County: Forfarshire
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 20/05/1901, 24/09/1902
Number issued: 6
20/05/1901 presentation
7617 Private David EDWARD (absent; remained in S.Africa – medal forwarded to his father at the end of June)
24/09/1902 presentation
9122 Private John MATTHEW
Presentation made by Provost Adamson, in the Drill Hall, Forfar.
"The badges bore an inscription showing that they had been presented by the Burgh of Forfar, and on the back was the name of the recipient, as being engaged with the Black Watch in South Africa, 1900-1901".
Supplied by Mr W. Taylor, jeweller.
"At the Town Council meeting on Wednesday night, the chain and badge for Lance-Corporal Edwards [sic] was on the table, and will be forwarded to the young man's father in the course of a few days. The albert and appendage are the same as those presented to Privates Spalding and Johnston" (Forfar Herald, 28/06/1901).
WELCOME TO HOME COMING VOLUNTEERS.
Sir, kindly add the following P.S. to my letter of 6th May: –
I see that some action is being taken by our Magistrates and the Volunteer Officers to welcome home our Forfar men. It seems there are only two of them returning, the third man going into civil employment in South Africa. The demonstration that I see sketched in the newspapers today seems very sensible. Medals, suppers, a banquet, or the freedom of the Burgh, are not in it; but gold chains, with suitably inscribed badges, are very wise and appropriate. They can be handed down in after years from generation to generation, as a memento of the South African War. I now beg to report myself satisfied.
GREAT PUBLIC FETE IN FORFAR.
ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING.
Last night a further stage in the demonstrations of welcome to the two Forfar volunteers who have just returned from active service at the front was reached, when a great gathering of their fellow-citizens assembled in the Reid Hall to take part in the honour accorded to them at the hands of the Corporation. As the Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council entered the hall, accompanied by Corporals JOHNSTON and SPALDING, they were greeted with loud cheers, again and again renewed.
Provost McDougall thought the welcome they received after they arrived in Forfar, and the subsequent proceedings in the Drill Hall, must have convinced Corporals JOHNSTON and SPALDING how highly the town appreciated their services, and how hearty was the welcome home. (Cheers). That great meeting was held for the purpose of further congratulating the men on their safe return. The great enthusiasm which had been shown all over the country demonstrated clearly the service that had been rendered by the ordinary volunteer force. (Applause). It was only pure patriotism that induced them to volunteer. When the call came for these men to volunteer, it was at a very critical time in the history of the campaign. They would never forget that gloomy night when the terrible effects of the battle of Magersfontein became known, shedding grief and sorrow in many homes in Forfarshire. It was then that the call came to come over and help their comrades, and to fill up the ranks that had been so terribly thinned as the result of that unfortunate affair; and it proved the valour of the volunteers of Scotland when they threw up their employment and went to assist their brethren of the Black Watch in the field. The South African casualty list was a long one, and they in Forfar had not passed scatheless. Already they had two widows and one mother who mourn the loss of those dear to them. When they considered these things, they could not be too thankful that their active service men, who had gone through fifteen months of hard marching and fighting, had come home with so few casualties. (Cheers). The Provost mentioned that the case of Private EDWARDS [sic] was still being considered by the Magistrates, and proceeded to quote Lord Roberts, Sir Hector Macdonald, and Captain Millar, who had fought with them side by side, as an evidence that they had done their duty. The Provost, in conclusion, said he had great pleasure, in name of Forfar Town Council and in name of the community of Forfar, in handing to the volunteers gold alberts, with appendages, suitably inscribed, in recognition of their services, and in token of the respect in which they were held as members of the Active Service Company of the Black Watch. (Cheers). …….
WELCOME HOME.
In May, 1901, we had another demonstration when the two active service volunteers returned from South Africa. The Provost’s first duty was to receive them in the Drill Hall and welcome them back to Forfar, inviting them at the same time to appear in the Reid Hall on a subsequent evening, when a great meeting was held in their honour, and the volunteers presented with gold chains and badges by the Provost in name of the Town Council and community.Dundee Courier, 25th September 1902
WAR MEDALS PRESENTED.
INTERESTING AND PATRIOTIC SPEECHES.
In presence of a large body of leading citizens – including a considerable proportion of ladies – the three Active Service Volunteers who recently returned from the front were, in the Drill Hall, Forfar, last night, presented with gold alberts and badges by the Town Council, acting on behalf of the community. Provost Adamson was accompanied to the platform by, in addition to the members of Town Council, Major Carnegie of Lour, Major Douglas of Brighton (who himself recently returned from the front), the Rev. John Weir, and by Lieutenant-Colonel MacHardy, Major Anderson, the Rev. T.A. Cameron, Farnell (chaplain of the regiment), Lieutenant Moffat, &c. …….
