County: Derbyshire
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 26/09/1901, 14/11/1902
Number issued: 3
Gold drops & watch guards, suitably engraved, to:
26/09/1901 presentation
2nd Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment (Reserve) –
2297 Lance-Corporal William Charles EXTON
2nd Bn. Dublin Fusiliers –
4825 Corporal Thomas OWENS [Owen]
Presentation made by Mr John H. Harrison at the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Dronfield.
14/11/1902 presentation
1st Bn. Coldstream Guards (Reserve) –
8598 Private John Charles O'ROURKE
Presentation made by Dr Court (of Staveley), at the Town Hall, Dronfield.
Inscribed: "Presented to Private John O'Rourke by his Dronfield friends for services rendered in South Africa, 1900-1902".
Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 15/11/1902
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Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 27th September 1901
DINNER TO DRONFIELD SOLDIERS.
Last evening a public dinner and presentation meeting were held at the Horse and Jockey Hotel, under the patronage of Major Lucas, Dr Rooth, Dr Fletcher, Dr Barber, and Mr J.H. Harrison, in recognition of the services of Messrs EXTON and OWEN, inhabitants of Dronfield, who had been in much active service in the South African War. Both the soldiers named will shortly return to their regiments and will take with them the best wishes of the inhabitants for their success and safety. A first-class dinner was provided by Mr Fowler, and there was a large attendance. The dinner was followed by the presentation, in which Major T.H. Lucas was the chief factor. He referred to the excellent object of the meeting in doing honour to Messrs EXTON and OWEN for their services, and called upon Mr J.H. Harrison to present, on behalf of the inhabitants of Dronfield, a gold watch guard and drop, suitably engraved. – Mr Charles Allen, who was in the army during the Crimean War, referred to the great suffering of the army, which excited the sympathy of the people. He gave the “Army, Navy, and Volunteers”, which was greatly cheered. The meeting was a great success.
Derbyshire Courier, 5th October 1901
DRONFIELD AND DISTRICT.
On Thursday, a dinner was given at the Horse and Jockey Inn, Dronfield, in honour of Corporal Thomas OWEN and Lance-Corporal Charles EXTON, who have returned from the seat of the war in South Africa. Mr and Mrs Arthur Fowler put a capital spread on the table. There were about 70 present, and amongst the number were Major Lucas (in the chair), Messrs H.N. Lucas, J.H. Harrison, T.H. Atkinson, Joseph Fisher, C.C. Baggaley, Charles Allen, H.L. Cole, Fred Margereson, G. Webster, John Buxton, L.J. Earnshaw, C.E. Horner, John Sheard, William Jarvis, Tom Oates, H. Damms, T. Grocutt, J.T. Grocutt, R.C. Exton, G. Linacre, Robert Fryer, Mark Johnson, Fred Turner, J.H. Fowler, W. Morris, H. Wood, S. Higginbottom, G. Davison, Inspector Wright, and many others.
After the cloth was removed, Mr John H. Harrison presented Messrs OWEN and EXTON with a splendid gold albert, and they briefly thanked the company for their kindness. Major Lucas proposed the “health of His Majesty the King and the rest of the Royal Family”, the company standing, sang a verse of “God Save the King”. The toast of “the Army, Navy, and Volunteers” was proposed by Mr Charles Allen, an old Crimean Veteran, Major Lucas, and Inspector Wright, who strongly advocated the raising of a Volunteer Corps for Dronfield, responded. Messrs Hanson, Charles Allen, Nesbitt, H.L. Cole, and others, contributed much to the enjoyment of the evening by their capital songs.
Derbyshire Courier, 22nd November 1902
Dronfield and District.
When the idea of making a presentation to Private John O’ROURKE, of the Coldstream Guards, was first mooted some time ago, the matter was energetically taken up by the employees of Messrs E. Lucas & Sons, Dronfield. A committee, consisting of Messrs S.T. Grocutt, J.T. Grocutt, William Webster, J. Aldington, A. Lockwood, J.H. Fowler, with L.J. Earnshaw (treasurer), and Fred Davison (secretary), was formed. The following gentlemen consented to be patrons: Mr S. Lucas, Major Lucas, T.W. Lee, H.A. Rhodes, C.C. Baggaley, Doctors Rooth, Fletcher, and Barber. A canvas was made for subscriptions, and in a short time a sufficient sum of money was promised to meet the necessary expenses. The committee decided that the function should take the form of a dinner, concert, and presentation, in the Town Hall, and the day fixed was Friday last. Mrs Rawson, of the Green Dragon Inn, catered in a way which gave the greatest satisfaction. The number present was nearly 120, and amongst those present were Major Lucas, who presided, Dr Court (Staveley), the Rev. C.I. Bickerstaff, J.H. Harrison, C.C. Baggaley, E.G. Harrison, L.W. Smale, T.H. Atkinson, T. Grocutt, J.H. Fowler, J.T. Grocutt, C. Grocutt, H. Taylor, E. Taylor, L.J. Earnshaw, Fred Davison, E.H. Freeman, B. Wright, S. Lucas, jun., W.K. Bedingfield, W.J. Smallbones, F. Turner, Chas. EXTON (Lincolnshire Regiment), Thomas OWEN (Dublin Fusiliers), both in uniform and wearing medals with clasps. The first item of the programme was an admirably played pianoforte solo, “A descriptive march”, by Mr Mont. Allen. Then followed a song, “The Carnival”, nicely rendered by Miss E. Fletcher. The next item was a capital recital, “My pipe”, by Mr T. Hitchin, an elocutionist of no mean order. Mr T. Reeves was in capital voice and effectively sang “The Young Brigade”. Miss Bickerstaff, a great favourite with a Dronfield audience, sang “Soldiers in the park”. Next came the chief item of the evening, the presentation of a very handsome gold albert chain and pendant, on which was engraved, “Presented to Private John O’Rourke by his Dronfield friends for services rendered in South Africa, 1900-1902”. Dr Court expressed the pleasure it gave him to make the presentation to one of those men who had so ungrudgingly, so loyally, and so cheerfully, given their services to their country in order to uphold its honour in South Africa, thus rendering all the assistance in their power to uphold and maintain the supremacy of the British flag. He had the greatest pleasure in handing over to Private O’ROURKE the gold albert and chain, as a small token of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow townsmen. He hoped that the recipient might be long spared to wear the chain. Major Lucas, on behalf of John O’ROURKE, returned thanks. The programme was then continued, Mr R.R. Hodgson singing “The sound of the drum”, which was much applauded, and Mr George Ward gave a capital rendering of the song, “Home of my heart”, which was much appreciated. Mr T. Hitchin then gave “How Bill Adams won the battle of Waterloo”, which was vociferously encored, and then he gave “Molly Mag”. The rendering of a glee by Miss Fletcher, and Messrs Allen, E. Platts, jun., and T. Reeves, brought to an end part one of the programme. Owing to the lateness of the hour, the second part of the programme was abandoned, and miscellaneous items were contributed under the presidency of Mr Thomas Grocutt, who had taken Major Lucas’ place. The whole affair was a very great success, and the committee are to be congratulated on their good arrangements.
