County: Monmouthshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 08/11/1902
Number issued: 52
Medals, to:
7652 Private Henry YATES
34565 Sergeant Alfred Ernest LILES
???? Private J.E. THOMAS
???? Private H. MORGAN
2323 Sapper S. SLOCOMBE
???? Private WATKINS
???? Private G. BANFIELD (did not serve in S. Africa - medal given for serving as part of the Prince of Wales's escort during the tour of the Colonies)
4548 Private Frederick BREWIS
???? Private J. WILLIAMS
???? Private LEGG
???? Private T. LEWIS
Presentation made by Miss Jenkins (of Bryngwyne), in the Public Hall, Newbridge.
Presentation of Sergeant Rosser Francis's medal made by Miss Morris (to Sergeant-Instructor Phelan, who was to convey the medal to Sergeant Francis's father).
PRESENTATION OF MEDALS AT NEWBRIDGE.
LOCAL VOLUNTEERS ENTERTAINED.
A public meeting was held at the Public Hall, Newbridge, on Saturday night, for the purpose of presenting medals to the volunteers, reservists, and militiamen resident in Crumlin, Newbridge, and Abercarn, who did service in the late South African War. This practical recognition of the services in the field of our local citizen soldiers was taken in hand by a committee of the leading gentlemen of the above-named districts. The officers of the committee were: – Chairman, Councillor Richard Davies; treasurer, Mr E.T. Jones, and secretary, Mr G.W. Stocker. The cost of the medals was defrayed by public subscriptions. The hall had been tastefully decorated, the stage with plants, flags, stacks of rifles, and the facings of same with “stars” of bayonets, by Sergeant-Instructor Phelan.
Councillor Davies introduced the chairman of the evening, Mr D.F. Pritchard, Crumlin Hall, who was supported on the stage by the following gentlemen: – Ald. Geo. Jones, Councillor R. Davies, Mr Lowe, V.S., Mr E.T. Jones, Mr Stocker, Mr Hughes, Abercorn; Capt. Morris and Lieut. Evans. Also on the stage were Mrs Evans, Blackwood; Miss Morris, Blackwood; and Miss Jenkins, Bryngwyne, who presented the medals. Letters of regret at inability to attend were read from Lord Tredegar, Mr E. Phillips, J.P., Mr W.T. Jones, M.E., and a wire from Capt. Jenkins.
The Chairman, in his remarks, said it gave him pleasure to preside over a gathering of that nature. They had met to do honour to whom honour was due. A few years ago when the political horizon was black, people anxiously wondered what our volunteers would do when called upon. Now their noble sacrifice and honourable doings were matters of history. Newbridge practically so, and the inhabitants had thought it deserving to show their appreciation of their contingent in a practical manner. The results of the war were disastrous in many respects, but it had a glorious effect. It showed the patriotism, willingness and sacrifice of its citizen soldiers, and he could but express the wish that such a state may last for all time.
Capt. Morris said the Newbridge Company of Volunteers held a unique character as it had contributed a larger number of men than any other particular volunteer company in South Wales. More, our men were the mainstay of the Active Service Company of the South Wales Borderers. The only melancholy note was the lamented death of Sergeant Rosser FRANCIS, who lies in a soldier’s grave ‘neath ab African sun. Capt. Morris asked the audience to pass a vote of condolence to Mr Francis, the aged father of deceased, by standing on their feet, which was done amidst deep silence.
Miss Morris now presented Sergeant Rosser FRANCIS’s medal to Sergeant-Instructor Phelan, by whom it was to be conveyed to Mr Francis.
Medals were then presented to 35 men, the presentation being interspersed with solos and popular martial airs.
Medals were presented as follows: –
Volunteers – Sergts. A.E. LILES and V[sic]. BURRIS, E Co., 3rd V.B., S.W.B.; Ptes. J. HAWKINS, W. LEWIS, A. PARRY, and T. MORGAN, of I Co., 3rd V.B., S.W.B.; Ptes. J. CORNOCK, W.O. EVANS, C. FROWEN, D. JENKINS, R. JONES, W. JONES, T. LAVENDER, F. MOSELEY, S. PASK, J. SHEPPARD, W. SIMPSON, T. SMITH, F. STILLMAN, J.G. STOTT, S. YATES, W. HARRIS, W. WILLIAMS, G. MANN, and HAWKINS, of E Co., 3rd V.B., S.W.B.
Reservists – Ptes. WATKINS, 2nd South Wales Borderers; G. BANFIELD, 1st Grenadier Guards; J. WILLIAMS, 1st Welsh; LEGG, C. CAREY, and R.W. JONES, Welsh Fusiliers; F. BREWIS, 2nd Grenadier Guards.
Militia – Sergt. T. BETHEL, Sergt. R. WATSON, Ptes. J. THOMAS, W. HYDMAN, J.E. THOMAS, D. JONES, J. BURTON, ETWELL, J. DAVEY, R. HARRIS, S. BEACH[sic], E. JOMES[sic?], HARRIS, and HALES, of 3rd S.W.B. Militia. Ptes. SLOCOMBE, Monmouth Engineers; H. MORGAN, 4th S.W.B. Militia; T. LEWIS, 2nd D.C.L.I.; H. EDWARDS, W. PARRY, and J. GRIFFITHS.
