State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 01/05/1902
Number issued: 4 or 5
Medals, to:
3rd Victorian (Bushmen's) Contingent –
404 Sergeant David Hamilton PRUDEN (K.I.A., Koster River, 22/07/1900 - did his family receive a medal?)
5th Victorian (Mounted Rifles) Contingent –
928 Sergeant James Alexander BEECHER
1639 Sergeant Hedley JONES
933 Private William Walter BEECHER
No. 1 Troop, "B" Squadron, 6th Bn. Australian Commonwealth Horse –
Lieutenant W.J. COCHRANE
"It is intended to present each returned soldier from this district with a medal". Did this happen?
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Melbourne Argus, 5th May 1902
STRATFORD.
A welcome home concert, at which upwards of 500 people were present, was tendered to Lieutenant COCHRANE, Sergeants T. BEECHER and H. JONES, and Private W. BEECHER in the Mechanics' hall on Thursday night. The returned soldiers marched on to the stage, escorted by the Stratford detachment of Rangers under Captain Lloyd, the audience standing and singing "Soldiers of the King". Councillor Carter, Avon Shire, presided, and the men were welcomed home by Captain Rev. Smith McBain and Mr N.S. Lett, president of the Avon Council. The proceedings terminated with a display of fireworks and a dance. It is intended to place a brass memorial tablet in the Mechanics' Institute to the memory of the late Private PRUDEN, and to present each returned soldier from this district with a medal.
