County: County Durham
Issued on: Departure
Date of presentation: 27/02/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold appendage & albert, and a purse of gold, to:
Presentation made by Mr Clark (manager of the society), at the Criterion Hotel, South Shields.
OFF TO THE FRONT.
A SHIELDSMAN’S SEND-OFF.
Last night there was a large gathering of members of the South Shields Equitable Co-operative Society at the Criterion Hotel for the purpose of giving a hearty send-off to one of their employees, John Thomas FINKILL, who has been chosen for active service in South Africa. Mr FINKILL will join the next detachment of the Imperial Yeomanry, and leaves South Shields today for Aldershot. The proceedings, which were characterised by much heartiness, were presided over by Mr Wm. Storey, who was supported in the vice-chair by Mr R. Archer. The Royal toasts were honoured at the outset, and afterwards Mr Clark, manager of the society, presented to the guest of the evening a handsome gold albert and appendage, subscribed by the employees, and a purse of gold subscribed by the members. Mr Clark spoke highly of the character of the recipient and said he believed he was going to the war with a good heart and with the intention of doing the best he could for his country’s honour. (Applause).
The recipient’s health was enthusiastically drunk, after which Mr FINKILL briefly replied.
