State: South Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 09/01/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, suitably inscribed, to:
Presentation made by the Hon. Thomas Pasco, M.L.C.
WHYTE-YARCOWIE, Jan. 10th.
Our little town was quite aroused last night, the occasion being a welcome social to Corporal S.T. GOODE, who has just returned from service in South Africa. The Hon. Thos. Pasco, M.L.C., occupied the chair. After "Rule Britannia" bad been sung by the audience, Miss Ahearn sang "Soldiers of the Queen", Dr Goode "The Song of Australia" and Mr Ward "The Motherland." The chairman then, in a few well chooses words, spoke of his feeling of pleasure on being asked to preside, and on being able to welcome Corporal GOODE back again. He congratulated Mr C.R. Goode – who was also on the platform – on his son's career and his promotion whilst in South Africa. He then presented Corp. GOODE with a gold medal, suitably inscribed, as a welcome home gift from his Yarcowie friends, and as a token of esteem in which he is held by them.
Corp. GOODE, in responding, thanked his friends for the gift, which he would keep as a memento of his old place of residence, where he had spent some of the happiest days of his life, and those the most criticised – when a young man either gets sense or loses it. He then went to relate some of his experiences while at the war, which were listened to with rapt attention by his audience. He spoke of the first time under fire, of his first experience of a shell bursting which was too far away to do any damage, but which he thought too close. How after that he was under fire about sixty times, had become used to the bullets whizzing by, and had gone through the campaign without a day's illness, notwithstanding that they were often on short allowance, with long hours and little sleep. He spoke of the journey from Bloemfontein to Pretoria, which was a record journey for so large a force, occupying fifteen days, during which they were fighting most of time, and got on an average three hours' sleep of a night, the army going forward without a murmur and with little sickness. He spoke in great favour of Generals Buller and French, and of Lord Kitchener as a man of great ability, but whom the soldiers had but little love for. He eulogised Lord Roberts as a grand man and a wonderful soldier, and designated him in a characteristic way as a "splendid little chap". Some of his experiences were amusing as well as interesting. He told of how a mate and himself went to get some provisions from a farmhouse. Seeing some pigs, they ran them down, knocked them on
the head with a stick and he stuck them with his bayonet. At other times they would have to run down fowls, ducks, etc. He was enthusiastic over the strength and capabilities of the British army, and said although the colonial troops had been so praised up and were undoubtedly worthy of it as scouts, etc., yet they would not compare with the British "Tommy" when it came to real fighting. He spoke of the commissariat department, as so often spoken of as "The weak spot of the British army", and said if that is the weak spot what must the strongest be like? After having spoken in this strain for some time he again thanked his friends for the show of esteem and concluded amidst loud applause.
Mr C.R. Goode then gave a very able and eloquent address. He said he was much pleased not only that his son had been to the war, had proved himself worthy to go, and had come back safe and sound, but he had two more sons who had volunteered to go with the 5th contingent. He spoke at some length on the British army and the effects of the South African war, expressing sentiments which met with the approval of his audience, and took his seat amidst cheers.
