the following from January 13th 1917. It refers to a Military Cross rather than a Military Medal.
Amble Hero Honoured.
Sergeant-Major Casey gets the Military Cross.
The committee of the Amble Heroes’ Fund had for their guest on sunday night at the picture hall Sergeant-Major W. J. Casey of the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, who having been awarded the Military Cross for bravery in the field, was honoured by his fellow townsmen by being presented with a beautiful illuminated address. The hall was crowded and a silver collection which was considered satisfactory was taken as people entered the building.
The chair was occupied by Mr T. Tully chairman of the fund. The Congregational Choir kindly gave an excellent programme of music with which the various speeches were interspersed.
The presentation was made in the Coquet Picture Hall, which was crowded, by Mr Herbert Shaw, of Warkworth and Newcastle. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Shaw said he was glad the hero of that night belonged to the Northumberland Fusiliers. He had done excellent work in the training of the battalion at Alnwick and Amble, and had trained four separate battalions in France. They all honoured him for his gallant deed that had won him the Military Cross.
(Cheers)
Sergeant-Major Casey then rose to reply and received an oration (sic ovation?) He heartily thanked them for their kindness, and said how much he would appreciate the address. He spoke of the bravery of our men, and regretted the number of fine lads who had lain down their lives, and were now resting in soldiers' graves in France. Many a time he had helped to bury them, and wept over them for doing so. Their heroism made one proud to belong to such a regiment.
A vote of thanks to Mr Shaw, the singers, Picture Hall Co., and Orchestra, proposed by Mr John Horsley Smith, and seconded by Mr D.D. Kennedy, concluded the proceedings.
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