County: Westmorland
Issued on: return
Date of presentation: 04/06/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold pendant, with applied Mauser bullet, to:
Presentation made by Captain R. Rigg, M.P. for Appleby, at Applegarth Villa, Windermere.
Mrs H. Bigland, 19, Havelock Terrace, Windermere, has also received a letter from her son, Pvt. J. BIGLAND, “A” Company, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, from which we take the following: –
Springfield, nr. Ladysmith, 13, 1, 1900.
Dear Mother,
By the time these words reach you I think we shall have relieved those poor soldiers in Ladysmith. We are only twelve miles off them, but there are about 30,000 Boers between us and them. They are about five miles from us, and we are expecting a battle either tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday. Our Division (5th Division) is for the relief of Ladysmith. We have got provisions for them, and a convoy of wagons, about seven miles long, drawn by bullocks, so you see it is a dreary job marching by the side of them. We have had it pretty rough since I last wrote to you from Estcourt. We left Estcourt on Sunday and it was raining. We had not been on the road more than an hour before we were wringing wet through, shirt and everything, and we had also four big rivers to cross, and it took us over the waist. What was worse, we had not a change of clothing. When we got into camp we rested for eight hours, and then set off again and kept it up for twenty-eight hours, when we had another rest all night, and then marched to here. I can tell you there wasn’t a man but was completely knocked up. We are getting to rest today, expecting a big battle tomorrow or Monday, so by the time you get this the account will have been published in the papers, and I hope that we will be successful, as those in Ladysmith have been holding out now for ten weeks, but we are all hoping to relieve them by Tuesday. I think we will beat them as our troops are all round them, and I think that they will give in after this battle if we win the day. They are coming into camp every day and giving themselves up. The General gave us all great praise for the way we did the marching. We are longing to have a rub at Kruger and his forces.
PRESENTATION TO A SOLDIER AT WINDERMERE.
Last night, Private Joseph BIGLAND, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers (son of Mr H. Bigland, Windermere), who has had a lengthy service in the army, and was one of those wounded at Spion Kop, being now on sick furlough at Windermere, was the recipient of a unique present which will be long treasured by him, this being the bullet extracted from a wound in his leg, mounted on a shield of gold, with suitable inscription. The presentation took place at Applegarth.
Captain Rigg, M.P., addressing the recipient, said it gave him great pleasure indeed to make that presentation to a Windermere lad of whom they were all extremely proud – to one who was an honour to their village. He wished him good health, long life, and prosperity. He hoped the memento would remind Private Bigland of the many friends and of the hearty good wishes he had from the people of Windermere. He had gone through dangers and difficulties for the sake of his country unflinchingly and ungrudgingly, and merited and received from every loyal subject of our king their very warm appreciation and sincere gratitude.
Mr F. Whitley Thomson, M.P. for the Skipton Division of Yorkshire, also warmly congratulated Private Bigland, and expressed his pleasure at being present when Captain Rigg gave him that memorial. Whilst not a man of war himself, he had seen war and all its horrors, with its difficulties and dangers, for they were glad to welcome Private Bigland back again, and wished him long life and prosperity.
This is to certify that Bigland of the Lancashire Fusiliers is now under my care at the Kendal Hospital; that I have recently operated on him for trouble in connection with the femur following on fracture by bullet at Spion Kop; that I have found caries of the bone and that in my opinion he is rendered permanently incapable of further active service.
December 11, 1905
Rob. W. Leeming, M.D.
