State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 05/12/1900, aft. 01/02/1901, 02/05/1902
Number issued: c. 4
05/12/1900 presentation
560 Trooper William James CARROLL
Presentation made during a banquet, held in a marquee, adjoining Mr Carroll's residence.
aft. 01/02/1901 presentation
421 Private Edward Thomas TONER (invalided; returned home 25/01/1901)
02/05/1902 presentation
593 Sergeant Henry George BARTON
1044 Quartermaster-Sergeant William Joseph PUZEY
BANQUET TO TROOPER CARROLL AT MYRTLEFORD.
Myrtleford was en fete on Wednesday on the arrival from South Africa of Mr W.J. CARROLL, eldest son of the late Mr D. Carroll. Mr W.J. CARROLL was residing in Johannesburg at the outbreak of the war, and was amongst the larger and unfortunate body of loyalists who were compelled to fly from the country for the crime of "loyalty", and the desire to obtain the political rights and privileges that he was entitled to as a resident and law-abiding subject. On the formation of that celebrated corps of Imperial Light Horse by Majors Karri Davis and Woods Sampson, Mr CARROLL, in conjunction with hundreds of other fine young men similarly placed as himself, volunteered and was readily accepted. With the history of this fine regiment almost everyone is familiar. It has done more fighting and more travelling than any other regiment engaged in the campaign. Its first experience or baptism of fire was at Elandslaagte, where it acquitted itself very creditably, and was engaged in almost all the minor engagements about Ladysmith, its most brilliant achievement being its gallant defence of Wagon Hill on the memorable morning of 6th January, when a small company of this gallant regiment held what has been described as the key of Ladysmith with a tenacity and grim determination that no attack of the Boer forces could overcome. Mr CARROLL was an active participator in almost all of the numerous engagements, but towards the end of the siege contracted an attack of the dreaded enteric. His robust constitution enabled him to overcome the disease. On his recovery he was with his regiment ordered round to Capetown from thence to Kimberley, and was chosen to form one of Colonel Mahon's column for the relief of Mafeking. Thence marching across the Transvaal to Pretoria, joined in the general march to Komati Poort, and formed one of French's cavalry regiments at the capture of Barberton. Mr CARROLL being now anxious to visit his home, applied for and obtained his discharge, and arrived with the first Australian Contingent in the Harlech Castle. A copy of the discharge certificate may probably interest some of your readers: —
“Imperial Light Horse. Discharge Certificate. This is to certify that No. 569, Trooper W. Carroll, was enrolled in the Imperial Light Horse (Natal) on the 2nd day of October, 1899, at the age of 20 years, at Pietermaritzburg; that he served 377 days, and he is discharged at his own request. Character good. A. Wools SAMPSON, Colonel Commanding Imperial Light Horse. Pretoria, October 12, 1900".
The opposite side reads: — “Description. — Age, 20; height, 5ft. 9in.; colour of hair, fair; colour of eyes, blue; complexion, fair; Imperial Light Horse; rank trooper; name, W.J. Carroll; date of discharge, 12/10/00; present at Elandslaagte and operations previous to siege of Ladysmith; siege of Ladysmith; operations at the advance on Barberton. — W. BARNES, captain and adjutant”.
When information reached Myrtleford from Albany that Mr CARROLL was on board the Harlech Castle a committee was hastily formed for the purpose of giving him a fitting reception, and it was decided to hold a banquet on the night of his arrival, and to present him with a suitably inscribed gold medal. On the arrival of the train, Trooper CARROLL was met by a large gathering of the townspeople, and escorted to his home by the members of the Myrtleford Rifle Club. In the evening the banquet was held in a large marquee adjoining Mr CARROLL's home, Mr D. Niall, J.P., occupying the chair, and Mr Vale and Mr Milne the vice-chairs.
The Chairman, who had on his right the guest of the evening and Mrs Carroll and other relatives, proposed "The IQueen", which was loyally drunk.
The Chairman then said: I have now to propose the toast of the evening, "Our Guest". (Cheers). I cannot tell you how pleased I am to do this. Almost everyone here has known Mr CARROLL for some years, and many, like myself, have known him from a baby. Some of the young men here have grown up with him, played with him, and gone to school with him, and I am certain that everyone, like myself, learned to love him, the more we know of him. When the war broke out in South Africa he deemed it his duty to enlist and fight for the honour of the Empire, and although we were all in some fear (more especially his mother, who honours us by her presence here tonight) that misfortune might befall him, yet we were proud to think that he had the right stuff in him, and that he was not afraid to do his share of the toils and dangers of a severe campaign. He has now returned to us a stronger and a better man, with the consciousness that ''he did his duty". (Cheers).
Mr W. Power supported the Chairman's remarks, and said he was proud to think that one of his old schoolmates, and a Myrtleford boy, should have had the honour of belonging to that famous regiment, the Imperial Light Horse, a body of men whom Sir G. White stated were the saviours of Ladysmith, and a regiment with not a coward amongst thein.
Mr W. Puzey desired to tender his testimony to the manly qualities of their guest. There were none in Myrtleford who did not feel proud of Mr CARROLL. They could not all be participators in the war. They did not have the luck to be in it, but if they themselves could not be in it, they felt proud that one of them had had that honour.
Mr Chambers eulogised the general good conduct of Mr CARROLL as a boy, saying that one of the things that impressed him most was Mr CARROLL's desire when a boy to want to know too much. In fact, he used to avoid the boy in order to escape his enquiries.
Mr CARROLL's health was then drunk with great enthusiasm, the audience singing "He's a jolly good fellow".
Mr CARROLL feelingly acknowledged the honour conferred upon him.
Mr Whitbourne sang "Soldiers of the Queen".
Mr Vale proposed "The Mining Industry", pointing out that mining had been the original cause of the colony's prosperity, and at the present time was one of the chief factors in the colony's progress.
Mr Sutherland responded in a few well-chosen remarks.
Mr Cowderoy sang "Boys of the Old Brigade".
Mr Rothery proposed the "Australian Contingents", and instanced the fighting at Pink Hill, Hobkirk's Farm, and Elands River, as proving that Australians had lost none of the fighting qualities of the race from which they sprung.
Capt. Milne replied on behalf of the Myrtleford Rifle Club.
Mr Milne proposed the "Victorian Parliament", coupled with the name of the sitting member.
In the absence of Mr Isaacs, Mr F. Gerraty responded.
Mr Gerraty, Sen., proposed tbc ''Local Industries", and Mr Amess, of the Melbourne Chilled Butter Co., replied with a few words directly to the point, showing that the prosperity of the local industries rested with the people themselves.
Dr Sutton, in a most humorous speech, proposed "The Ladies", and Mr J. Hart responded.
Mrs Lloyd sang "Our Motherland" in her finished style, and in response to an encore gave "Killarney".
Mr Chambers, in proposing "The Press", said he did not know what the chairman meant by asking him to propose such a toast. It was about the most awkward fix he had ever been placed in. Had it been anything about horses or cows he might have understood what he was talking about. One thing he knew about the Press was that they always made him pay for anything they did, and that was just about all that he did know about it.
Mr Vale, in some well-chosen remarks, paid a high tribute to the educational influence of the Press.
Mr Amess then sang "The Death Nelson".
Mr J. Smith proposed "The Land We Live In", and, in an excellent speech of some length, traced the history of the colony to the present date.
Mr Cowderoy responded with some very happy remarks.
Mr G. Milne proposed "Our Other Absent Boys, viz., H. BARTON and N. TONER, at present serving in the Bushmen s Corps. He said they hoped soon to welcome them home again, and felt sure they would, like Mr CARROLL, be a credit to Victoria. Foreigners had prophesied the failure of Australia in the present war, but experience had shown that the Australians were as good at the game as any other people.
Mr Clements supported the remarks of Mr Milne, and felt certain that none of the Myrtleford boys would fail to do their duty.
The "Absent One's", proposed by Mr Vale, was drank in solemn silence, and without comment. "They rest in peace in many a lonely grave".
Mr F. Lloyd proposed "Our Next Merry Meeting".
Mr Woodside then proposed "The Chairman", and the meeting finally broke up with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne".
MYRTLEFORD.
MYRTLEFORD.
The home-coming of the two Myrtleford boys who were with the last batch of returned soldiers, Quartermaster-Sergeant W.J. PUZEY, of the 5th Victorian Contingent, and Sergeant H.G. BARTON, of the 4th and 5th Victorian Contingents, was celebrated by a smoke social at the local State-school on Friday evening. The interior of the building was decorated with flags and stands of rifles. There was an attendance of about one hundred, and Councillor Captain Milne, of the Myrtleford Rifle Club, presided, the members of the club being in uniform.
The toast of "The King and Royal Family" was honoured with loyal warmth.
Mr W. Glass sang "The Man behind the Gun".
The Chairman, in proposing the toast of "The Guests of the Evening", said he was sure that all would join with him in congratulating the returned soldiers. They had been in many tight places while at the front, and had always acquitted themselves well. Many had not been so fortunate, having fallen on the veldt a sacrifice to duty and patriotism. Their sympathies were with them and the bereaved ones left behind.
The toast was honoured with intense enthusiasm, and the singing of "They are Jolly Good Fellows".
Mr J. Matthews sang, "The Soldiers of the Queen".
Two old schoolmates of the returned Soldiers were called upon to make the presentations.
Mr G. Milne expressed the gratification he had in being the medium to convey to Quartermaster-Sergeant PUZEY a suitably inscribed gold medal, and referred to a number of red-letter events in their schooldays, and also to peaceable battles fought on the football ground and cricket field.
Mr W. Power, who made the presentation to Sergeant BARTON in eloquent terms, brought many of the great events of history in comparison with the achievements of Australian soldiers, and in eloquent sentences, which evoked hearty cheering, showed that young Australia had ably done its part in maintaining the unity of an empire of which every man who loved freedom might be proud.
At this stage the Chairman read a telegram received by Quartermaster-Sergeant PUZEY from the Headquarters Defence Department, Melbourne, announcing that he had been appointed regimental quartermaster-sergeant to the Sixth Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse, and that he was to report himself without delay.
On rising to respond, Quartermaster-Sergeant PUZEY was greeted with hearty cheering, which did not subside for some time. He said it was with a glad heart he met them all. Such a reception as they had been accorded was worth coming home for if for nothing else. He could not fully express his feelings of gratitude for what had been said and done. He bore a tribute of recognition of the courageous nature of his friend, Sergeant BARTON, and could have wished that he was returning with him. He then proceeded to narrate a number of his personal experiences on the field, and was warmly applauded.
Sergeant BARTON'S reception was equally appreciative. He expressed great pleasure in meeting so many old friends, and appreciated what had been so kindly expressed. He did not think they deserved all the honours showered upon them. They had endeavoured not to disgrace the uniform, and to some extent had succeeded. (More hearty applause).
Mr F. Service contributed a recitation.
Mr J. Rothery, in an able speech, fired by intense patriotism, proposed the "Army and Navy", and in doing so referred to the work done on the battlefield by the Colonial soldiers, the cause of the war, its effect upon Great Britain in relation to its connection with the colonies, and its ultimate effect which settled in favour of the Mother country upon the Empire as a whole. This toast also was received with every demonstration of approval.
Mr R. Amos responded.
Mr. Croucher gave a song.
Mr P.J. Cowderoy proposed the "Local Institutions".
Dr Sutton responded for the cricket club; Mr F. Gerraty for the Co-operative Butter Company, and Mr T.C. Kaighin, president of the Bright Shire and chairman, for the shire council.
Mr Amos sang "The British Navy", and Mr O'Callaghan contributed a couple of amusing recitations; Mr Cowderoy sang "The Boys of the Old Brigade"; Mr T. Wallace recited and Mr Nuttall sang.
"Mining Interests" were proposed by the Chairman, and Messrs J.G. Sutherland and J. Clany responded.
Mr J. Rothery gave a recitation of local composition, complimenting the Myrtleford soldier boys on their career while on active service.
"The Press", was proposed by Mr O'Callaghan, and responded to by Mr F. Vale, "Alpine Observer", and Mr T.C. Kaighin, "Ovens and Murray Advertiser".