|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 21:12:04 GMT
Edit: It now seems that I may have misguided readers with regards to this thread as I have now found some documents that show that the certificates were collected from the Town Hall by the servicemen (although the newspaper article shown at the end of this thread states that some of the scrolls were presented at the reception). I have also seen some invitation books which lists hundreds of additional soldiers who were invited to the Civic Reception. I will need to cross reference whether all the gallantry medal winners were indeed invited. Here is the document that shows that the certificates were collected from the Town Hall. In 1920 Salford Council invited all men from the City who had been awarded a gallantry medal to the Salford Civic Reception to Discharged Sailors, Soldiers and Airman held at Belle Vue Gardens. In preparation for inviting the medal winners some research was undertaken. List of gallantry medal winners compiled by Salford Council: Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 21:13:17 GMT
From the list a number of index cards were compiled: Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 21:18:53 GMT
Each card held the name, address, rank, award, regiment and, where available, a citation. This card is to V.C. hero William Mariner. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 21:26:14 GMT
Driver William Chadwick, French Legion of Honour: Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 21:29:58 GMT
Invitations were sent out to all the men. The men were allowed to bring a guest but as there wasn't enough room to feed/host all the men and their guest in one room tickets for free refreshments were issued. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 21:50:46 GMT
Official invitation: Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 22:05:56 GMT
On the day of the event each man was presented with a certificate which congratulated them on the honour conferred upon them. N Roberts, M.M. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 22:07:43 GMT
G C Rogers, D.C.M. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 22:12:22 GMT
Unfortunately some of the men never received their certificates as they had either passed away, couldn't be traced or, maybe, wasn't interested in the reception. Some of the certificates that were never presented: Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by shred on Feb 29, 2012 22:27:47 GMT
This letter sent to the council from Thomas Buckley tells how his son, William Buckley (21291) of the Royal Lancaster Regiment, won the Military Medal "while under 'heavy fire', & at the time he gained the distinction he was assisting the late 'Capt Chavasse', who, at the same time won the V.C." Captain Noel Chavasse was the only man to be awarded the V.C. twice during the Great WarAttachments:
|
|
|
Post by Hawker Hurricane on Feb 29, 2012 22:54:25 GMT
Brilliant find Garry. Looks like a fascinating collection, well worthy of further study.
|
|
|
Post by buffer21 on Mar 3, 2012 13:39:41 GMT
Well done to find such interesting info. Long shot here ,as I do not think my grandfathers had a gallantry medal, but could you please look if there is a card for James smethurst or Thomas Shaw.
Thank you so much for any help.
Eileem
|
|
|
Post by prospectroad on Mar 3, 2012 19:45:46 GMT
Garry, this is a fantastic find!
;D
|
|
|
Post by shred on Mar 3, 2012 20:48:18 GMT
We hope to get these indexed in the coming weeks. All the names will be listed on the forums.
These items were brought from the old Town Hall building, Bexley Square, which has recently closed and is currently up for sale. We have been informed that there are many more documents (not necessarily relating to the Great War, but important in there own right) still stored there and there are no plans to have these documents archived prior to the buildings sale.
Our thanks must go to the archivist at Salford Library who has just received notice that, due to the cuts in expenditure, will lose her job in six weeks time.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2012 9:08:00 GMT
Our thanks must go to the archivist at Salford Library who has just received notice that, due to the cuts in expenditure, will lose her job in six weeks time. Now that is sad and i am sure it will be a great loss for us all. It is good to have some with local knowledge and who enjoys his job. It will be like loosing part of the library it's self Ben
|
|