Medals and awards

TEACHERS' WAR SOUVENIRS.

PRESENTED BY MR PERRY.

At a meeting of the teachers and officers of the Department of Public Instruction at the Girls' High School, Sydney, on the 9th of March last, it was decided to recognise the conspicuous bravery and ability of comrades who had fought in South Africa, and so highly honoured the profession. It was considered that small contributions from every teacher and officer in the service would furnish a sufficient fund with which to provide suitable souvenirs expressive of admiration for returning confreres, and mementoes for the families of any who in the fortune of war had given their lives for their country. An executive committee, consisting of Lieutenant-Colonel Paul, Messrs J.W. Turner, W.H. Teale, W. Gee, R.H. Grieve, G.A. Rourke, and F. Garden, was formed, with D.T. Wiley, and J.H. Strong as hon. secretaries, and J. Dart as hon. treasurer, and they carried the project to a successful issue.

As regards the souvenir, several designs were obtained from firms in the city, and it was decided to accept the one submitted by Messrs Fairfax and Roberts, Hunter Street, and they were entrusted with the work. The souvenir is a handsome one, and very appropriate. It consists of a gold pendant, bearing on the obverse side the figure of a soldier, with the words "For king and flag" and "South Africa", while the reverse side bears the name of the recipient, and an inscription explaining from whom received.

The names of those officers and teachers under the department who have served, or are still serving, are: — Major R.E. ROTH, D.S.O., Captain F.A. DOVE, D.S.O., Captain P. MACKELLAR, Pay-Sergeant J. TAYLOR, Messrs W.A. COULSON, T. DENNISON, A.E. CRADICK, F.A. FINLAY, S.C. FULLER, H.J. DALE, W. HILL, W. HAMBLY. The above have returned, and the last named two have since retired from the service.

Those still serving are: — Captain R.S. PEARCE, Captain A.J. BENNETT, Captain A.E. CHAPMAN, Messrs J.F. ARMSTRONG, P.J. PIDGEON, W. WRIGHTSON, J.H. PEEK, A.H. MOYES, C. LEER.

Only one of the 22 who went to the front fell in battle — Mr F.J. KILPATRICK. He was one of the first two soldiers from New South Wales who lost their lives. The unfortunate incident occurred during an engagement at Rensburg, and next morning the deceased was found with a little stone lying beside him upon which he had in his last moments written the significant word "Cold!"

The presentations took place last night at a gathering of friends at the Elite Hall, when there was a large attendance. The chair was taken by Mr Perry (State Minister for Public Instruction).

Mr Perry, in making the presentations, said that early in the war they lost one of their teachers, Mr KILPATRICK, who laid down his life for the cause of Queen and country. Those who went to the front, however, did so fully conscious of the risks they ran, and he felt sure every teacher who had faced the foe In South Africa was prepared to give his life in the same way; but, fortunately, all of the others so far had escaped. (Cheers). The other day he read in a newspaper — although personally he did not believe all he saw in the press — that a public meeting held at a place called Savernake — "Save-the-snake" he considered might have been a more suitable name, as the people who attended the gathering apparently saw snakes occasionally — (laughter) — passed several resolutions concerning the war. One of the motions carried at that gathering, moved by a person named Gorman and seconded by a party named O'Dwyer (laughter) — affirmed the opinion that, "with a view to terminate the present disastrous war, such terms should be offered the Boers by the British Government as could consistently be accepted by a free people, with whose internal affairs the British have no right to interfere". The report of the meeting, he said, did not mention the number who attended, so that there was no way of judging the size of the community so represented. But those people evidently forgot that the British did not seek the war in South Africa. When the Boers announced they were going to sweep the British into the sea, the Empire so challenged picked up the gauntlet. (Cheers). That the war had dragged on for a considerable length of time was a lamentable fact; yet they could not but admire the dogged perseverance of the Boers in prolonging a struggle so disastrous and hopeless to themselves. He thought, however, that no loyal British subject would think about urging the Empire to grant the terms of settlement suggested by the meeting at Savernake. (Applause). The State of affairs which had existed in South Africa was such as to warrant an attempt being made to alter them, and he felt sure that when the turmoil subsided, an intelligent and industrious people would welcome the change, and make South Africa a prosperous country. (Applause).

Major ROTH, D.S.O., returned thanks for the recipients present, and in a humorous speech referred to some of the incidents of the front.

Colonel Paul and Mr D.T. Wiley also spoke.