Country: New Zealand
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: bef. 06/02/1901, 17/05/1901
Number issued: 25
Gold medals, to:
bef. 06/02/1901 presentation
1st New Zealand Mounted Rifles –
Lieutenant George Robert JOHNSTON (subsequently Capt G.R. Johnston, Regimental Staff, 7th N.Z.M.R.)
65 Trooper Charles Alfred EDWARDS
76 Trooper Robert John McDONALD
94 Trooper William Oliver RIDDELL
64 Trooper James WALKER
and further unnamed volunteers
17/05/1901 presentation
2nd New Zealand Mounted Rifles –
448 Trooper Albert Benjamin DAVIS
331 Trooper John Lewis Spencer ELLIS
378 Trooper James McGregor ELMSLIE
346 Trooper Thomas John IRWIN
364 Trooper Daniel P. THURSTON
365 Trooper Robert WILLETT
3rd New Zealand (Rough Riders) Contingent –
750 Trooper Joseph ROSS
and further unnamed volunteers
Presentation made by Mrs Walkington, in the Waverley Hall.
Inscribed: "PRESENTED / BY / Waverley Inhabitants / TO / Lieut. G. Johnston, W.M.R. / for services in / SOUTH AFRICA / 1899-1900".
Supplied by Messrs Nettleship & Thomson, Wanganui.
The Wairoa Mounted Rifles sent a total of 25 volunteers to South Africa. According to the Wanganui Herald, all of these men received medals.
Note: the representation of the mounted trooper is almost identical to that found on the obverse of the
Stratford medal. The same motif also appears to have been used fo
r the Feilding medal: "The obverse side of the medal shows a rough-rider in war apparel" (New Zealand Times, 09/02/1901).
The Stratford and Waverley medals, showing the use of the same central motif.
Lieut. Johnston example sold through City Coins, Cape Town, 12/04/2013. This is the example illustrated in Hibbard.
Hibbard #G1
____________________________________
Wanganui Herald, 6th February 1901
When the troopers from the Wairoa Mounted Rifles, included in the First Contingent, were on their return from the South African campaign, it was decided by the inhabitants of Waverley to present them with some slight souvenir of services rendered, and accordingly it was arranged that such souvenir should take the form of gold medals emblematic of the occasion, the order being entrusted to Messrs Nettleship arid Thomson, of Wanganui. The medals, of 15 carat gold, are of circular design, surmounted by crossed rifles. On the obverse side of the medal is a raised miniature of the rough-rider, and on the reverse the following inscription: — "Presented by the inhabitants of Waverley to: ______ , for services rendered in South Africa — 1899-1900". There are, in all, twenty-five of these medals, about a dozen of which have already been forwarded to Waverley, with the remainder to follow immediately, and, without doubt, the members of the Wairoa Light Horse will be justly proud of them, marking, as such a souvenir does, the estimation in which they are held by the Waverley residents, and, as far as the workmanship is concerned, Messrs Nettleship and Thomson deserve distinct credit.
New Zealand Times, 9th February 1901
OUR VOLUNTEERS.
The troopers of the Wairoa Mounted Rifles who returned to Feilding recently from South Africa, where they had been serving with the First New Zealand Contingent, were presented by the townspeople with gold medals emblematical of the patriotic action in which the troopers have been engaged. The obverse side of the medal shows a rough-rider in war apparel, and on the reverse side is the inscription “Presented to _______ , for services rendered in South Africa, 1899-1900”. The medals are surmounted by representations of crossed rifles.
Wanganui Herald, 20th May 1901
SECOND RECEPTION OF THE RETURNED TROOPERS AT WAVERLEY.
WAVERLEY, May 18.
There could not be two opinions regarding the success of the Reception Social held last night. The hall was simply packed from stage to door, many only getting standing room.
The first portion of the programme took the form of a gigantic spread, four tables being laid the whole length of the Hall, and simply loaded with all the dainties any epicure could wish for. After fully four hundred had partaken of supper the tables were cleared out, and forms placed in their stead, and one of the best programmes ever put on the Waverley stage was gone through without a hitch. The returned men were given a place of honour on the stage with Mr William Wilson, as chairman, who with a few pleasing remarks opened the concert. Unfortunately I have not a programme by me, consequently cannot give the several items, but the following names of the ladies and gentlemen who took part will vouch for the quality of the items rendered — Miss Pinches (Wanganui), Miss Bremner (Waverley), Mr J.G. Swan (Wanganui), Mr J. McLean (Patea), Rev. McDonald, and Trooper J. Irwin. Each of the returned men was the recipient of a beautiful gold pendant, suitably inscribed, the presentation being made by Mrs Walkington.
The address of the evening was made, by the Rev. McDonald, and was ably responded to by Trooper J. IRWIN, who in a few words thanked the Waverley people for the generous manner he and his comrades had been received home.
After the concert programme, the hall was cleared for dancing, which was kept up with lively spirit until the small hours.
This is the second reception the Waverleyites have held in honour of the return of the members of the Wairoa Mounted Rifles who went to South Africa, and both of them have been a pronounced success in every way, and the committee are certainly to be congratulated on the way they have worked up these receptions, and the returned men have reason to feel proud, both as to the welcome they have received and the handsome souvenir that has been given them of the campaign. In all, there were 25 men who left the Wairoas for the front, which, I venture to think, is a record for any one New Zealand troop.
EMBARKATION DATABASE
Surname: JOHNSTON
Reg No: n/a
Given Names: George Robert
Contingent: First
Rank: Lieutenant
Unit: No 1 Company
Joined from: Wairoa Mounted Rifles
County/City: Waitotara
Age: 29 years
Occupation: Farmer
Ship: “Waiwera”, 21 October 1899
Address: Waverley, Nr Wanganui
Next of Kin: Johnston, Captain George
Next of Kin Address: Waverley, Nr Wanganui
Relationship to Soldier: father
Surname: JOHNSTON
Reg No: n/a
Given Names: George Robert
Contingent: Seventh
Rank: Captain
Unit: Regimental Staff
Joined from: Wairoa Mounted Rifles / First Contingent (Captain, 18 months)
County/City: Waitotara
Age: 31 years, 3 months
Occupation: Farmer
Ship: “Gulf of Taranto”, 6 April 1901
Address: Waverley, Nr Wanganui
Next of Kin: Johnston, Captain George
Next of Kin Address: Waverley, Nr Wanganui
Relationship to Soldier: father
Surname: IRWIN
Reg No: 346
Given Names: Thomas John
Contingent: Second
Rank: Private
Unit: No 1 Company [Nos 3 and 4 Companies]
Joined from: Wairoa Mounted Rifles (Private, 4 yrs)
County/City: Patea
Age: 24 years, 3 months
Occupation: Carpenter
Ship: “Waiwera”, 20 January 1900
Address: Patea
Next of Kin: Irwin, Mr Thomas
Next of Kin Address: Patea
Relationship to Soldier: father
Surname: ROSS
Reg No: 750
Given Names: Joseph
Contingent: Third
Rank: Private
Unit: No 2 [No 6] Company
Joined from: Wairoa Mounted Rifles (1 month)
County/City: Patea
Age: 22 years, 6 months
Occupation: House Painter
Ship: “Knight Templar”, 17 February 1900
Address: Waverley
Next of Kin: Ross, Mrs Sarah
Next of Kin Address: Waverley
Relationship to Soldier: mother
