State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 17/05/1901
Number issued: 1

 

Gold medal, suitably inscribed, to:

1st Victorian Mounted Infantry Company [1st Victorian Contingent]
117 Private Charles WINDSOR [Winsor]
 
Medal inscribed: "Presented to Private C. Windsor for services in South African war, 1899 to 1901. From comrades, Eaglehawk section, Victorian Rangers".

Clasps inscribed: "Cole Kopje" & "Paree".

Subscribed for by fellow members of the Eaglehawk Section ["F" Company], Victorian Rangers.
 
 
Private Windsor received a second medal from the Eaglehawk A.N.A.

 

 

 
 
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Bendigo Independent, 21st February 1901
 

RETURN OF PRIVATE WINSOR.

A RAPTUROUS AND ALL-ROUND WELCOME.

Private C. WINSOR, the second of Eaglehawk's representatives, and the last to return of the first Victorian contingent, arrived in Eaglehawk by the 8.50 train last night. People turned out in thousands to welcome him. Without doubt, the crowd was amongst the largest that has ever been seen in Eaglehawk. The mayor (Cr. Loudon), the Hon. H.R Williams, several of the councillors and representatives of the A.N.A., the borough band, F. Company Victorian Rangers, and fire brigade awaited him at the station. The crush was enormous, and the police had their work cut out to make a passage from the train. After Private WINSOR had been formally welcomed, a procession was formed, the band struck up a lively military march. A halt was made at the council's temporary offices, [illegible] High Street.

After the burst of spontaneous cheering had subsided, the mayor said — We have assembled here to perform a very pleasing function, to welcome home our warrior from South Africa. When the late Queen wanted soldiers to fight her battles in South Africa the young Australians nobly responded to the call, and our young soldier, Private WINSOR, was in the first flight of recruits that went to the front. (Cheers). He has, I believe, performed gallantly the task he took in hand, and that was a very difficult one. I am glad to see he has returned to us safe and sound. (Hear, hear). I hope he might live long to enjoy the honor he has earned, I am sure you will, as well as myself, be heartily glad to see him home. I feel as proud to take his hand as though it were the hand of King Edward VII. (Loud cheers).

Mr J. Smalley, ex-president of the Eaglehawk branch of the A.N.A., said that, on behalf of the society of which their esteemed soldier was a member, he wished to welcome him back to his native heath. They hoped the A.N.A. had many more Private WINSORs. (A voice: “Any amount”). It was the intention of the branch, at its next meeting, to make a presentation to him of a gold medal. (Applause). He might also announce for Private WINSOR’s information that the board of directors had kept him good on the books, and paid all his dues. In this respect he was glad to see the A.N.A. was not peculiar amongst friendly societies. (Hear, hear). They were pleased now to have him return in perfect health after having served the longest term of any Bendigo soldier in the war.

Captain Curtain said he was very pleased, on behalf of the regiment and himself, to welcome home Private WINSOR. (Cheers). Before he left he was considered an ideal soldier, and he had acquitted himself well in South Africa. He had had some difficulty in getting away, but if he returned he would at once be given his place in the field. (Hear).

Mr H.R. Williams, M.L.A., endorsed the remarks of the preceding speakers. Everyone, he said, had watched the career of Private WINSOR, and looked for every incident in which he figured. They all felt proud they had such a man. When they heard of his gallant conduct in carrying a wounded comrade safely out of the fire, they exclaimed, “Bravo, WINSOR, may God help you to perform many such deeds of valor”. (Cheers). They had learned that Australia’s sons could face the fire with the same cold blood as their forefathers, and this in one of the most arduous and trying wars Great Britain ever had in hand. (Applause).

Three ringing cheers were then given for the returned soldier, who on being called upon, suitably replied. He said he was not under the impression that he would be given such a welcome on his return, and he feared he could not do justice to the occasion. He was the “worst in the world” to speak, but he could assure them that he was glad to get back. (Cheers). An adjournment was then made to the council's offices, where over a glass of wine the health of Private WINSOR was drunk with great enthusiasm. During a conversation with our reporter, Mr WINSOR, who is bronzed and hardened by his experiences on veldt and kopje, said he was glad to be home again. War was very tedious and trying. It was a peculiar trial to be under fire. "When the bullets are flying the air is hot, you know", he humorously explained. "I saw the shrivelled body of Major Eddy, my gallant commander, lying on the veldt after the memorable fight at Pink Hill, and the sight turned my blood pale. These things”, he added, “combine to show that war is not the game it is cracked up to be, and I hope it will soon be over”.
 
 
 
Bendigo Advertiser, 18th May 1901
 
After the weekly drill of the local section of the Rangers had been concluded last evening, Private C. WINDSOR, who went with the first Victorian contingent to South Africa, was presented by the section with a gold medal as a mark of appreciation of the services he had rendered on the battlefield. Captain Curtain, in making the presentation, said that they all admired his qualities as a comrade and were glad to see him return to his section well and hearty. The captain’s remarks were supported by Sergeant-Major Sissons and Lieutenant W. Burnside. Private WINDSOR suitably acknowledged the presentation. The medal, which bore the following inscription, had on the clasp, “Cole Kopje” and “Paree”, where Private WINDSOR was in engagements – “Presented to Private C. Windsor for services in South African war, 1899 to 1901. From comrades, Eaglehawk section, Victorian Rangers”.