Medals and awards

URALLA & DISTRICT.

URALLA, Saturday.

RECEPTION OF TROOPER W.A. CRAPP.

On Wednesday evening last a reception was tendered to Trooper W.A. CRAPP in the Oddfellows' Hall, which was nicely decorated for the purpose, flags festooning the sides and ends, and where possible hung from the ceiling. Green boughs, with red, white, and blue ribbons glinting through them, were everywhere, and mottoes and pictures, denoting loyalty and patriotism, filled up space, altogether forming an attractive picture.

Troopers McMillan, Asquith, Monro, Edmunds, and Volunteer McMillan were on the platform.

It had been intended to have games, with singing, but the very large gathering left no room for games.

The Mayor (Ald. Bardsley), who presided, apologised for the absence of Mr Piddington, who had expressed the pleasure it would give him to be present, but was prevented at the last moment, and also for the absence of Mr Delany, who had taken a warm interest in the reception, but was sorry to say he was laid aside by a severe cold.

The proceedings were opened by Cooper's string band playing an overture. A quartette by Misses McHugh and Vincent, and Messrs Cooper and Elliott, "A Soldier's Life", was well sung. Miss Grace Murray sang a solo sweetly, Mrs Sandilands and Miss Crapp a duet, "Mother, can this the Glory be", the voices nicely blending. Mrs Sandilands also sang a patriotic song, and "Home Sweet Home", in tones rich and sympathetic, every word appealing to an appreciative audience. Mr McAlpine also sang a song, and recitations were given by the Mayor, Mr Apted, and Mr G. McAlister. So highly did the audience appreciate the vigour with which the last-named told of the Scots under Capt. Towse who, when called upon by a layer to surrender, were met by the captain's reply, "Fix bayonets, charge", and the Boers learnt the power of the Northman's arm as they reeled under the shock, that he received an encore, and in response recited with good action the predicament of a French prisoner in England, who wanted to go fishing. Trooper Asquith related some of the events on board ship, on the march, and in action.

About half past 10 the Mayor, with a few preliminary remarks, presented an address from the residents of Uralla to Trooper CRAPP. The address is a splendid piece of workmanship, every detail being beautifully and perfectly finished. On the upper part there is a portrait of the recipient, Australian flowers embellish the sides, and inside there is riband with the words, "He is the Soldier of our Queen my lads, Who has been my lads, Who has seen my lads", and on the lower corner a trooper and a blue jacket.

The address reads as follows:

Trooper William A. Crapp. Dear Sir, — In welcoming your return to New England, we desire to say, that, whilst deploring war, with the desolation, misery, and suffering incidental thereto, we cannot look upon the war in South Africa as an unmixed evil. It has been the means of evoking and developing in the colonies, and dependencies of the British Empire, a spirit of loyalty to the hand of our fathers, and by a great object lesson teaching the world that "the crimson thread of kinship" is somewhat more than a poet's fancy. Let danger threaten the Empire; and its sons from every clime will, as one man, rally round her banner. In volunteering for service in South Africa, New South Wales took a foremost position, and our own district, New England, furnished a contingent, in which your name was enrolled, and with which you were united in active service. As Australians, we have, with pardonable pride, read the favourable opinions expressed by Lord Roberts and other Imperial officers of the conduct of the colonial troops under fire and other trying circumstances inseparable from actual warfare. With gratitude to God, we would thank Him for bringing you home in safety, and trust that the experience gained by our volunteers on the "Tented field", and the discipline necessary to success in war, may prove helpful in the battle of life, and a means of strong defence, should the invader threaten our sunny southern land. With our best wishes for your future, on behalf of the people of Uralla and district, we are, dear sir, yours — Thomas E. Bardsley (Mayor), Jas. D. Leece, J.P., Arthur Hannaford, W.P. Williams, M.D., Chas. G. Cooper. Kenneth Mitchell, Jasper H. McAlpine, Thos. Delany, Obadiah Carter, J.P., W.F. Hickling, D.T. Pearson, Thos. Murray, Thos. Adamson, Josiah Harris.

A portrait of Lord Roberts, in watercolours taken from a photo, by Mr Ravenswood, and subscribed for by some friends, was also presented.

Amidst much cheering, Mrs Bardsley pinned a gold medal on to Trooper CRAPP's coat. It is a Maltese cross, with a monogram on the front and an inscription on the back.

The whole audience sang one verse of "Auld Lang Syne", and then Trooper CRAPP returned thanks for their very cordial reception and handsome present. It was far beyond anything he could have expected, and could only be attributed to their generosity. He gave some incidents of experiences by flood and field, and, as Trooper Asquith had already said felt much disappointed, on recovering from sickness, to find that he could not go to the front again.

Mr C. Brown, of Armidale, spoke of the war as a necessary evil forced upon us, but the manner in which the colonies rose to the occasion at once evinced their lealty [loyalty?]. Whilst welcoming those who had been spared to return, they should never forget there was sorrow in many homes for those who were laid at rest under South African soil. Mr Brown concluded a practical and sympathetic address by hoping that the experience gained would be profitable and bind us more firmly to the Empire.

An adjournment was made to the supper room. This was tastefully decorated, and the two long tables were nicely laid out and bountifully supplied. To prevent confusion, but 70 were admitted at one time, and only by ticket. There were five relays, and it speaks well for the ladies who provided to say that, after all the large number had been satisfied, there were ample provisions remaining.