Medals and awards

7378 Corporal Herbert James CHARLES

7391 Corporal William Macpherson MACDONALD

Lieutenant Horace J. PECHELL

7545 Sergeant Henry ISAAC

7487 Lance-Corporal Albert Thomas SMITH

7570 Bugler Thomas W. RICHARDS

7466 Private Alfred BATES

7470 Private Owen John DAVIES

7485 Private Henry William PHILLIPE

22771 Trooper Osborne GEORGE

29201 Trooper Herbert INGLESON

21636 Trooper Rees PRICE

9842 Squadron-Sergeant-Major Cyrus THOMAS

9897 Quartermaster-Sergeant H.S. Keates WILSON

9890 Farrier-Sergeant Alfred Henry SEIGNOT [Seignott]

9906 Corporal George Herbert MOUNTJOY

9925 Trooper William Thomas JONES

31327 Trooper John LEWIS

28751 Trooper Arthur John POUND

28764 Trooper Robert Barrie WALKER

9904 Trooper Percy O. WARD

2479 Trooper Gwilym V. JENKINS

??? Corporal Ernest Frank GROVES

??? Corporal Arthur MORRIS

??? Orderly George DAVIES (possibly 162 Orderly G. Davies)

628 Orderly Thomas JONES

627 Orderly Patrick WELSH

 

Presentations made by Mrs Biddle and Mr H.W. Southey, at the Drill Hall.

 

Obverse with Welsh dragon and crossed leeks.

"The Medallions are of 15-carat gold, having on one side the Welsh Dragon, surrounded by a wreath of leeks, and on the other an appropriate inscription".

 

Remarks made by Colonel Lewis during the ceremony led to five Yeomen handing their medallions and certificates back in protest. Lewis had stated that the 3rd Contingent of I.Y. "was composed of raw men who could not handle a rifle, who could not shoot, who could not march, and who could not even walk properly". In the event, the quintette of protesters apologised for misinterpreting the Colonel's observations, and the medals and addresses were re-presented.

 

Note: a further 20 men received addresses only - these appear to have been men from the Merthyr area, but not from the town itself. Many came from Dowlais, a village that presented its own tribute in the form of a silver watch. SEE LIST BELOW.

Lieutenant Pechell example illustrated in Hibbard.

 

 

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Volunteer Service Gazette, 23rd January 1903

 

MERTHYR ACTIVE SERVICE VOLUNTEERS.

The Merthyr movement to recognise the services of the local Volunteers in the Boer War was brought to a successful issue, under the secretarial management of Mr W.W. Meredith, solicitor, on Thursday, Jan. 15, when gold medallions were presented at the Drill Hall. The subscription towards the Merthyr Active Service Recognition Fund commenced to flow two or three years ago, and the project received the utmost support of three successive high constables. A large number of the men were entertained to tea at Bentley’s Central Hall early in the evening, and at a quarter past seven the Merthyr Detachment of the 3rd V.B. Welsh Regiment paraded at the Armoury under the command of Col. D. Rees, V.D., whence they escorted to the drill hall most of the guests of the evening. The attendance of the public was large, and the decorations were of an effective character. The proceedings were enlivened by the strains of Mr Gwilym Lewis’s orchestral band.

The High Constable (Dr C. Biddle) expressed the pride he felt in presiding upon so notable an occasion, and on behalf of the town of Merthyr he begged to welcome all the brave and patriotic men who went out to the Front and came back again. The war had shown that the Volunteers were a most valuable National force. Merthyr district had supplied 1,000 soldiers, both Regulars and Volunteers, for the late war, and that was above the average of any other town of similar size. Six only of the Volunteers had died from disease or on the battlefield.

Mr W.W. Meredith (Hon. Secretary) read a letter from Mr D.A. Thomas, M.P., deeply regretting his inability to attend. He also read the text of the illuminated address, the gift of Mr H.W. Southey.

The presentation to the Volunteers present of Medallions was then made by Mrs C. Biddle, wife of the High Constable, and by Mr Southey of the illuminated address. The Medallions are of 15-carat gold, having on one side the Welsh Dragon, surrounded by a wreath of leeks, and on the other an appropriate inscription. Enthusiastic cheers were accorded the recipients as they ascended the platform.

Colonel D. Rees Lewis proposed a vote of thanks on behalf of the town to the recipients of the Medallions and addresses for the services they had rendered the country. Practically every member of the 3rd V.B. Welsh Regiment had volunteered when the call was made for troops. He deprecated portions of the War Office policy in regard to later calls for Volunteers. He hoped the Volunteer Force would never be done away with, for without that Force they must have conscription. Unless employers of labour helped them to carry out the new regulations for the Volunteers they may depend upon it conscription was very near. He was sorry to say employers of labour did not encourage the Volunteers properly.

Mr Wm. Griffiths, formerly High Constable, seconded the proposition, which was carried with acclamation, and acknowledged by Lieut. PECHELL.

Colonel Lewis incidentally referred to the Government giving 5s a day to the last lot of Yeomanry, who scarcely knew one hand from the other, and contrasted this with 1s per day offered to Volunteers. Some of the Yeomanry present misunderstood the references, which Col. Lewis had distinctly said did not apply to them, as they were good soldiers, who had rendered efficient service, and they went up to the platform in a body to ask for an explanation. Colonel Lewis again explained the drift of his remarks, and the Yeomen, apparently satisfied, left the platform again amid cheers.

Men who received addresses but not medals:

THE DOWLAIS MEN RECEIVED SILVER WATCHES (presented on 30/04/1901, 02/07/1902 & 23/12/1902)