State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 03/05/1901
Number issued: 1
267 Corporal-Bugler Dave OAKLEY
Corporal Bugler Dave OAKLEY and his South Yarra friends.
It must indeed have been very gratifying to Corporal Bugler OAKLEY to receive all the congratulations and expressions of welcome which were literally showered upon him on Friday evening, the 3rd inst., when his South Yarra friends arranged a pleasant evening in recognition of his safe return and of the good service he had rendered the Empire during his sixteen months of active service in South Africa. Corporal Bugler OAKLEY, it will be remembered, left for South Africa with the second contingent, who along with their comrades bore the burden and heat of the campaign in such a brave and creditable manner. Several leading gentlemen were amongst those present, and during the evening the guest was made the recipient of a very beautiful gold locket, suitably inscribed.
The well-known lines written long since on the return of a soldier lad —
But still his heart's the same”,
have been truly exemplified in the case of young 'Dave', with the exception perhaps of the beard, and there is no doubt that his father and mother, as well as the other members of the family, are justly proud of their boy.
In responding to all the good things said of him, Bugler Dave assured them all that he was a better fighter for his country than he was a speech maker; but nevertheless he let them all see that their generous gift and sentiments of praise were deeply appreciated.
