County: Worcestershire
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 09/06/1901, 12/06/1901, 28/11/1901, 06/12/1902
Number issued: > 320
Silver gilt medals, to:
09/06/1901 presentation
Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment –
Captain W.B. BUCKNALL
Captain [Lieutenant] R.H. WHITCOMBE
The Mayor announced that it had been "arranged for a 'jewel' to be presented to each member of the company, but that they were not yet ready. He, however, had two as samples, and he proposed to present one to Capt. Bucknall and the other to Lieut. Whitcombe. The names would be engraved later on".
12/06/1901 presentation
16th (Worcestershire) Company, 5th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
Lieutenant [Rev.] E.A.S. GELL
Presentation made by the Deputy-Mayor (Alderman Millington), who said that "he would that day only be able to formally present Lieut. Gell with one, but he would get a list of the officers and men present, and the committee would have the various pendants engraved and sent to the respective headquarters for presentation".
Lieut. Gell intimated that he would pass the pendant on to 1633 Squadron Sergeant-Major W. HARRIS.
28/11/1901 presentation
16th (Worcestershire) Company, 5th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
Captain A. Bingham CRABBE (absent)
Captain [Lieutenant] J.T. LUTLEY
Captain G.A. WEIR
Lieutenant [Captain] H.J. SELWYN (absent)
Lieutenant [Rev.] E.A.S. GELL (medal received on 12/06/1901, but apparently handed on to S.S.M. Harris)
Lieutenant E.A. KNIGHT
Lieutenant G. NETTLEFORD (absent)
Lieutenant R.T. PELLY (absent)
1633 Squadron Sergeant-Major W. HARRIS (probably received his medal from Lieut. Gell, on 12/06/1901 - see above)
???? Staff Sergeant-Major PRITCHARD (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900; absent)
7260 Company Quartermaster-Sergeant E.D. TAYLOR
7289 Sergeant James BEALE
7231 Sergeant G.H. JONES
7261 Sergeant W. KNOTT [Nott]
7202 Sergeant H.J. SOMER [J.H. Somer]
7257 Sergeant [Lance-Corporal] Henry Francis SPENCER
7281 Lance-Sergeant [Trooper] John Lister HOLTE (absent)
7276 Lance-Sergeant [Trooper] Abraham Thomas JOHNSON (absent)
7307 Lance-Sergeant [Trooper] R. SMART (absent)
7312 Lance-Sergeant [Sergeant] F.W. WHITEHOUSE (died, Mafeking, 04/12/1900 - medal to next-of-kin)
7203 Farrier-Sergeant Walter TYLER (absent)
7204 Corporal [Trooper] Charles FLINTHAM (absent)
7210 Corporal Arthur Philip HODGETTS (died, Kroonstad, 24/10/1900 - medal presented to next-of-kin)
???? Corporal W.A. PAIN (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900)
7295 Corporal Charles Augustus RUSSON (absent)
7237 Corporal Hyla SANDERS (absent)
7238 Corporal John Henry YARNOLD
7336 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] Thomas Metcalf BUTT
7214 Lance-Corporal [Trooper] William Halford CHATTAWAY (absent)
7278 Lance-Corporal [Trooper] Harry COCK (absent)
7209 Lance-Corporal [Trooper] Russell James DORRELL (absent)
7271 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] John HAMMOND
7221 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] Joseph Henry HARDING
7245 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] John HEWLETT
7304 Lance-Corporal [Trooper] Arthur J. WALTON (absent)
7262 Trumpeter Joseph Frederick FARLEY (absent)
7290 Trumpeter John Haydon WILLIAMS
7233 Shoeing-Smith W.H. COTTRELL
7288 Shoeing-Smith Frederick William CROSS (absent)
7294 Shoeing-Smith Albert Edward PRESTON
???? Trooper H. AINSON (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900; absent)
7325 Trooper William ANDREWS
7217 Trooper Alfred James ATKINS
???? Trooper J.H. AUSTIN (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900)
7267 Trooper William George AUSTIN (absent)
7300 Trooper Stanley BALDWIN (absent)
7234 Trooper BARRINGTON (absent)
7239 Trooper Frank BENDALL
7270 Trooper J.T. BENNETT
7285 Trooper H.T. Bowker BOOKER (absent)
7219 Trooper Robert Comely BOMFORD
7306 Trooper Frank BROOMHALL
7253 Trooper George Alfred BUCKLAND (absent; commissioned Lieutenant, 38th Co., 10th Bn. I.Y.)
7206 Trooper James CHAPMAN (absent)
7331 Trooper Francis Edward CHARGE
7302 Trooper George Bertram CHEVASSE
7223 Trooper Harry Matthew COLE (absent)
7282 Trooper John Edward CONNELLY [Connolly] (absent)
7315 Trooper E.W. CRADDOCK (absent)
7208 Trooper Joseph CROSS (died, Kroonstad, 21/11/1900 - medal presented to next-of-kin)
7235 Trooper Edward DAVIDSON
7220 Trooper John DEACON
7205 Trooper Albert DOUGLAS
7314 Trooper Dennis DRURY (absent)
7308 Trooper Frederick William DUROSE
7244 Trooper Henry Bayley DUTSON [J. Dutson] (absent)
7213 Trooper Arthur William EATON
7251 Trooper Frank EDWARDS
???? Trooper F.A. ELLIOTT (no record found; listed as a recipient, Worcestershire Chronicle, 30/11/1901)
7249 Trooper John FARLEY
7232 Trooper Charles FRIEND
7254 Trooper P.A. FRIZELLE (absent)
7292 Trooper Raymond GAMBLE (absent)
7279 Trooper James Stanley GARLICK
7303 Trooper William J. GEARY
7328 Trooper Eli GILL
???? Trooper GRAY (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900; absent)
7277 Trooper Arthur James GROVE (absent)
7287 Trooper John Frederick GUNN (died, Mafeking, 25/09/1900 - medal presented to next-of-kin)
7212 Trooper Edwin Herbert HARRINGTON (K.I.A., Nooitgedacht, 17/10/1900 - medal to next-of-kin)
7247 Trooper Thomas Allen HODGES
7273 Trooper John Kingsnorth HUSSEY (absent)
7218 Trooper William JACKSON
7264 Trooper William JOHNSON
???? Trooper E.W. JONES (no record found; listed as a recipient, Worcestershire Chronicle, 30/11/1901)
7284 Trooper Percy William JONES (absent)
7283 Trooper James KEIR
7252 Trooper Arthur Arnold KING
7241 Trooper Harold Edgar LAWDAY
7332 Trooper John LEEDHAM
7246 Trooper A.W. LINK (absent)
7296 Trooper Herbert Roland LLEWELLYN
7229 Trooper George Howard LOACH
7215 Trooper Alfred John Everton LOCK (absent)
7222 Trooper Cecil James MARKS (absent)
7299 Trooper Leonard MABERLY [Mebberley] (absent)
???? Trooper MELLEN (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900; absent)
7236 Trooper Albert MOORE
7263 Trooper Charles Henry MUNSLOW
7259 Trooper John Charles MYTTON
7316 Trooper Frank NEASOM
7224 Trooper Gerald Alfred NEVE (absent)
7311 Trooper William OWEN
7335 Trooper Edward Henry PENISTONE [Pennistone]
7280 Trooper Stanley Rowley PITT
7293 Trooper Herbert PLATTEN (absent)
7274 Trooper J.W. PRATT
7211 Trooper J.E. ROAN (died, Mafeking, 25/10/1900 - medal presented to next-of-kin)
7269 Trooper Henry James ROWLEY (absent)
7250 Trooper George RUMSEY (absent)
7291 Trooper James Stallard SANDERS (absent)
???? Trooper H.W. SCOTT (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900; absent)
7225 Trooper Henry James SHAPLAND
7309 Trooper Alfred SIBLEY
7207 Trooper William Henry SIMPSON (absent)
7298 Trooper Rupert SMALLWOOD (absent)
7226 Trooper A.M. SMITH
7323 Trooper Charles Ernest SMITH (K.I.A., Lindley, 01/06/1900 - medal presented to next-of-kin)
7275 Trooper Charles Howard SMITH (absent)
7305 Trooper Joseph Farren STEEDMAN
7216 Trooper William Tristan STEPHENS (absent)
7266 Trooper John STEPHENSON (absent)
7255 Trooper Herbert William SWAIN (absent)
???? Trooper F. TAYLOR (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900; absent)
7228 Trooper James THOMAS [A. Thomas] (absent)
7256 Trooper George Spong THOMPSON (absent - returned to S. Africa as a lieutenant; medal handed to his sister, Miss Bessie Thompson)
7268 Trooper Frank Henry TROW (absent)
7330 Trooper Robert Edward TWIGG
7243 Trooper James Taylor WADE (absent)
7286 Trooper William WHATMORE
7227 Trooper Anthony WHITGROVE
???? Trooper WILKES (no record found; from Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/01/1900; absent)
7333 Trooper Frederick John WILKINS
7240 Trooper Thomas WINWOOD (absent)
7313 Trooper Harry WRIGHT
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment [1st V.B.W.R.] –
Captain W.B. BUCKNALL
Captain R.H. WHITCOMBE
18 Colour-Sergeant B. HARRIS
6693 Sergeant J. DARBY
6699 Sergeant John Edward JORDAN
6700 Lance-Sergeant [Sergeant] William Wilkes MUCKLOW
6704 Lance-Sergeant [Sergeant] Thomas SOUTHALL
6701 Corporal Joseph BRETTELL
6721 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] G. CURTIS
6723 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] Henry DARKES
6751 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] Arthur HOLLOWAY
6702 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] H. JONES
6703 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] L.C. JONES
6852 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] John Cornelieus MASON
6854 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] S. ROBINS
6705 Bugler Ernest William DUDLEY
6848 Private John ALBERTS
6709 Private A.O. BLENT
6710 Private A.W. BRANDON
6713 Private Arthur CANTRELL
6717 Private Frederick COLMAN
6719 Private B. CRISP
6720 Private H. CROWTHER
6729 Private Luther ETHERINGTON
6730 Private Evan Thomas EVANS
6808 Private A. FRASER
6734 Private W. FREEMAN
6735 Private G. GARDENER
6738 Private Herbert GITTENS
6740 Private Ernest GUEST
6743 Private G. HALL
???? Private T. HARRIS
6746 Private David HARTLAND
6750 Private C. HITCHMAN
6754 Private T. INSALL
6755 Private William JAMES
6850 Private John JONES
6756 Private Joseph JONES
6757 Private Samuel Henry JONES
6758 Private William JUKES
6759 Private John Henry KIMBERLEE [Kimberlie]
6760 Private E. KNOTT
6762 Private S. LANGFORD
6764 Private Albert LEWIS
6766 Private William LEWIS
6767 Private G.A. LONGMORE
6769 Private W. LOWE
6771 Private W.H. MIDDLETON
6772 Private Ernest Henry MOLES
6776 Private Albert OLIVER
6778 Private Benjamin PARKES
6777 Private Edward PARKES
6782 Private E. PERKS
6853 Private C. PAYNE
6784 Private Desmond PRICE
6785 Private Frank C. PRICE
6788 Private W. RANDALL
6790 Private C. ROWE
6855 Private Adam RUBERY
6791 Private Frederick SMITH
6795 Private J.W. TAYLOR
6796 Private J.W. THOMPSON
6799 Private John UNDERHILL
6802 Private William WEBSTER
6804 Private John Walter YATES
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment [2nd V.B.W.R.] –
6733 Sergeant F.W. FISHER (absent - received his medal on 16/12/1902)
6694 Sergeant Isaac KINGS
6695 Sergeant C.V. LAIGHT
6807 Sergeant A. MILLNS
6838 Corporal Henry James DOWDELL
6697 Corporal A.H. GUMMERY
6752 Corporal Frederick Charles HOUGHTON
6768 Corporal Albert Henry LOUGHTON
6761 [Lance-Corporal] Private J. LANE
6781 Lance-Corporal [Corporal] W. PEOPLES
6706 Bugler Frank FINCH
6707 Private Leonard ANNIS
6836 Private John Henry ATTWOOD
6708 Private John BICK
6711 Private W. BROWN
6712 Private G. BYRD
6714 Private Harry Stuart CAINK
6715 Private Joseph CASSELL
6716 Private T. CLISSETT
6816 Private Adolphus COLE
6718 Private T. COLLINS
6818 Private Alfred William COOPER
6722 Private R.J. DALE
6837 Private Arthur DARKE
6724 Private Walter DELVES
6725 Private G.H. DIPPLE
6726 Private Robert Henry DUFTY
6727 Private J. DYER
6728 Private Henry Edward EBORALL (absent - received his medal on 16/12/1902)
6731 Private W.H. EVANS
6732 Private D. FISHER
6819 Private Charles FREEMAN
6736 Private William John GARDINER
6805 Private J.C. GORDON
6840 Private Ezekiel GUMMERY
6741 Private Frederick HALFORD
6742 Private Cecil Edward HALL
6821 Private George HARCOURT
6841 Private Arthur George HARRIS
6745 Private Henry HARRIS
6747 Private J.H. HAY
6748 Private J.W. HILL
6749 Private J. HITCHINGS
6753 Private William HUGHES
6763 Private James LANGSTONE [Langston]
6765 Private Charles LEWIS
6843 Private H.O. LORD
6770 Private F.A. McPHERSON
6773 Private George MOLE
6774 Private Thomas MORTON
6779 Private Frank PARSONS
6780 Private Frank PEARSON
6831 Private William John PORTER
6786 Private Harry PRICE
6787 Private James PUMFREY
6789 Private W. REDDING
6832 Private D. SMITH (absent - received his medal on 16/12/1902)
6792 Private Henry SMITH
6794 Private Walter Howard STOCKALL
6797 Private J. TOMKINS
6798 Private H. TONGUE
6807 Private H. TURNER
6800 Private E. VALE
6801 Private Wilson C. WALTERS [C.W. Walters]
6803 Private W.H. WOODWARD
1st Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment [1st & 2nd V.B.W.R.] –
6696 Sergeant W.S. MACKAY (died, Senekal, 21/08/1900)
6698 Corporal F.V. HILL (died, Naauwpoort, 05/07/1900)
6783 Private W.J. PERRIGO (died, Wynberg, 05/06/1900)
"The pendant given by the citizens was of silver coated with gold. On one side it bears the city coat of arms, in enamel, and on the other an inscription signifying that it was presented in recognition of services with the Worcester Yeomanry (or Volunteers)".
Presentation made with Queen's South Africa medals, by the Earl of Coventry, at the Shire Hall, Worcester.
06/12/1902 presentation
Three men from the 1st V.A.S.C., who did not receive their medals on 28/11/1901 –
6733 Sergeant F.W. FISHER
6832 Private D. SMITH
6728 Private Henry Edward EBORALL
2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment [1st V.B.W.R.] –
Lieutenant C.M. WATSON
Private F. CRISP
6861 Private A CUTHBERT (died, Kroonstad, 04/01/1902 - medal presented to his family)
6872 Private T.F. DAVIES [Davis] (died, Heilbron, 19/01/1902 - medal presented to his family)
6864 Private F.J. FISHER
6866 Private Albert HAWTHORNE
6870 Private Frank PERKS
6872 Private W. PRICE
6874 Private W. STOKES (died, Heilbron, 20/10/1901 - medal presented to his family)
2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment [2nd V.B.W.R.] –
Captain W.K. PEAKE
Captain F. CHECKETTS
6811 Sergeant Alfred AMPHLETT
6869 Sergeant Robert McCANN
6809 Corporal Frank RICHARDS
6808 Corporal George HOOMAN
6812 Private Robert ANDREWS
6859 Private Charles Samuel AMPHLETT
6813 Private George Frederick BAKER
6815 Private George BATTY
6814 Private William Henry BATEMAN
6863 Private W. DUGGINS
6865 Private Herbert George HALL
6822 Private William HARDMAN
6842 Private Henry HOLMES
6823 Private William John Hughes
6868 Private John LEWIS
6824 Private Alfred LONG
6826 Private G. MASON
6878 Private G.H. MASON
6875 Private S.W. MASON
6844 Private Albert George MORRIS
6827 Private William Charles MOSELEY
6828 Private William MOUNTFORD
6829 Private W. MUNN
6845 Private William PITT
6871 Private C. POWELL
6846 Private Frank William SKINNER
6873 Private W. STEVENS
6834 Private William TETSTALL
6817 Private William THOMPSON
6835 Private A. WELCH [Welsh] (died, Norval's Pont, 24/03/1902 - medal presented to his family)
Composite Cycle Corps –
4400 [6877] Lance-Corpoal [Private] James NEAL
6876 Private George HOLDER
Unknown Regiment –
???? E. EDWARDS
Presentation made with Queen's South Africa medals, by the Earl of Coventry, at the Shire Hall, Worcester.
As of June 2023, I have been unable to find a report of a 1902 presentation to members of the Worcestershire Imperial Yeomanry. Presumably they were honoured in the same manner as their compatriots had been in 1901.
KNOWN EXAMPLES HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN.
Type 1 (Imperial Yeomanry).
Obverse with the civic arms of Worcester (in enamels).
Reverse: "PRESENTED BY / THE / CITIZENS OF WORCESTER / TO / [TR. H.J. SHAPLAND] / IN RECOGNITION OF HIS / SERVICES WITH THE / WORCESTERSHIRE / IMPERIAL YEOMANRY / SOUTH AFRICAN WAR / 1899.1900.1901".
Type 2 (Volunteers; 1901).
Obverse with the civic arms of Worcester (in enamels).
Reverse: "PRESENTED BY / THE / CITIZENS OF WORCESTER / TO / [PTE. W. DELVES] / IN RECOGNITION OF HIS / SERVICES WITH THE / WORCESTER VOLUNTEERS / SOUTH AFRICAN WAR / 1899.1900.1901".
Type 3 (Volunteers; 1902).
Obverse with the civic arms of Worcester (in enamels).
Reverse: "PRESENTED BY / THE / CITIZENS OF WORCESTER / TO / [PTE. F. PERKS] / IN RECOGNITION OF HIS / SERVICES WITH THE / WORCESTER VOLUNTEERS / SOUTH AFRICAN WAR / 1901 TO 1902".
Glazed example sold through Dix Noonan Webb, 12/05/2015
Group of three to 6746 Private David HARTLAND (QSA, together with Worcester and Dudley Tribute Medals)
Pte. F. Perks example illustrated in Hibbard.
Bugler Finch example sold through St James's Auctions, 08/02/2008, for £240 (together with a second unnamed example)
Pte. A. Oliver example sold through St James's Auctions, 18/06/2008.
Sgt. J. Beale example sold through Dix Noonan Webb, 12/05/2015, for £900 (glazed).
Pte. H. Harris example sold through Dix Noonan Webb, 27/09/2017, for £440.
Tpr. G.S. Thompson example sold through City Coins, 19/10/2018.
Tpr. C.J. Marks example sold through Dix Noonan Webb, 04/03/2020, for £340.
Pte. T. Insall example offered for sale by Sally Bosley, for £450 (lacking suspension).
Lt. E.A. Knight, Sergt. J. Somer, Pte H. Holmes & Pte J. Alberts medals in the collection of the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.
Pte. C. Lewis example sold through eBay, 13/12/2021, for £945 (with QSA).
Pte. D. Hartland exampled sold through eBay, 18/09/2022, for £425 (QSA and
Dudley Tributle Medal listed separately)
Tpr. F. Neasom example offered through eBay, 22/02/2023 & 30/04/2023, starting price £850 & £800; unsold (with KEVII Territorial Force Efficiency Medal)
Pte. W. Delves example offered through eBay, 09/07/2023, starting price £550; unsold.
Worcestershire Chronicle, 08/06/1901
Gloucester Citizen, 08/12/1902
Worcestershire Chronicle, 13/12/1902
Worcestershire Chronicle, 27/12/1902
Hibbard #A28
St James's Auctions, 08/02/2008
City Coins, 19/10/2018
eBay, 10/05/2019
Sally Bosley, 21/10/2019
eBay, 18/09/2022
eBay, 09/07/2023
___________________________________________
Worcestershire Chronicle, 15th June 1901 (A)
PRESENTATION OF MEDALS.
The Mayor then announced that the committee had arranged for a “jewel” to be presented to each member of the company, but they were not yet ready. He, however, had two as samples, and he proposed to present one to Captain BUCKNALL and the other to Lieutenant WHITCOMBE (Applause). The names would be engraved later on, and also on each of those to be presented to the other members of the company. They had been informed that the authorities would not allow them to wear a medal, but he hoped they would accept the “jewel” as a memento of the good feeling of the citizens of Worcester. (Applause).
Worcestershire Chronicle, 15th June 1901 (B)
The speaker [the Deputy-Mayor] mentioned that the Committee had decided to present each man, whether he returned that day or on sick leave previously, with a pendant, with his name engraved upon it, as a souvenir of the services he had rendered. He would that day only be able to formally present Lieut. GELL with one, but he would get a list of the officers and men present, and the Committee would have the various pendants engraved and sent to the respective headquarters for presentation. He hoped they would look upon it as a slight recognition of the services rendered to the country. If there was any doubt as to whether a souvenir should be given he was sure, after the account given of the work they had done, the committee would be induced to give two rather than none at all. (Laughter).
The Deputy-Mayor then presented Lieut. GELL with his pendant, and the latter intimated that he should pass it on to Sergt.-Major HARRIS.
Worcestershire Chronicle, 30th November 1901 (The Worcester pendant was presented with the QSA)
THE PRESENTATION OF MEDALS.
On arriving at the Shire Hall Lord and Lady Coventry were received by Colonel De Bernière and other officers. In front of the main entrance to the hall was placed a table bearing the medals, while crimson baize ran up the steps into the hall. Over the entrance between the two huge stone pillars was hung a large Royal Standard. There were many civilians gathered on the steps, and also in the yard in front, a space being reserved directly in front of the steps for the Yeomanry and Volunteers. On the south side were the band and a number of Regulars from Norton Barracks. The men in khaki drew up in long lines facing the steps.
Lord Coventry spoke as fellows, saying: Colonel Lord Windsor, Colonel Watson, officers and men of the Queen’s Own Worcestershire Yeomanry and Volunteers. We are met here this afternoon upon a very interesting occasion, and I count it a great honour that I should have been deputed to present to you the medals which you have so well won by taking part in the war which is now going on in South Africa. In the first place, I have, on behalf of those present, to congratulate you upon your safe return to this country, and at the same time to assure you, that though you were a long way off, you were still in the memories of those at home, and we all rejoice to have heard from the Colonel in South Africa who commanded you a most satisfactory report of the way in which you performed your duties. It must be a matter of congratulation not only to your honourable Colonel, Lord Windsor, but also to all the inhabitants of this county, who have always taken a deep interest in all concerning the Yeomanry and Volunteers. (Applause). I do not propose, upon this occasion, to make any reference to the just and necessary war, which is now being carried on in South Africa, other than to say that I am sure we all hope and pray that it may soon be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. (Hear, hear). I will go further and add that the country generally has the greatest possible confidence in Lord Kitchener, who we know will do all that a man can achieve to bring this war to an honourable and satisfactory settlement. (Hear, hear). There are many amongst us alas! that have lost some near and dear to them in the campaign which is going on. There will be many a vacant chair at the fireside this Christmas when the family circle gathers round, in their homes in Old England; but although we deplore the sad losses which we have sustained we look forward to the end of the war, and we shall continue to make any sacrifices that we are called upon to make in the hope of bringing it to a satisfactory settlement. And we know and take comfort, too, in the reflection that our soldiers, officers and men alike, have behaved with a bravery, with a humanity – (hear, hear) – with a patience and endurance which have never been surpassed in the history of the wars of our country. (Hear, hear). We do right in acknowledging, upon every opportunity, the assistance, sympathy, and support which we have received from our brothers beyond the seas. They have fought with our Army shoulder to shoulder, and their loyal devotion will never be forgotten by the mother country. (Applause). And now it only remains for me to present you with the medals you have so well deserved. I know that you will value them above all your earthly possessions, and that all your friends will be proud of the distinction which you have received. I only hope that you will have health and strength to wear them for many long years to come. (Applause).
As each man received his medal Lord Coventry shook hands with him. There were one or two interesting features about the distribution, one being the appearance of the Rev. A.S. GILL (an ex-lieutenant) in clerical attire. Here and there was a trooper or volunteer in civilian dress, and in one or two cases the representatives of deceased men appeared and received the medals. There was considerable cheering when a lady stepped forward to receive a medal. It was Miss Bessie THOMPSON, who received it on behalf of her brother, formerly a trooper, but now a lieutenant, who is still in South Africa, having gone out a second time.
The pendant given by the citizens was of silver coated with gold. On one side it bears the city coat of arms, in enamel, and on the other an inscription signifying that it was presented in recognition of services with the Worcester Yeomanry (or Volunteers).
Evesham Standard, 13th December 1902
WAR MEDALS FOR WORCESTERSHIRE VOLUNTEERS.
On Saturday the Lord-Lieutenant (the Earl of Coventry) attended at the Shirehall to present war medals to the members of the Second Service Company sent to South Africa by the 1st and 2nd Volunteer Battalions of the Worcestershire Regiment. Lord Coventry presented to the men at the same time the pendants subscribed for by the citizens. The ceremony took place in front of the Shirehall, where, despite the bitterly cold weather, there was a large gathering of city and county people and several officers from Norton and officers of the two battalions. The Lord-Lieutenant, who was in uniform, was accompanied by the Countess of Coventry. …….
The Service Company went out in April last year and returned in October last, and among the recipients of medals were 26 men who were out for the whole period, and some who returned earlier, invalided. They turned out in khaki, and, under Captain Checketts, paraded at the drill station in St Nicholas Street, whence they had a guard of honour – 50 men of the 2nd V.B. under Captain Garnett – and the band of the corps, who played appropriate music en route, and at the Shirehall. Those who received medals were:
1st Battalion: Lieut. C.M. WATSON, Privates F. CRISP, F.J. FISHER, A. HAWTHORNE, F. PERKS, W. PRICE. Medals were also handed to the representatives of Wm. CUTHBERT, W. STOKES, and T.F. DAVIES (deceased).
2nd Battalion: Captain and Adjutant W.K. PEAKE, Captain F. CHECKETTS, Sergeant A. AMPHLETT, Sergt. R. McCANN, Corporals F. RICHARDS and G. HOOMAN, Pvts. R. ANDREWS, C.S. AMPHLETT, G.F. BAKER, G. BATTY, W.H. BATEMAN, W. DUGGINS, H.G. HALL, W. HARDMAN, H. HOLMES, W.J. HUGHES, J. LEWIS, A. LONG, G. MASON, G.H. MASON, S.W. MASON, A.G. MORRIS, W.C. MOSSLEY, W. MOUNTFORD, W. MUNN, W. PITT, C. POWELL, F. RICHARDS, W. SKINNER, W. TETSTALL, W. THOMPSON. A medal was also presented to the representative of A. WELSH (deceased).
Pendants were handed to the following: Sergt. F.W. FISHER, Privates D. SMITH, H.E. EDORALL, G. HOLDER, J. NEAL, E. EDWARDS.
Before distributing the medals, Lord Coventry said it gave him great pleasure to have the honour of presenting medals which had been awarded for meritorious service in South Africa. He was sure they would always wear the medals with pride, and value them more than any of their possessions. The company left England in April, 1901, and proceeded to South Africa and were at once sent out to the duty of guarding the blockhouses and railway lines. They acquitted themselves, he was glad to hear, to the entire satisfaction of their officers. They went out forty strong, and they returned 26 strong. Four of the company, he was sorry to state, died of fever in South Africa, and others were left in hospital or had been sent home before. They were all glad to know that an honourable peace had been concluded, and they hoped that peace would be a permanent one. There were sad memories connected with the war. Every county in England almost had to deplore the loss of some of its best and bravest sons, but out of the mist of grief and lamentation there rose a glow of pride and admiration for the bravery and the humanity of our soldiers and sailors who were engaged in the struggle, and which had never been surpassed in the history of the country. (Applause). He hoped they might never be called upon to take part in any war of the kind again, but if they were he was sure they would render as good an account of themselves. They were a peace-loving nation. They desired to be on good terms with all countries, but they knew that the best way to preserve peace was to be prepared for war, and therefore he sincerely hoped that there would be no lack of interest, in the piping times of peace, in the splendid volunteer forces of the country, and he hoped that young men would continue to practice shooting and take as great an interest in the forces as they had in the past. He would only add that they were all pleased to see the Volunteers home again, and he was sure they would reflect with pleasure, to the end of their days, on the services they had rendered to their country at the call of duty in South Africa. (Applause). Lord Coventry then presented the medals, with a hearty handshake for each of the recipients.
Col. Watson proposed a vote of thanks to Lord Coventry, saying it was only a year before that Lord Coventry kindly distributed medals to the first company. He was sure this company deserved the medals as much.
Col. Bartlett, seconding, said it was a very great honour to the men of the service company, who would value the medals far more for having received them from the Lord Lieutenant, who took the warmest interest in everything for the good of the country and in everything for the good of its military forces.
Cheers were given for Lord and Lady Coventry, and Lord Coventry said it had been a great pleasure to Lady Coventry and himself to come and see them all. If they were ever called upon again at any time he was sure they would be ready and willing to acquit themselves as Worcestershire men.
The members of the service company were then marched to the Star Hotel, where the officers provided dinner for them.
Worcestershire Chronicle, 27th January 1900 (Worcester Company I.Y. nominal roll)
Worcestershire Chronicle, 30th November 1901 (men who received medals on 28/11/1901)
