State: Tasmania
Issued on: Departure & Return
Date of presentation: abt. 27/10/1899 (departure), 29/09/1900 (return)
Number issued: 1 or 2
Gold medal and gold locket, to:
abt. 27/10/1899 presentation (departure; medal)
1st Tasmanian Mounted Infantry –
15 Private Victor Stanley PEERS
29/09/1900 presentation (return; locket)
1st Tasmanian Mounted Infantry –
15 Private Victor Stanley PEERS
Presentation made by Mr C.F. Heathcote (General Manager of the Western Mine), during a function held between shifts at the mine.
Both gifts suscribed for by fellow employees of the Western Mine, Zeehan.
Locket inscribed: "Presented to Lance-Corporal Victor Peers, by bis fellow employees of the Western S.M. Co., in appreciation of his services to his country in the South African War, Zeehan, September, 29, ’00".
"The chain and locket are made from West Coast gold. ..... The locket is of plain gold with chased corners".
Locket supplied by Mr F.W. Wathen's establishment, Main Street, Zeehan.
Note: the report of the departure presentation is very vague, so it is possible that the 1899 scheme did not come to fruition until after Private Peers's return in September 1900. In other words, the two presentations outlined above may relate to the same medal/locket.
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Launceston Examiner, 13th February 1900
VICTOR PEERS WOUNDED.
ZEEHAN.
Monday.
Victor PEERS, now serving in South Africa, and reported slightly wounded, left with the first Tasmanian contingent. His age is 25, height, 5ft. 10in., with a good chest measurement, pleasing, if somewhat stern in appearance, and of good military bearing. He received his educational knowledge from his father, Mr L.A. Peers, at the Black River and Zeehan State-schools. His first situation was apprentice to the "Pastoral Times", a squatters' journal, published at Deniliquin, New South Wales. Newspaper work, however, was distasteful to him, and on removing to Zeehan in 1894 he started the more active pursuit of mining. His first job was at the now smouldering King property, after which he took up the position of braceman at the Western mine, working under Mr John Provis until the latter's retirement, and later under the present manager, Mr C.F. Heathcote, with whom he laboured until he obeyed his country's call. PEERS received a gold medal from his fellow employees when leaving for the Transvaal, and also flattering testimonials from the heads of the Western mine. Mining in its higher branches also occupied his time, PEERS doing his best to forward his mining knowledge through the Zeehan School of Mines, of which he was a student. The volunteer movement was always his pet recreation, and as soon as a corps was instituted at Zeehan he joined, and was from its inception an ardent and painstaking member. Prior to his leaving for the war he had risen to the rank of corporal. Mr L.A. Peers, his father, beyond being patriotic in the extreme, has never taken an active part in army matters, but his love of an active and adventurous life may be gathered when it is mentioned that he travelled widely on behalf of various museums for 14 years. Mr Peers has occupied a responsible position as a State-school teacher for the past 16 years, five years being taken up at Black River and the last nine at the Zeehan State-school, which establishment at present has a daily average of 240 pupils. Mr and Mrs Peers naturally look with keen interest for all news bearing on the war in general, and particularly when it refers to the doings of the Tasmanians' initial unit.
Zeehan & Dundas Herald, 1st October 1900
A pleasing little function took place at the Western mine between the change of shifts on Saturday afternoon, when Mr C.F. Heathcote, general manager, presented from the employees of the mine to Lance-Corporal Victor PEERS a handsome gold open curb watch chain and gold locket as a slight acknowledgment of the manner in which he had conducted himself whilst serving with the First Tasmanian Contingent in the Boer war. In making the presentation Mr Heathcote extended a hearty welcome home to the recipient. They had watched his career with interest, and were more than gratified by the honourable and manly way in which he had fought as a representative of Zeehan amongst the soldiers of the Queen. When he was wounded, they were anxious for news of his recovery, and though invalided home they hoped his injuries were not of a permanent character, and that he would soon be fully restored to health. He had performed his duties faithfully and conscientiously, and he hoped that all assembled would carry out whatever was entrusted to them in the same able manner. The gift they were making would serve to remind him of the exciting and historic period in his history, and they hoped he would be long spared to wear it. Lance-Corporal PEERS modestly replied, expressing his thanks to his comrades in a few well-chosen words. There was one point he would like to draw attention to, and that was the controversy in the papers over the treatment of the wounded and sick soldiers. He had been in five hospitals and the treatment, from his experience, was really excellent. Of course, in the field hospitals they could not expect every convenience to be provided, but even in those he had no complaint to make, but much to be grateful for. As far as the base hospitals were concerned they were fitted out in a most thorough manner, equal, if not superior, to hospitals in large cities, and the nursing and medical staffs were most attentive and painstaking. He was deeply grateful for the great compliment they had paid him, and their handsome present, which he would always treasure amongst his most valued possessions. The proceedings were of an enthusiastic character, the returned soldier being repeatedly cheered by the assemblage of over two hundred present. The chain and locket are made from West Coast gold, manufactured at Mr F.W. Wathen's establishment, Main Street, and is a highly creditable piece of workmanship, stamping the high-class quality of the work he is in a position to turn out. The locket is of plain gold with chased corners, and bears the inscription: – Presented to Lance-Corporal Victor Peers, by bis fellow employees of the Western S.M. Co., in appreciation of his services to his country in the South African War, Zeehan, September, 29, ’00.
