County: Cheshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 05/08/1901, 21/09/1903
Number issued: c. 250 (?)
Cased bronze medals, to:
05/08/1901 presentation
AS PUBLISHED IN THE NORTHWICH GUARDIAN, 07/08/1901
9042 Private Edward Percy WILLIAMS, Holywell
and a further c. 63 absent yeomen
Presentation made by Colonel France-Hayhurst, on behalf of the Northwich War Relief Committee, at Bostock Hall, Northwich.
Note: The Manchester Courier (06/08/1901) gives a total of 125 recipients (all I.Y.). Only 62 yeomen are accounted for above, leaving a balance of 63.
25387 Private S.S. TOMPKINSON
Presentation made at Mr Whate's Cafe, Northwich.
KNOWN EXAMPLES HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN
Reverse: "PRESENTED BY THE TOWN OF NORTHWICH TO [PTE A. KINGMAN] FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN SOUTH AFRICA 1900 -1".
The Manchester Courier (06/08/1901) states that 125 men received medals on 05/08/1901, and that all of these were members of the 22nd (Cheshire) Company, Imperial Yeomanry. The list published in the Northwich Guardian (07/08/1901) only accounts for sixty recipients, three of whom were Volunteers. Presumably the remainder were unable to attend.
Reporting on the "belated" presentation of medals to the Second Contingent, on 21/09/1903, is scant in detail, without any indication of numbers distributed. It is tempting to assume that another c.125 medals were presented. However the proportion of first/second contingent extant medals - 10 to 1 - suggests that the 1903 batch may have been considerably smaller.
Sister Cowley example in the collection of the National Army Museum, London (NAM. 1997-11-22)
Preston example sold through Halls Fine Art Auctioneers, 29/08/2018, for £900 (with QSA & WWI pair).
FETE AT BOSTOCK HALL.
PRESENTATION OF IMPERIAL YEOMANRY MEDALS.
A feature of the proceedings was the presentation to returned men of the 22nd Company Northwich Contingent of the Imperial Yeomanry, of the medals given by the town of Northwich as a memento of their valiant services. They were of bronze, and each was enclosed in a case. On one side appeared the recipient’s name, the arms of Northwich, and the words “Presented by the town of Northwich for meritorious service in South Africa 1900-1. 22nd Cheshire Company Imperial Yeomanry [&] Volunteers”, whilst on the reverse was a mounted Yeoman, and an Infantry soldier standing at attention.
Colonel France-Hayhurst had had a temporary grand stand specially erected for his party, and the men lined up in front of this.
The occupants of the stand were – Lieutenant General Colwell, C.B., and Mrs Colwell; Colonel and Mrs France-Hayhurst; Mr and Mrs Court; the Rev. T.W.H., Mrs and Miss France-Hayhurst; Mr, Mrs and Master Bather; Mr and Mrs E.S. Inman; Mrs and Miss Yates; and Mrs and Mrs Walter France-Hayhurst, whilst amongst those present were – The Rev. W.H. Binney, Mr W.H. Verdin, Mr G. Garfit, Mr and Mrs A. Reiss, Mr T.A. Beckett, and Mr F. Bettley-Cooke.
Colonel France-Hayhurst, prior to presenting the medals, said when he was approached ten days ago to present them, he thought just the same as he did that moment, and was that it would have been far better if they could possibly have secured the services of some general officer or staff officer, who had served with them, or at any rate seen service at the front. Unfortunately, however, the time was too short to enable him to obtain someone, consequently he had to ask them to accept the medals from him instead. First of all, he had on his own behalf, and on behalf of those present, and those from the towns concerned, to congratulate the men on their return home, he hoped safe and sound. (Hear, hear). It was 18 months ago since they volunteered to serve their then Quenn and country in the war, and he thought their action along with their fellow Volunteers had done much to stay conscription in this country. (Hear, hear). They volunteered at a very memorable and critical period in the war. During the time they were in South Africa they had not the luck to take part in any great battle or engagement, but they went through many privations, and suffered numerous hardships. (Hear, hear). Their neighbours and friends were now desirous of appreciating their services rendered to the country, and they had decided to present them each with a medal which had been specially struck for them. (Hear, hear). On one side were the arms of Northwich, and as many came from that neighbourhood it would prove a most interesting memento. They also bore their own names, and they would go to prove that during their absence at the front they were not forgotten. (Hear, hear). They had nobly done their duty, and he hoped and trusted they might live long and happily wherever they might reside. (Hear, hear).
Mr J. Arthur Cowley, clerk of the Norwich South African War Committee, then called out the names of the men, who each presented themselves before the Colonel and received their medal. They were as follows: – Farrier Sergeant HENSHAW, Bostock Green; Sergeant G. RAYNER, Marple, Stockport; Lance-Sergeant F. RIVETT, Heaton Chapel; Corporal C. EARLAM, Altrincham; Corporal KNOTT, Stockport; Bugler THURGOOD, Warrington; Bugler J. McDONALD, Liverpool; Pte. E.F. McCLURE, Stockport; Pte. F.W. APPLEBEE, Liverpool; Pte. ASHTON, Warrington; Pte. H.S. BAIRD, Knutsford; Pte. R. BARNES, Owen Street, Northwich; Pte. T. BAXTER, Dutton Hall, Warrington; Pte. J. BRATT, Little Budworth; Pte. BUCHANAN, Manchester; Pte. T. BURGESS, Mobberley; Pte. C. COWLEY, Moss Lodge, Hartford; Pte. R. CHARLTON, Redhill Hall; Pte. J.E. CLARKE, Dunham Town; Lance-Corporal G. CROSS, Hulme Mills, near Knutsford; Pte. DRINKWATER, Altrincham; Pte. A. HARLOW, Knutsford; Pte. J. HAWKSWORTH, Holmes Chapel; Pte. F.W. HICKSON, Rudheath, Northwich; Pte. J. HOPE, Ollerton, near Knutsford; Pte. S.S. HOWARTH, Knutsford; Pte. W.D. HUNTER, Shavington Lodge, Crewe; Lance-Corporal R. HULME, Middlewich; Pte. G. JONES, Knutsford; Pte. E.H. LORD, Knutsford; Pte. T. LIGHTFOOT, Pte. J.H. LOWERY, Winnington Cottage, Northwich; Pte. S.S.L. NEWTON, Knutsford; Pte. J. MORRIS, Hartford; Pte. C. OWEN, Didsbury; Pte. H. OWEN, Manchester; Pte. E.T. PHILBIN, Northwich; Pte. A. PICKERING, Northwich; Pte. J.A. PRINCEPP, 20 Thewlis Street, Warrington; Pte. H. REDFERN, Wellington, Salop; Pte. H.P. RIGBY, Winsford; Pte. A. ROYLE, Altrincham; Pte. C.E SMETHURST, Cuddington; Pte. H. SMETHURST, Kilworth, near Leicester; Pte. R. STUBBS, Winsford; Pte. A. WHITTINGHAM, Stapeley, Nantwich; Private E. WILLIAMS, Holywell; Private R. RICHARDSON, Holywell; Private H. LLOYD, Holywell; and Privates J. FORD, G. WALKER, and E. LEATHER, Northwich, men who served with the Volunteer Service Company, of the Cheshire Regiment.
The event, although to the majority a very pleasing one, had its fringe of sadness, as was only to be expected, and it was very touching to see the fathers and brothers of those who lost their lives at the front come up for the medals so dearly bought by their beloved ones. The names of those who now lie buried where they fell are – Pte. F. DAVIES, late c/o Mrs Brock, Lyndhurst, Northwich; Pte. A.A. CARRICK, 4 Willow Bank, Winsford; Pte. J.P. JONES (Northwich), sister, Miss J.R. Jones, 4 Well Street, Dolgelly; Pte. W.H. LISTER, 1232 Chester Road, Stretford, Manchester; Pte. E. PRITCHARD, Bickton Heath, near Shrewsbury; Pte. P.F. PRESTON, Hill Top Farm, Great Budworth, Northwich; Pte. G. WHITELEGGE, Barn’s Farm Lane, Warburton, near Warrington; and Pte. R. FURNIVAL, Batherton Hall, Nantwich. As the men advanced for their medals the Colonel individually congratulated them, and sympathised with the relatives of the deceased.
