County: Norfolk
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 31/05/1901
Number issued: 5

 

Gold-centred silver shields, silver matchboxes, and silver double chains, to:

1st Volunteer Active Service Company, 2nd Bn. Norfolk Regiment ["H" Company, 3rd V.B.N.R.] –
5472 Private Ernest BEVERLEY
5473 Private Herbert BUNTING
5605 Private Charles Henry DADE
5409 Private Albert George MELTON

5399 Private William SKOYLES

Presentation made by Mr Hamon le Strange, in the Town Hall, Hunstanton.
 

Each medal inscribed with the recipient's name, and "Bravo, Norfolk!"

Matchboxes inscribed: "H Company, 3rd V.B.N.R. Presented to Private ________, No. _____, Volunteer Company, 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment, by the inhabitants of New Hunstanton as a mark of their appreciation of his services in South Africa, 1900 and 1901".

 

Each of these volunteers received a second medal from Norwich.

The Norfolk News (25/05/1901) stated that the men of the First Volunteer Active Service Company were to receive silver watches from the residents of Old Hunstanton.

Similarly, the men of the Second and Third Contingents received silver watches from Old Hunstanton on 9 September 1902. However, as of April 2022, I have been unable to find any record of a presentation of shield pendants, matchboxes & chains to the later detachments.

 

 

 
 
______________________________________
 
 
 
Norfolk News, 25th May 1901
 

HUNSTANTON.

It was expected that the five Volunteers, Privates A. MELTON, W. SKOYLES, H. BUNTING, E. BEVERLEY, and C. DADE, all from Old Hunstanton, and belonging to the H Company, 3rd V.B.N.R., who reached Norwich on Thursday, would be returning on Friday evening, and large numbers of people assembled in the station yard to bid them welcome, only, however, to be disappointed. Early on Saturday it became known that they would arrive at 3.45, and the town was soon decorated. At Old Hunstanton festoons crossed the village street, while several legends, such as “Welcome Home”, “A Hearty Welcome Home to Our Boys”, were speedily prepared. A hasty muster of the H Company was ordered, and these, under Lieutenant Robinson, assembled at the station, where crowds were already gathered. The explosion of fog signals marked the arrival of the train, and the returned Volunteers having been welcomed by their friends, were escorted to a vehicle in the station yard, and dragged by dozens of willing helpers through St Edmund’s to the old village, upwards of a mile. Halting in front of the Neptune Hotel, Lieutenant Robinson and the Rev. P.C. Stanley welcomed them home, and after the singing of “God Save the King” the men were able to return to their respective homes. They all attended St Mary’s Church on Sunday, when thanksgivings for their safe return were offered. It has been decided to present each of the five men with a silver watch, subscribed for by the residents in Old Hunstanton.
 
 
Eastern Daily Press, 3rd June 1901
 

HUNSTANTON.

A dinner was given in the Town Hall, Hunstanton, on Friday, to the members of the H Company, 3rd V.B.N.R., in honour of the five men belonging to their company returned from South Africa. Mr Hamon le Strange took the chair, supported by Captain Pattrick, Captain Beloe, the Rev. P.C. Stanley, Mr Holcombe Ingleby, and several other gentlemen. Over eighty volunteers and seventy civilians sat down to dinner, which was followed by a smoking concert. Songs were sung by Mr Holcombe Ingleby, Captain Beloe, Messrs Arnold, Hilton, Houghton, Sanford Parsons, Harry Leffler, and Privates Burgess, A. MELTON, and H. BUNTING. Recitations by Privates DADE and E.R. Willoughby, and selections by the band were well received.

During the evening the Chairman, on behalf of the inhabitants of New Hunstanton, presented to Privates E. BEVERLEY, H. BUNTING, C. DADE, A. MELTON, and W. SKOYLES, the five volunteers recently returned from active service, a double silver chain, with silver match box and silver shield with gold centres attached. The following inscription was on the match boxes: – “H Company, 3rd V.B.N.R.  Presented to Private ________ , No. _______ , Volunteer Company, 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment, by the inhabitants of New Hunstanton as a mark of their appreciation of his services in South Africa, 1900 and 1901”. On one side of the shield was the volunteer’s name, and on the other side the words, “Bravo, Norfolk!”

The Chairman, in presenting the souvenirs, remarked that this war had shown the world that should an enemy attempt to invade our domains they would not only have our Army and Navy to contend with, but our brothers in the Colonies and the volunteers. He was sure all present must be thankful to Divine Providence that after all they had been through they had escaped the enemy’s bullets and returned to their homes sound in wind and limb.

Private MELTON returned thanks on behalf of himself and his comrades, and gave a very interesting account of their doings from the time they landed at Cape Town till they embarked again for home. Captain Pattrick, after replying to the toast of the Army and Navy and Auxiliary Forces, called upon all the volunteers to give cheers for the committee who had arranged such a splendid dinner for them, and had given their comrades from the front the reception which they so richly deserved. Mr Ingram Watson proposed the health o9f the chairman. Mr and Mrs Laws, Neptune Hotel, catered, and gave every satisfaction.
 
 
Norwich Mercury, 8th June 1901
 

HUNSTANTON.

VOLUNTEER DINNER.

Mr Hamon Le Strange presided at a dinner given to the members of the H Company 3rd V.B.N.R., in the Town Hall, Hunstanton, on Friday night. Over eighty volunteers and seventy civilians sat down to dinner, which was followed by a smoking concert. Songs were sung by Mr Holcombe Ingleby, Captain Beloe, Messrs Arnold, Hilton, Houghton, Sanford Parsons, Harry Leffler, and Privates Burgess, A. MELTON, and H. BUNTING. Recitations by Privates DADE and E.R. Willoughby, and selections by the band were well received.

During the evening the Chairman, on behalf of the inhabitants of New Hunstanton, presented to Privates E. BEVERLEY, H. BUNTING, C. DADE, A. MELTON, and W. SKOYLES, the five volunteers recently returned from active service, a double silver chain, with silver match box and silver shield with gold centres attached. The following inscription was on the match boxes: – “H Company, 3rd V.B.N.R.  Presented to Private _________ , No. ___ , Volunteer Company, 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment, as a mark of their appreciation of his services in South Africa, 1900 and 1901”. On one side of the shield was the volunteer’s name, and on the other side the words, “Bravo, Norfolk!”

The Chairman, in presenting the souvenirs, remarked that this war had shown the world that should an enemy attempt to invade our domains they would not only have our Army and Navy to contend with, but our brothers in the Colonies and the Volunteers. He was sure all present must be thankful to Divine Providence that after all they had been through they had escaped the enemy’s bullets and returned to their homes sound in wind and limb.

Private MELTON returned thanks on behalf of himself and his comrades.

Captain Pattrick, after replying to the toast of “The Army and Navy and Auxiliary Forces”, called upon the Volunteers to give three cheers for the committee who had arranged such a splendid dinner for them, and had given their comrades from the front the reception which they so richly deserved.
 
 
 
Below is a list of the Hunstanton members of the 2nd & 3rd Volunteer Active Service Company, together with two Reservists, who received silver watches from Old Hunstanton on 09/09/1902
 

2nd Volunteer Active Service Company, Norfolk Regiment ["H" Company, 3rd V.B.N.R.] –
6855 Private Edward Ernest HART

3rd Volunteer Active Service Company, Norfolk Regiment ["H" Company, 3rd V.B.N.R.] –
6905 Private Herbert NORTON

2nd Bn. Dorset Regiment (Reserve) –
3029 Private W. MOORES

Middlesex Mounted Infantry –
???? Trooper E. JONES

Presentation made by Mr Felix Joseph, at the Railway Hotel, Hunstanton.