County: Northumberland
Issued on: Departure
Date of presentation: 17/02/1900
Number issued: 1
Gold medallion, to:
Presentations to Wallsend Reservists.
The drillers, several officials and other employees of the Northumberland Shipbuilding Yard, assembled at the Station Hotel, Wallsend, on Saturday night, to present Mr T. FOSTER with a gold medallion, as a mark of their respect and esteem, on his leaving the yard to join the Elswick Battery, who are to proceed to South Africa.
Councillor O’Hanlon presided, and was supported by Councillor Snaith, Messrs S. Smith, foreman caulker; A. Anderson, foreman painter; W. Dalglish, assistant foreman driller; R. Tweddle, Newcastle; E. Haggie, South Shields; W. Campbell, W. Kelly, J. Sweetman, Thos. Kelly, J. Anderson, Wallsend, and many others. The usual toasts were proposed by the chairman, and duly honoured. Songs having been well rendered, the chairman called upon Mr W. Kelly to make the presentation.
Mr Kelly said he was a man of few words, but it gave him great pleasure to hand over to Mr FOSTER the gold medallion, which had been subscribed for by his fellow workmen as a mark of the respect and admiration of his spirit in going to serve his country in time of need. If he proved as good a soldier as he had a workmate, then his comrades in arms would have reason to be proud of him. He asked him to receive their little present, and to wish him a safe and speedy return among his old comrades.
Mr FOSTER replied, and said he would try to do his duty and to leave his old friends no room to be ashamed of him. He could not talk, but he would try and do some fighting.
