Orders, Decorations & Medals - Militaria

Lot 2299    SESSION 12 (11.30AM THURSDAY 31ST MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Militaria

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,200

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION, 1860, prize medal in silver (47mm), by G.G.Adams, edge inscribed, 'Won By Private J.J.Slade No1 Co Sydney Battalion V.R. 1868'; Sydney Battalion Volunteer Rifles, prize medal in silver (51mm), by W.J.Taylor and J.W.P.Field, with suspender bar, obverse inscribed, 'Won By/J.J.Slade', reverse inscribed, 'No.1/Company/S.B.V.R/Champion/Medal/1868', edge inscribed, 'J.J.Slade.'. The first with a small silver test mark at 8 o'clock, otherwise both with hairlines and toned good very fine, the second medal rare. (2)

The following article was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday 7 December 1868, page 5.

'NEW SOUTH WALES RIFLE ASSOCIATION.
Presentation of Prizes.
The presentation of prizes to the successful competitors at the annual rifle matches is always anticipated with a good deal of interest, not only by the successful competitors themselves, but by the Volunteers generally. Hitherto, upon these occasions there has invariably been a good turnout of all arms of the force, and the large concourse of persons who assemble to witness the evolutions and to appreciate the efforts of the men to perform properly their duty as citizen-soldiers in the field, gives zest to the display. We believe that the Rifle Association and the Volunteers have been favoured with fine weather at every annual gathering of this kind, but on Saturday morning last the gloomy appearance of the atmosphere warranted the fear that the ceremony would have to be performed in the rain. Fortunately, however, the weather remained sufficiently fine for every purpose, except that its appearance deterred many persons from leaving home who otherwise would have found their way into the Domain. From those remarks it will be inferred that the attendance of the general public was not so large as it has been upon some similar occasions when the weather was finer, and when Sir John and Lady Young lent, as they invariably did, the attraction of their presence. In the Domain, a dais, nicely draped with flags, was erected under the trees to the eastward of the cricket ground, and a large space in front of it was kept clear by a body of Metropolitan police, under the direction of Mr. Sub-inspector Reed, for the evolutions of the Volunteers. On either side of the dais an enclosure was preserved for the accommodation of members of the association and their friends who had tickets of admission.

The muster of Volunteers was a large one, and on this occasion they were brigaded with all the available men of the 50th ("Queen's Own") Regiment. The Volunteers fell in at Hyde Park Barracks, and at a few minutes to 3 o'clock marched along Macquarie-street into the Domain, where they formed up in open column, right in front facing the south. On the extreme south of the line were the Volunteer Artillery, Nos. 1 and 2 Batteries, having field gun; the 50th Regiment; then the Suburban Battalion, with whom were the Parramatta, Penrith, and Hawkesbury companies of Volunteers, the Highlanders, and the Cadets. Next were the six companies of the Sydney Battalion, with the Naval Brigade on the extreme left. The column wheeled into line, and received the commandant, Colonel Waddy, with presented arms. The line then wheeled back into open column, and the inspection by Colonel Waddy took place. The three battalions then wheeled into line again, and deployed in rear of front companies, closed to six paces interval on centre battalion, and advanced to within fifty yards of the dais, when they halted, and formed three sides of a hollow square. The winners were then called to the front. Sir William Manning, President of the Association; Captain Beresford, A.D.C.; Mr. Toulmin, Mr. H. C. Dangar, Mr. Brewer, and other gentlemen, Mrs. Waddy, Miss Manning, Mrs. Toulmin, and several other ladies occupied the dais.

During the seven years that Sir John Young held office in this colony he never failed to be present at the annual presentation of prizes to the successful competitors in the annual trials of skill with the rifle, and he always availed himself of the opportunity to deliver, with that consummate ability which so eminently distinguished him, a model little speech to the Volunteers, encouraging them to persevere in the path of duty, and pointing out the dangers into which they were liable to fall; while the prize winners were always gratified by receiving from the hands of Lady Young the rewards of their skill. The different prize men were called up and received their prizes from Mrs. Waddy.'

The first prize winner to be called up was Private Slade, No.1 Company who received twenty pounds and a medal.