County: Devon  
Issued on: Departure
Date of presentation: 22/02/1900
Number issued: c. 101

 

Queen's shillings, set in silver frames, each "to be worn as a pendant", to:

Devonshire Imperial Yeomanry –
a number of unnamed yeomen
 
Presentation made by Mrs Gratwicke, at the Barracks, Exeter.

 

 

Volunteer Record, 04/01/1901
 
 
______________________________________
 
 
 
Western Times, 23rd February 1900
 

PRESENTATION OF THE “SHILLING” TO THE YEOMANRY.

Yesterday afternoon at the Barracks, Exeter, the men of the Devon Imperial Yeomanry were presented with the framed “shilling” which has been subscribed for. …….

……. The men were drawn up in line, Capt. BOLITHO being in command, the other officers on parade being lieut. LAS CASAS, Lieut. St. HILL, Lieut. EYTON, and Lieut. CAREY.

The MAYOR said he had much pleasure on behalf of the subscribers in asking the officers, non-commissioned officers and yeomen to accept the Queen’s shilling, set in a silver frame, to be worn as a pendant as a memento of their enlistment for service in South Africa, and a reminder of what he hoped had been a pleasing time in Exeter. The subscribers all rejoiced to have the opportunity of offering this little evidence of their good will, accompanying it with their most sincere wish for the good fortune of the Company and of connecting with it their desire that they may at the end of the war welcome all back safe and sound, bringing with them the reputation which should add to the honour already enjoyed by the Devonshire Yeomanry.

Mrs Gratwicke then presented the shilling to each.

Captain BOLITHO said once more he had to thank the people of Devon for their kindness. He had, in the first place, to thank the individual, whoever he or she might have been, whose happy thoughts originated the idea of giving them the Queen’s shilling in this form. In the second place he had to thank those who kindly provided the shilling. In the third place he had to thank the Mayor for his kind words, and lastly, but lastly only, as he might say chronologically in the order of time, he thanked Mrs Gratwicke for the graceful manner in which she made the presentation. He hoped they would believe him when he said it was the proudest time of his life, for did he not stand in front of a grand body of men, men who had just now received the token, the certificate, he might say, that they had pledged themselves to defend the Queen, maintain the right and safeguard the liberty of the Queen’s people?