County: County Durham
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 20/04/1900
Number issued: 1
Silver lever watch, gold albert, and inscribed medal, to:
Presentation made by the Mayor (Alderman Macfarlane, J.P.), at the Gladstone Coffee Palace, Mainsforth Terrace, West Hartlepool.
Medal inscribed: "Presented to Ordinary Seaman Robert Stewart, of H.M.S. Powerful, from his fellow-townsmen for services rendered to the nation during the siege of Ladysmith, South Africa. West Hartlepool, April 20, 1900".
Stewart also received an inscribed silver matchbox from Harry Starr, who was performing at the Grand Theatre.
Drawing of Stewart published in the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, 21/04/1900.
PRESENTATION TO A NAVAL HERO AT WEST HARTLEPOOL.
The Mayor of West Hartlepool (Alderman Macfarlane, J.P.) presided yesterday over a gathering held for the purpose of doing honour to Ordinary Seaman Robert STEWART, of H.M.S. Powerful, one of the Naval Brigade who under Captain Lambton played so conspicuous a part in the defence of Ladysmith. His Worship said he was glad to see that Durham County proposed to do honour to Captain Lambton, who had done service to the nation worthy of a Lambton; and added that if it was fitting that the county should honour Captain Lambton it was fitting that West Hartlepool should honour their young townsman who had also gone through the siege. (Hear, hear). He had, therefore, great pleasure in handing to Seaman STEWART a silver lever watch, a gold albert, and inscribed medal, subscribed for by his fellow-townsmen, who were proud of the fact that a West Hartlepool man had been in the Naval Brigade in Ladysmith. (Applause). The testimonial was not intended as a reward for doing his duty, but as a memento of his return safe and sound to West Hartlepool. The medal bore the following inscription: “Presented to Ordinary Seaman Robert Stewart, of H.M.S. Powerful, from his fellow-townsmen for services rendered to the nation during the siege of Ladysmith, South Africa. West Hartlepool, April 20, 1900”.
