County: Northumberland
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 21/05/1901, 22/11/1901, 07/06/1902
Number issued: 178 ?
Gold medals, to:
LIST OF 1ST V.A.S.C. WALKER VOLUNTEERS WHO RECEIVED WAR MEDALS ON 06/12/1901
21/05/1901 presentation
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Northumberland Fusiliers ["A" to "E" Companies, 2nd V.B.N.F.] –
Captain H. BEALE (Wallsend)
Lieutenant A. REED
Lieutenant W.E. STEPHENSON
472 Colour-Sergeant J. O'BRIEN (Wallsend)
7644 Sergeant George ALDER (Wallsend)
7400 Sergeant George ARMSTRONG (Walker)
7401 Sergeant James Earnshaw FREEBORN (Lemington)
7635 Sergeant Thomas Henry SMITH [H.T. Smith] (Walker)
7402 Sergeant Joseph SMITH (Walker)
7403 Corporal William Sexton BOUSFIELD (Wallsend)
7642 Corporal John Walter BROOKS (Wallsend)
7405 Corporal James HIGGINS (Lemington)
7404 Corporal J. McKEON
7406 Corporal J. PROUDLOCK
7408 Lance-Corporal Alexander ARCHBOLD (Walker)
7700 Lance-Corporal T. MAKIN
7461 Lance-Corporal Arthur YOUNG (Lemington)
7450 Drummer D. ROBERTSON
7437 Private Robert AITKEN (Walker)
7451 Private Thomas BADGER (Newburn)
7414 Private R. BEATTIE
7419 Private John Stephen BIRSS (Walker)
7514 [or 7422] Private W. BLAKEY
7445 Private George BOCKING (Newburn)
7426 Private G.W. BREWER
7652 Private R. BROWN
7456 Private Donald CAMERON
7466 Private J.T. CAMPBELL
7420 Private William CASSIE [Cassiey] (Wallsend)
7446 Private J. CHILTON
7448 Private William CHILTON (Newburn)
7463 Private J.B. COCKBURN
7416 Private J. CONBROUGH
7434 Private J. CURRY [Currey]
7467 Private William DALE (Walker)
7650 Private George DANSKIN (Lemington)
7641 Private John DAVIDSON
7643 Private George DICKINSON (Wallsend)
???? Private H. DIXON (no record found)
7623 Private Joseph DIXON (Lemington)
7428 Private Thomas Wright DOBIE (Walker Road)
7653 Private Nicholson DOBSON (Scotswood)
7456 Private W. DUGGAN
7453 Private James Frederick William EASTON [W.R. Easton] (Wallsend)
7449 Private Thomas John FELLOWS (Walker)
7439 Private Cornelius Johnston FERGUSON (Lemington)
7701 Private Robert FITZSIMMONS (Walker)
7410 Private Charles FRYATT (Walker)
7407 Private Edward GRAY (Walker)
7427 Private John William HAILES (Walker)
7429 Private Percy HALL (Wallsend)
7440 Private Thomas HART (Walker)
7424 Private George F. HARRISON (Byker)
7421 Private John HEMPSEY (Walker)
7412 Private Charles William HERD (Walker)
7468 Private James HILL (Lemington)
7648 Private J. HUTCHINSON
7699 Private Owen KELLY (Walker)
7425 Private William KENNEDY
7469 Private John KERRIGAN (Newburn)
7411 Private Joseph KNOX (Walker)
7413 Private William Henry LEYBOURNE [Laybourn]
7436 Private Charles McCARTHY (Wallsend)
7417 Private Edward McKIE (Walker)
7438 Private James MARTIN (Walker)
7621 Private William MILLER (Walker)
7458 Private James Henry MURRAY (Lemington)
7409 Private Thomas NOLAN (died in S. Africa - did his family receive a medal?)
7622 Private William O'HARA (Walker)
7479 Private Michael PURCELL (Walker)
7447 Private Robert REWCASTLE (Newburn)
7452 Private R. ROBSON
7430 Private James ROSEMAND (Walker)
7462 Private Samuel ROWLEY (Newburn)
7459 Private Robert James RUSSELL (Wallsend)
7455 Private William SEATH (Byker)
7645 Private James SIMPSON (Newburn)
7626 Private Charles SMITH (Walker)
7423 Private Charles Henry SMITH (Walker)
7442 Private J.W. SMITH
7465 Private Charles John Augustus SODERQUIST (Walker)
7444 Private J. STEEL
7443 Private W. STEEL
7647 Private John Winship STOVES
7441 Private Alexander STUBBS (Wallsend)
7432 Private Henry THOMPSON
7464 Private James VIRTUE (Walker)
7415 Private Walter VIRTUE
7433 Private John WALES (Lemington)
7454 Private James WEDDERBURN (Byker)
7431 Private Frederick WHARTON (Byker)
7638 Private J. WHITEFORD
Medals inscribed "with each man's name, and the battalion with which he is connected".
Presentation made by Mr George Blair, in the Drill Hall, Walker.
22/11/1901 presentation
King's Own Scottish Borderers (Reserve) –
Private James SEYMOUR
Presentation made by Councillor G. Blair, at the Ship Inn, Walker, Newcastle.
07/06/1902 presentation
2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, Northumberland Fusiliers –
a number of unnamed volunteers
Presentation made by Councillor George Blair, at the HQ of 2nd V.B.N.F., Walker.
The Shields Daily Gazette of 07/12/1901 lists 92 Walker Volunteers who served with the 1st Active Service Company. As the second company also received medals, a distribution of at least 150 would be expected. It is perplexing that a medal presented in such large numbers is not seen relatively regularly. Indeed, as of June 2022, no known example has surfaced. This may be explained by the report that the medals were engraved "with each man's name, and the battalion with which he is connected", with no mention of a supporting inscription indicating the purpose for which the medals were given.
Alternatively, although 92 men belonged to the 1st Walker Active Service Detachment, many of these will not have resided in Walker itself, and thus may not have been eligible for the Walker medal. For instance 24 members of the Walker Detachment were entertained to dinner at Wallsend on 12/06/1901. Byker, Lemington, Newburn, Walker and Wallsend men served together forming the "Walker" Detachment.
The tablet erected in the Walker Volunteer Drill Hall had 178 names on it.
Shields Daily Gazette, 23/11/1901
___________________________________________
Shields Daily Gazette, 10th February 1900
The send-off given to the 76 volunteers who have been drafted from the 2nd Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers into the ranks of the Fighting Fifth, was certainly not in keeping with the occasion. It was small, almost to meanness, and was anything but creditable to the people of the district. Walker volunteers have responded handsomely to the call of the country, and they are going to join a regiment which is certain to be in the thick of the fighting, so that they will be lucky if they should return in their full strength, and the men fully realised these things when they offered their services. If one may judge by the “send-off” provided by the townspeople on Tuesday night, they have not realised the greatness of the sacrifice made by the gallant fusiliers. It is a pity that Walker did not rise to the occasion in a fitting manner.
Shields Daily Gazette, 17th May 1901
THE HOME-COMING OF WALKER VOLUNTEERS.
At a meeting of the committee in charge of the public fund to welcome home the members of the 2nd V.B. Northumberland Fusiliers next week, it was stated that the funds in hand amounted now to about £200, and the committee decided, in addition to the tablet to be placed in the Drill Hall at Walker, that they would present to each man a medal with a suitable inscription, any balance left over to be equally divided. The men will march to Walker by way of Byker, Welbeck Road, Byker Street, East Welbeck Road, Victoria Street, Mitchell Street, Church Street, Station Road, Railway Street, to the Drill Hall. On arrival at the Drill Hall they are to be entertained by the officers of the battalion, and the tablet will be unveiled by Mr H. Crawford Smith, M.P., who will travel specially from London for this purpose. The medals will be presented by Coun. George Blair.
Shields Daily Gazette, 22nd May 1901
RETURN OF THE FUSILIERS.
REJOICINGS AT WALKER.
Yesterday there was great rejoicing at Walker on the return of the local contingent of Northumberland Fusiliers from the war. The main streets were gaily decorated, and two pretty triumphal arches were very conspicuous. The bunting made quite a gallant show, and on every hand were to be encountered such familiar phrases as “There’s nee plaice like Waakor”, “Good Cheer”, “Welcome Home”, “Home Sweet Home”, and “Welcome to Old Comrades”. Large crowds congregated near the Drill Hall and in the adjacent streets, and when the strains of the regimental band were at last heard the excitement became intense. It was after one o’clock when the Walker contingent left the Newcastle Barracks, and they enjoyed a very enthusiastic welcome all along the route to Walker. The procession was led by Drum-Major Coulson, then came the band under Band-Sergeant Medby, Colonel H.F. Swan (mounted), who headed the service section, and the rear was brought up by a large number of 2nd Northumberland Volunteers.
On reaching Welbeck Road they were met by the Walker District Council, and Father Berry officially welcomed the men. The procession then proceeded to a field in Walker, where a short drum-head service was conducted by the vicar of Walker (the Rev. A.S. Wardroper), who is also chaplain of the corps. “The Old Hundredth” was sung, and special prayers offered. Many of the men were then carried shoulder high and amidst tumultuous scenes to the Drill Hall, where they were sumptuously entertained by Col. Swan. Col. Swan presided, and amongst those present were Mr H. Crawford Smith, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Crawford, Major R.S. White, Major J.D. Christie, Captain and Adjutant Glossop, Captain and Hon. Major Grahamsley, Captain O.R. Macdonald, Captain Bentham, and Lieuts. Skinner, I.M., J. Robinson, Robson, Hardy, Bentham, Orde, Davis, and Chaplain the Rev. A.S. Wardroper. After dinner Mr Crawford Smith, M.P., unveiled a beautiful brass tablet, which bears the following appropriate inscription: –
Quo Fata Vocant.
2nd Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.
This tablet was erected by the workmen and inhabitants of Walker, Wallsend, and district, in appreciation of the patriotism shown by the Service Company of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, in responding so readily to the nation’s call to assist in the suppression of the Boer insurrection in South Africa. 1900-1901.
Then followed the names of the members of the service company. The tablet is the work of Mr E.H. Thew, of Newcastle.
On behalf of the Presentation Committee, Mr George Blair then presented each man with a beautiful gold medal and a piece of gold. Upon the former was inscribed each man’s name, and the battalion with which he is connected.
The formal proceedings then terminated, and the men were shortly afterwards dismissed.
Shields Daily Gazette, 4th June 1902
WALKER VOLUNTEERS FROM THE FRONT.
The steamer Lake Erie is expected to arrive at Southampton some time today, and the men will be sent on to the Barracks at Newcastle, where they will be disbanded. We understand it is the intention of the public of Walker to give the men a reception similar to that accorded to the first service company last year. On Saturday afternoon the men will be entertained to dinner by Colonel H.F. Swan, commanding the battalion, and officers of the 2nd V.B.N.F. at their headquarters at Walker. After dinner, Councillor George Blair will, on behalf of the subscribers to the public fund, present each man with a gold medal and 10s. Arrangements are also being made for the erection in the Drill Hall of a second tablet recording the additional names of those men of the battalion who have taken part in the war in South Africa.
