Medals and awards

THE HOME-COMING OF THE YARMOUTH VOLUNTEERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

The magnificent reception the Yarmouth Active Service Company received at Norwich, which we fully reported in our columns last week, was repeated in earnest at Yarmouth on Saturday morning, when the inhabitants turned out en masse to greet their khaki clad soldier boys upon their return to their native town after an absence of fifteen long months. The train was due at Vauxhall Station at 10.40, but long before that time the town was all animation, flags were displayed in all the principal streets, and the route the men were to take was made particularly brilliant. Most of the large business establishments temporarily closed their shops, and for the time being nothing was thought of beyond giving the volunteers an enthusiastic reception in order to show that the admiration of our townspeople for pluck and heroism of her soldier boys had in no way diminished since they had given them so fine a send-off on their departure. Consequently immense crowds assembled at the Vauxhall Station and all along the North Quay, which was the route the men were to march. On the platform were assembled the members of the 2nd V.B.N.R., drawn up in double file under the command of Lieut.-Col. Taylor, the other officers present being Major P.G. Gilmour, Capt. Bond, Capt. C. O’Farrell, Lt. E.A. Combe, Lt. Gambling, Lt. P. Arnold, Lt. and Quartermaster A. Smith, Sergt.-Major Moorby and the Cyclist Company, under the command of Lt. W.E. Palmer. Later on the Artillery Volunteers, forming the 1st N.A.V. (E.D.R.A.), arrived, under Capt. Devlin and Lieut. Bayfield. Punctual to time the bursting of fog signals that had been placed on the railway line indicated the approach of the train, which steamed into the station amidst loud and enthusiastic cheers. Upon the Company detraining, Colonel W. DIVER, who commanded the Active Service Company, formed up the contingent, including Sergeant S.J. OWLES, Privates F.A. BEECHING, L.H. FRENCH, P.B. FRERE, O.J. OLLEY, P. TILLEY, A.J. NICHOLLS, W.B. TYRELL, R. WOODEN, W.H. VEALE, T.W. NICHOLS, and WARD. These were also joined by Corporal C.B. DIVER, Private W.B. PRATT, and Private F. HEWITT, Yarmouth men who had been invalided home, and Trooper F. BACON, of Lord Loch’s Scouts, Gunner S. LEAVOLD, R.G.A., and Trooper GAMBLING of Kitchener’s Horse (wounded), who had previously returned, all of whom were in khaki uniform. One of the two bands present struck up a lively air as they marched out of the station. Here they were greeted with cheer upon cheer, and the police had the greatest difficulty in keeping the enthusiastic crowd from breaking up the ranks. The large iron Suspension Bridge appeared to serve as a grandstand for the street Arabs, for agile youngsters were swarming amongst the iron girders, and many little pairs of feet were to be seen dangling from the arches above. The windows en route were filled with admiring spectators, and the empty railway trucks on the Hall Quay were crowded to excess. On the Hall Plain was a large collection of vehicles and a vast number of people, and in consequence all traffic was temporarily stopped. As the men forced their way through the crowd the bands were playing “Boys of the Old Brigade” and “Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue”, while the strains of the National Anthem rose as the column wheeled on to the plain fronting the Town Hall.

ON THE HALL QUAY.

ADDRESS BY THE MAYOR AND PRESENTATION BY THE MAYORESS.

The scene upon the Hall Quay as the returning volunteers arrived was full of interest. The great square, with its enclosure of the stately Town Hall, hotels, banks, and stately public buildings, the trees in all the beauty of fresh spring foliage, and the river glittering in the sunshine, is a splendid vantage ground for anything like a demonstration, whether civic, naval, or military. On this occasion it was gaily decorated with flags, balconies were filled with ladies, there was a crowded platform outside the Hall, Lieut.-Col. Aylmer and the Royal Garrison Artillery kept a space clear for the welcome guests, and beyond stretched the people of every age and grade, in their thousands. The universal feeling was admirably and effectively summarized by the two simple words, “Welcome Home”, displayed in gigantic letters of blue on white along the North front of the Municipal pile.

Among the many who had gathered at the Hall we noticed the Mayor and Mayoress, the Deputy-Mayor ……., etc., etc.

A great burst of cheering heralded the approaching warriors, and presently while flags waved, handkerchiefs fluttered, bands played, and a chorus of voices continued the acclaim, as the bronzed and khaki-clad men so longed for and so warmly welcomed, led by Captain W. DIVER, streamed into the open space by the Hall, formed up into a line with other gallant men who had returned sick or wounded from the war, and saluted.

Greetings over, the Mayor said: – Captain DIVER and members of the Active Service Company, this is a day of days, the day of all others that we have been looking forward to for the last year and a half; a day, the recollection of which will never die in the memories of the inhabitants of Yarmouth. (Cheers). It is the day we have hoped for and prayed for, and now you are home again. What pleasanter words than these could you hear? Whenever one leaves home the return is always the pleasantest part. How much more must your return be pleasant after the perils you have passed through. You are our heroes – (cheers) – our gallant boys – (cheers) – the flower of the Yarmouth youth, who came forward and volunteered for service when the country had need of strong support. (Cheers). I can only add how very proud we are of you, and how more than pleased we are with, and to see you. (Cheers). You volunteered, led by the example of Captain DIVER, whose name – (cheers) – with that of all of you, will live in the memories of the inhabitants of Yarmouth. (Cheers). The enthusiasm you hear around you is not only a feeling of joy at your return, but expresses the pent-up feelings of the past year and a half. (Cheers). It is not too much to say that there is no one in this town who has not thought of you, hoped for you, and prayed for you during the past fifteen months. You have been in a warm corner or two when you were away, but there will be a warm corner for you in the heart of every inhabitant of the old town so long as we shall live. (Cheers). The Town Council desire me to tell you that they last Tuesday carried a resolution expressing their desire to place on record their high appreciation of the patriotism of Captain DIVER and the Yarmouth members of the Norfolk Volunteer Active Service Company, whom are now returning from South Africa, having so gallantly responded to the country’s call, and that this resolution be engrossed on vellum, sealed with the Corporate seal, and a copy thereof be presented to each of the Yarmouth members of the Norfolk Volunteer Active Service Company, and that the names of each of the Yarmouth members be recorded on a tablet, fittingly inscribed, to be placed in a suitable position within the Town Hall. We all most fervently hope that you may live long to enjoy the blessings of peace. Before you go I will ask you to accept a trifling memento of this occasion, which the Mayoress will present to each of you.

Hearty cheers were then given at the call of the Mayor for Captain DIVER and his men, the Mayor leading and waving his hat.

Captain DIVER, standing at the front of the khaki company, said: – We are deeply grateful for your warm words of welcome. We are not unmindful of the part the Mayor and Mrs Orde took in having met us already in Norwich, and they are again taking a leading part in welcoming us on our arrival in our native town today. We have been moving in an air of congratulations, and passing through lines of cheers that will never be forgotten by us. It would be impossible for me to find language adequately to thank you for what we have received. It will live in our memories till we shall be no more. (Cheers).

The presentation of mementoes then took place, Captain DIVER first received his, then Sergeant S.J. OWLES, after whom the other men received theirs from the Mayoress, who warmly shook each by the hand, and congratulated him on his safe return.

The memento is a very elegant shield shaped silver badge, which bears enamelled in proper emblazonry on one side the civic arms with the borough motto, “Rex et nostra jura”, and on the opposite side, “From the Mayor, C.S. Orde, Home Again, May, 1901”. This very charming and appropriate souvenir of a most interesting occasion was supplied by the well-known firm of Aldred & Son, George Street.

YARMOUTH’S RETURNING VOLUNTEERS