County: Lancashire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 28/08/1901
Number issued: 11
Gold medals, to:
2740 Trooper Henry Harrison YATES ("B" Troop)
20504 Corporal Claud HEMBRY (absent)
MEDALS FOR YEOMANRY.
PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT WALKDEN.
Last night an enthusiastic public meeting was held at the Co-operative Hall, Walkden, to welcome the members of the Worsley troop of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry, who have returned from South Africa, after doing good service with the 23rd Company of the Imperial Yeomanry. Mr Simpson, chairman of the Worsley District Council, presided, and was supported on the platform by a number of the leading inhabitants of the district. The Yeomanry, who wore their khaki uniforms, had a hearty reception in the streets of Walkden, as they marched to the hall accompanied by a band. Major Kemp, M.P., who commanded the 23rd Company, wrote regretting his inability to be present.
The Chairman explained that the meeting had not been promoted by any political organisation, but was the outcome of a desire shared generally by the inhabitants of the district to welcome home the returned Yeomen. With the subscriptions given, medals were provided for those who had come back from the front, and a contribution had also been made to the War Fund, which looked after those who, having husband or son in South Africa, were in need of help. They deeply regretted that one of the Yeomen, Trooper REW, had lost his life in action, but a medal had been provided, and would be given to his mother. (Applause).
The Earl of Ellesmere, hon. Colonel of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry, was warmly applauded on rising to present the medals referred to by the chairman. In the course of a short address the Earl said that that meeting showed that the people of the district heartily welcomed the Yeomanry on their return, and that the conduct of the men on the field had been approved of not only by their comrades in arms, but also by their civilian friends and neighbours. It must be a great satisfaction to them to feel that what they had done had been appreciated by those at home. The people of that district were only imitating the example which had been set in other parts of the country in doing honour to the Yeomen who had served their country during the war. (Applause).
Medals were then presented by the Earl to the following: - Trumpeter H. BARLOW, Troopers R. BRADSHAW, T. JACKSON, S. JONES, H.K. LEAROYD, A. MARSH, G.H. MORRIS, and H.H. YATES. It was explained that Sergeant HERRINGTON and Trooper C. HEMBRY were unable to be present.
Replying to a vote of thanks, Lord Ellesmere said he honestly believed that there was now a probability that the war would soon come to and end. He thought the latest proclamation by Lord Kitchener would have a good effect.
IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.
DUKE OF LANCASTER’S OWN. – The Earl of Ellesmere, Hon. Col. of the regiment, on Wednesday, August 28, in the Co-operative Hall, Walkden, Manchester, presented gold medals to members of the Worsley Troop, who recently returned from active service in South Africa. Ten members of the troop went out, and one of them, David REW, of Liverpool, was killed in action; his mother receives his medal. Lord Ellesmere, who was supported by, amongst others, Sergt.-Major Williams, Postmaster of Worsley, one of the few remaining survivors of the Light Brigade, alluded to the valuable services rendered by the Yeomanry during the war.
