State: New South Wales, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 13/06/1902
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, to:
2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles –
2706 Trooper Benjamin Allen BARKER
Presentation made by Mr Harding, in Walter Tuchin's Hall, Yarra.
Inscribed: "Presented to Trooper B.A. Barker, No. 2706, 2 R.M.R., by his Yarra friends, 1902".
"The design of the medal was a trooper in a standing position in the act of firing, the figure being encircled with a wreath of waratahs".
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Goulburn Evening Penny Post, 17th June 1902
Returned Soldier.
A large number of the residents of the Yarra district gathered together on Friday evening last to welcome home Trooper B.A. BARKER, who left for South Africa with the Second Contingent of Mounted Rifles under Colonel Lassetter in March, 1901, and returned in the steamer Aurania on the 3rd instant. The company first assembled at the residence of Trooper Barker's parents, but as there was not enough room for all present, who numbered about eighty persons, it was decided to repair to Tuchin's Hall, which was kindly lent for the occasion by Mr Walter Tuchin. In addition to Trooper BARKER, Troopers PAINTER and GRANT, of Goulburn, also returned soldiers, were present at the reception. On arrival at the hall, Mr Harding, who presided, in a few well-chosen words extended a cordial welcome home to Trooper BARKER, and presented him with a handsome gold modal as a mark of esteem from his Yarra friends on his return from the war. At the same time Mr Harding expressed pleasure at having the other returned troopers with them on the occasion. Mr D. Brown also spoke a few words, welcoming all the troopers back, after which three cheers were given for Trooper BARKER and three more for the other returned soldiers present. Trooper BARKER suitably responded, thanking the company for the kind welcome and presentation he had received, and trusted that the friendship shown to him that night would be a lasting and permanent one. Dancing was then indulged in till nearly 4 a.m., with a short interval at midnight, when refreshments, supplied by the Yarra ladies, were passed round to all present. Mr J. Spear acted as M.C., and music was supplied by Messrs Crouch and McKenzie (violin), and Harding and Will Barker (concertina). The design of the medal was a trooper in a standing position in the act of firing, the figure being encircled with a wreath of waratahs. The medal was made specially by a Sydney firm and looked very pretty. On the back of the medal was inscribed – "Presented to Trooper B.A. Barker, No. 2706, 2 R.M.R., by his Yarra friends, 1902".