County: Banffshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 18/06/1901

Number issued: 4

 

Gold medals, suitably inscribed, to:

Volunteer Active Service Company, Gordon Highlanders ["B" Company, 6th V.B.G.H.] –
147 Corporal Harry CUMMING
158 Private Robert GRANT
149 Private Alexander MacDONALD
148 Private Patrick URQUHART
 
Presentation made by Provost Jupp, in the Fleming Hall, Aberlour.

 

 

 
 
__________________________________
 
 
 
Elgin Courant, 21st June 1901
 

PRESENTATION TO ABERLOUR VOLUNTEERS.

On Tuesday evening Corporal CUMMING, Privates R. GRANT, A. MACDONALD, and P. URQUHART, the four members of the Aberlour Volunteers who recently returned from South Africa, were entertained to a public banquet and presented with gold medals in the Fleming Hall. .........

........ The Chairman then called upon Provost Jupp to give the toast of the evening – Our Guests. Provost Jupp said Mr Macpherson had taken him completely by surprise when he called upon him to give the toast of the evening. He thought that his duty that evening was simply to hand over the medals to their guests. He was sure they were all at one with him when he wished their guests all happiness and long life. They were all pleased to see them here that evening, and glad to welcome them back at Aberlour in safety, when so many, including three Orphanage boys, had found their graves in South Africa. Addressing the Volunteers, the Provost said that in his official capacity as Provost of the burgh he had been asked – and he thought it a great honour to have been asked – by the Volunteers to present the medals to the heroes of Aberlour – (cheers). The medals were extremely pretty and nicely got up. They were not, however, presented for their value, but as evidence of the goodwill of their comrades. As such the Volunteers themselves would value them, so would their families and all connected with them. They had no doubt noticed that an Aberlour “loon” had during this war won that most-coveted medal the Victoria Cross – (loud cheers). He had very much pleasure, on behalf of the community of Aberlour, in presenting them each with a gold medal – (cheers). The Provost then pinned the medals on to the khaki-clad heroes’ tunics and accorded to each a hearty welcome.
 
 
Northern Scot, 22nd June 1901
 

The four returned volunteers from South Africa were entertained by their own company here to a banquet in the Fleming Hall on Tuesday night. The gathering was a large one, and was under the patronage of the Town Council. Each of the brave young lads were presented with massive gold medals, suitably inscribed, from funds collected in the district. Provost Jupp, in a laudatory speech, made the presentation. An adjournment was afterwards made to the Drill Hall, where a few hours’ dancing was engaged in. At this assembly ex-Corporal J. Nicholson received his long service medal. Lieut. Macpherson made the presentation.

We understand that Private J.R. MILNE, who left with the 3rd Volunteer Service Company from our parish, has joined the Johannesburg and Pretoria Police Force. Private MILNE before leaving for the front was employed in the post-office here as one of the telegraphists and sorting clerks.