State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 19/01/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold locket, suitably inscribed, to:
"B" Squadron, New South Wales Citizens' Bushmen –
200 Trooper [Lance-Corporal] Benjamin SLOANE [Ben Sloane]
Presentation made by Mr F.J. Read, J.P., opposite Mr Beter's general store, Stuart Town.
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Mudgee Guardian, 24th January 1901
A Stuart Town Welcome.
To a Returned Warrior.
On Saturday evening, 19th instant, Lance-Corporal Ben SLOANE, No. 200 of the N.S.W. Bushmen's Contingent, arrived at Stuart Town, being invalided home from South Africa. He arrived in Sydney on Tuesday, 8th inst., by the troopship Orient, and since then has been spending a few days with friends at Bathurst and Mullion, and arrived here by train on Saturday, when he was welcomed by a large number of residents. The local band was in attendance. On stepping from the train he was received by many friends with right hearty handshakes. After a few minutes of greeting he was hoisted shoulder high and carried from the station, and the procession proceeded down the street till opposite Mr Beter's general store. The crowd halted and Ben was placed on his feet. Mr F.J. Read, J.P., presented him with an address and gold locket suitably inscribed, on behalf of the residents of Stuart Town, as a souvenir of their appreciation of his services while in South Africa. Mr Read also congratulated him on his promotion in rank. Lance-Corporal SLOANE then thanked them all for the kind manner in which they had welcomed him home. He stated he had done his duty to the Empire while fighting in South Africa. Three cheers were then given for the returned soldiers, three for the Queen, and one for Mr Sloane's parents, and one also for Mr Read for the able manner in which the whole affair was carried out. Everyone seemed pleased to see Ben back again, he being the only volunteer for South Africa from this town.
