Country: New Zealand
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 29/07/1901, 31/10/1902
Number issued: 3
Gold Maltese crosses, suitably inscribed, to:
29/07/1901 presentation
4th New Zealand Mounted Rifles –
1127 Trooper James ROBERTSON
1031 Trooper Robert SIMMERS
Presentation made by Mr W.W. Mackie, during a welcome social.
31/10/1902 presentation
7th New Zealand Mounted Rifles –
4514 Trooper Frederick Charles CHITTOCK
Presentation made by Mr W. Shennan, in the Waikoikoi Public Hall.
____________________________
Otago Witness, 31st July 1901
RECEPTION AT WAIKOIKOI.
At Waikoikoi on Monday evening Troopers R. SIMMERS and James ROBERTSON were entertained at a welcome social, and the whole community appeared to have assembled to do honour to their representatives. Both men did good work, and SIMMERS stuck to his regiment right through. His comrade was a victim to fever, but was into harness again at the first opportunity. Mr W.W. Mackie occupied the chair, and the evening was occupied with games, music, songs, recitations, etc., during the first part of the programme. The returned troopers were presented with gold medals, the audience cheering enthusiastically. After refreshments the hall was cleared for dancing, and the younger and more active members of the gathering then had their turn. Some interesting curios were exhibited, including a monster roll of Boer tobacco, so that Trooper SIMMERS will be able to treat his smoking friends to a pipeful of real strong "weed" for some time to come. The Waikoikoi people have a reputation for carrying cut socials on a lavish scale, and on Monday evening all the talents available were put to good use.
Otago Witness, 5th November 1902
WAIKOIKOI.
November 3. — A social to welcome home Trooper Fred. CHITTOCK, of the Gallant Seventh New Zealanders, was held in the Waikoikoi Public Hall on Friday evening last, when there was a very large gathering. Apologies for absence were received from Mr and Mrs A. Crawford, Mr and Mrs C. Branigan, Mr and Mrs T. Armstrong, Captain Rodgers, and Miss Burrell, all of Tapanui, and from Mr R. Simmers and Mr Geo. Milnes. Proceedings commenced with the singing of "God save the King", Miss Nellie Beattie acting as accompanist. Games of cards, draughts, ludo, ping-pong, etc., were then indulged in, and a happy two hours were thus spent. Songs were given by Messrs Booth, Couperthwaite, Ritchie, and E. Orchard. Captain Stewart, of the Kelso Mounted Rifles, gave the recitation, "The Man from Iron Bark", Mr John Lavender recited "The Gallant Seventh", and Mr Beattie gave as a reading "The Last Shot". A piano selection by Miss N. Beattie met with considerable applause. Refreshments, kindly provided by the ladies of the district, were then handed round, after which Mr W. Shennan, of Conical Hills station, who presided, addressed the assembly. He began, by paying a high compliment to our volunteers, and then said, that the time was when our volunteers were looked upon as a body intended more for show than for any use they would likely be in time of war, but that the noble manner in which the men of 10 contingents that had left our shores to do battle for our Empire against the Boers had responded to the call of "more men" proved that this was a mistaken idea, and that our volunteers are men of the right stuff. He said that Trooper CHITTOCK had been in his employ before he left with the Seventh, and had almost pestered his (Mr. Shennan's) life out to get away with the Fourth Contingent. Leave of absence was given him, but he was not accepted by the Government. Nothing daunted, he then tried to get away with the Sixth, but was again unsuccessful, and when a call was made for a seventh, contingent he again applied, and this time was accepted. Mr Shennan then presented Trooper CHITTOCK with an albert chain and a very handsome gold Maltese cross, suitably inscribed, the gift of his ‘Koi friends. Trooper Chittock, who was loudly cheered, thanked the donors for the handsome gift, and the right hearty welcome they had given him. He said he often thought of them when he was in South Africa, and that no matter where he might be in the future he would always cherish the memory of his ‘Koi friends. Lieutenant Colquhoun, of the Tapanui Rifles, expressed the pleasure it gave him on behalf of his corps to welcome back Trooper CHITTOCK, who prior to his leaving with the Seventh had been one of its members. He said it was right we should meet together to welcome home those brave boys who had so ably upheld the honour of the dear old flag. He was proud to think that Trooper CHITTOCK had been one of these, and said that the Waikoikoi men who were members of his corps had in them the stuff of which heroes are made, and would at all times prove an honour to our dear Old Country. Mr H. Banks, speaking in a similar strain, expressed his pleasure at peeing Trooper CHITTOCK amongst us again. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Shennan for presiding, and on someone calling for three cheers, they were lustily given. The room was then cleared for dancing, which was kept up till 4 a.m. Messrs Jas. Cooper and A. Simmers (violins) supplied the music, and Mr W. Mackay acted as M.C. As they all gave their services gratuitously, they were accorded a hearty vote of thanks, as were also the ladies for providing refreshments. Before leaving for home Mr James Chittock thanked the Social Committee and all those who had so kindly welcomed his son.
EMBARKATION DATABASE
Surname: ROBERTSON
Reg No: 1127
Given Names: James
Contingent: Fourth
Rank: Private
Unit: No 10 Company
Joined from: none
County/City: Southland
Age: 22 years, 7 months
Occupation: Farmer
Ship: “Monowai”, 20 March 1900
Address: Gap Road, Winton
Next of Kin: Robertson, Mr Allan
Next of Kin Address: Winton
Relationship to Soldier: unknown
Surname: SIMMERS
Reg No: 1031
Given Names: Robert
Contingent: Fourth
Rank: Private
Unit: No 9 Company
Joined from: none
County/City: Clutha
Age: 32 years, 2 months
Occupation: Farmer
Ship: “Monowai”, 20 March 1900
Address:
Next of Kin: Simmers, Mr Robert
Next of Kin Address: Waikoikoi, Otago
Relationship to Soldier: unknown
Surname: CHITTOCK
Reg No: 4514
Given Names: Frederick Charles
Contingent: Seventh
Rank: Private
Unit: No 25 Company (Otago Section)
Joined from: unknown
County/City: Clutha
Age: 21 years, 1 month
Occupation: Farmer
Ship: “Gulf of Taranto”, 6 April 1901
Address: Pomohaka, Otago
Next of Kin: Chittock, Mr James
Next of Kin Address: Bushside, Pomohaka, Otago
Relationship to Soldier: father
