers amidst deafening cheering.
The Mayor of Grafton said that one of the most pleasant events of his life was to have presided at the great reception tendered to the returned soldiers in the Rink the other evening. His only regret was that he was not a returned trooper' himself. He felt sure that their guests would appreciate the cordiality and warmth of the reception accorded to them both here and at Grafton. The citizens appeared to have recognised that it was men like WILSON, OAKES, and MORROW who in bygone days had carved out the glorious history of the country to which we belong. He reiterated the pleasure be felt at the safe return of the troopers, and at being permitted to join with the people of South Grafton in according them such a splendid reception.
Cheers were then given for the soldiers, their parents, the King, the Mayors of South Grafton and Grafton.
Corporal WILSON doubted if any of the officers or men who had served in the present war bad received on their return home receptions equal in sincerity and warmth to those accorded him and his two comrades during the present week. For himself he could say that while on active service his thoughts never strayed away for long from this township, and whether on a specially long and trying march or keeping the midnight watch his memory always lingered with his many old friends here. Now that the war is practically over, Majuba Hill wiped out, and the death of a gallant commander there avenged, the grand old flag had risen once more to float triumphantly over the capitals of the Free State and Transvaal, tyranny and oppression have been overthrown, and freedom and liberty exist in their place. Once and for all the question of who was to be supreme, Briton or Boer, has been settled, and the world shown once more that "Britons never never shall be slaves". The men who had gone from Grafton had done their little toward the consummation of this, and though as individuals that might perhaps not have done much, still, as a nation, Australians had accomplished wonders.
Trooper MORROW, in returning thanks, said he would always treasure the souvenir in memory of the kindness received at the hands of his old friends on his return home from the war. It was now nearly 18 months since he left on active service, and at times it proved more active than pleasant. However, both he and his comrades had done their duty faithfully and well, and were more than pleased to be safely back amongst those they loved best.
Trooper OAKES also returned thanks, and said that during his absence he had never seen a place to compare with the Clarence, a town like Grafton, or so many generous, kind-hearted people as be had found in this district.
The medals are of a unique and exquisite design. On the obverse side a laurel wreath encircles a shield which bears the inscription: — "Presented to (the name of recipient) by the citizens of South Grafton on his return home from the Boer war. May, 1901". On the reverse, is a representation of the Union Jack, encircled by the legend "In honor of the flag", and at the base "Transvaal". The whole is surmounted by the Australian coat-of-arms. The medal is of 18 carat gold, was designed by Mr F.E. McGuren, and executed in Sydney.
