Colony: Cape Colony
Issued on: n/a
Date of presentation: 15/04/1901
Number issued: c. 5,664
Silver medals [Kimberley Stars], to:
The ceremony took place in the Public Gardens, Kimberley, on the evening of the 15th April 1901.
Mayor’s Siege Medal - Distribution last night.
The distribution of the medals presented by the Mayor of Kimberley (Councillor H A Oliver JP) to the members of the Siege Garrison took place in the Public Gardens last night. The various forces who took part in the defence of Kimberley during the Siege, so far as they could be got together, assembled at the appointed places under their respective officers and marched to the Gardens, where, in front of the bandstand, a platform had been erected for the distribution ceremony. In addition to those who had served in the defence forces, there was a dense crowd of spectators, the gathering being altogether one of the largest ever seen in Kimberley. The electric light, aided by the search light, which was appropriately directed on to the scene of operations, revealed the different sections of the Siege Garrison, many of them in khaki, drawn up in the centre of the ground, while the raised platform, the surroundings of the bandstand (where the band of the Kimberley Regiment, under Bandmaster Rybnikar, played martial music) and all other available space, was occupied by the general public. On a table in front of the platform were the boxes (as yet unopened) containing the medals as received from the manufacturers, together with a number of flower-baskets intended to facilitate the distribution. In all some 2,700 medals had been brought down to the grounds, for last night's ceremony, and of these considerably over 2,000 found recipients, the remainder being left over for those who, from one reason or another, could not fall in with their companies for the formal ceremony, and for the representatives of those who lost their lives during the siege, the distribution on this occasion being necessarily confined to the organised detachments present.
The medal is a six-pointed star, surmounted by a chased bar, the colours of the ribbon being dark blue, red, white, blue and orange. On the obverse is the Kimberley coat-of-arms with the motto "Spero Meliora" with the word "Kimberley" above, and the date 1899-1900 beneath. On the reverse the words "Mayor's Siege medal, 1900" are engraved. The souvenir is chaste and unique, and well worthy of Kimberley's leading citizen.
The proceedings were opened by the band playing the National Anthem, followed, at the Mayor's request, by three cheers for the King.
The Mayor then briefly addressed the assembly. He said: Officers and men of the Kimberley Siege Garrison. It is my pleasant duty tonight to fulfil the promise I made to you some months ago, that if I could obtain permission I would present each member of the Siege Garrison with a medal in commemoration of the defence of Kimberley. I may in the first instance explain that I have made arrangements to provide a medal for every man who took part in the defence of the town, but I have requested a board of officers to sit and decide all cases wherein men only served for a short period, or in some instances, while not actually taking part in the work of defence, did good service in other respects. I take no responsibility personally as to who receive medals and who do not. I have provided medals for the whole garrison, and it is my personal desire that every man who deserves the medal should receive it. (Hear, hear). The decision on that point, however, I have left entirely in the hands of the board of officers. I know that several hundred applications have come in from men who did not serve for the specified time, and that, as their excuses or reasons were considered satisfactory, a great proportion of these have been awarded the medal. It was the Mayoress’s great pleasure this afternoon to hand the first medal that has been presented, to Mr Rhodes (applause) - who took so great an interest in the welfare of the citizens during the siege, and did so much towards defending the town by raising a mounted force. (Applause). I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my gratification, as the Mayor of this town, with reference to the manner in which the Kimberley Siege Garrison acquitted itself during the trying period of the investment, and it affords me very great pleasure now to show that appreciation by requesting the Mayoress, and the ladies appointed with her, to hand the siege medal to the members of the Siege Garrison who are present to-night. There are some 2,000 men who served in the Siege Garrison but who are now away from Kimberley, and on their return, whether it be soon or late, the medal will be there ready for them. I have had a number of requests for medals from the relatives of those who fell in the defence of Kimberley, on account of husbands, sons or other who laid down their lives in defence of the town. In every one of these cases, a medal will in due course be handed to the next-of-kin of the deceased. I will now ask the officers to first step to the front and receive their medals, and call upon the Mayoress to make the presentations. (Applause).
The officers of the various sections of the late Town Guard then assembled in front of the platform, and the Mayoress fastened the medal to the breast of each recipient.
The officers having been decorated, a number of hospital nurses, who had charge of the wounded during the siege, received medals, and the distribution was then made to the men of the various detachments. The officer in charge having reported the number of men present in each case, the required number of medals were handed over, and were distributed to the men by lady residents who kindly undertook the duty, one lady officiating for each detachment present.
The medals for the Kimberley Regiment were handed by the Mayor to Colonel Finlayson. In doing so, the Mayor said: A number of the men of the Kimberley Regiment, under Colonel Finlayson, are on duty, and unable to be here to receive their medals, so I wish publicly to present them to Colonel Finlayson, who has promised to distribute them to the men of the regiment. I have great pleasure in presenting these medals to the Kimberley Regiment. (Applause).
The Mayor then called for three cheers for the Kimberley Regiment, which were heartily given.
Colonel Finlayson: On behalf of the Kimberley Regiment, I beg to tender to you, Mr Mayor, our hearty thanks for this most generous gift, and I trust that the Kimberley Regiment, by continuing to do their duty as they have done in the past, will show themselves worthy of the distinction you have so kindly conferred upon those who took part in the defence of Kimberley during the siege. (Applause).
The Mayor subsequently announced that any member of the Siege Garrison entitled to the medal, who had been unable to assemble with their companies on this occasion, could obtain their medals on application at the Town Hall between 10 and 12 am today and following days.
The Mayor then called for three cheers for the late Kimberley Town Guard, which were given with enthusiasm, and on the request of Captain Pooley, hearty cheers were given for the Mayor and Mayoress, this bringing the formal proceedings to a close.
