Medals and awards

8065 Trooper Harry CROFTS [J.H. Crofts]

8148 Trooper E. WEETMAN

 

Presentation made by Mr F.A. Newdigate, M.P., in St George's Hall, Ansley.

 

Inscribed: "Presented to Trooper [E.R. Weetman], of the Oxfordshire I.Y., by the parishioners of Ansley, on his return from South Africa, 1901".

 

 

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Midland Counties Tribune, 2nd August 1901

 

ANSLEY TROOPERS FEASTED.

MR. NEWDIGATE PRESENTS MEDALS.

A complimentary dinner has been given at Ansley in honour of the return of Troopers Harry CROFTS and Ernest R. WEETMAN, of the Oxfordshire Imperial Yeomanry, who have both been in active service for over 12 months.

St. George’s Hall, Ansley, was crowded.

Mr. W.G. Phillips presided, and was supported by Mr. F.A. Newdigate, M.P., and others. …….

……. The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr. F.A. Newdigate, M.P., then presented the medals. At the present time, he said, one felt that they could not have too many young men like their two friends. If at any future time England wanted her sons to do yeoman service for her, he hoped they would have the same response to the needs of the country which had been shown by Messrs. CROFTS and WEETMAN in the South African campaign. He expressed his pleasure at seeing their friends back home, saying they were proud of their Warwickshire kinsmen, and all that their Warwickshire kinsmen had done when called to duties of difficulty (cheers).

Mr Newdigate then pinned the gold medals on the breasts of the two troopers, amid much approbation from the audience, who sang “For they are jolly good fellows.”

The inscriptions were:

“Presented to Trooper H. Crofts, of the Oxfordshire I.Y., by the parishioners of Ansley, on his return from South Africa, 1901.”

“Presented to Trooper E.R. Weetman, of the Oxfordshire I.Y., by the parishioners of Ansley, on his return from South Africa, 1901.”