Lot 498

Description

Albion Park Show, gold, (15 carat) fob medal (13.78g) by RBs (Roberts Brothers) 'Awarded/ to/ E.H.Weston's/ WARRIOR/ Best Exhibit/ Horse Section/ Albion Park Show/ Jany 1893', reverse 'Presented/ by/ Anthony Horden/ & Sons/ Palace Emporium/ Haymarket (only)/ Sydney' ornate shield shaped (33x40mm). Nearly very fine.

Edward Henry Weston was for many years a resident on his acreage, Weston's Meadows at Albion Park, NSW where he bred horses and cattle and exhibited at various agricultural shows. When he retired from these activities he moved to a family property at Mosman, a suburb of Sydney.

The following was reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 28 July 1913, page 6.

'A VETERAN LANCER.
Major E. H. Weston, one of the oldest retired military officers in the State, died at his residence, Lochinvar, Hale-road, Mosman, and was buried at Albion Park. He had almost completed his 80th year, and was one of the founders and first members of the New South Wales Lancers. He was born at Horsley, near Parramatta, and for many years carried on pastoral pursuits. In his younger days he was renowned for feats of horsemanship, being regarded as one of the finest horsemen in the State.

His father, the late G. E. Weston, was a native of England, and his mother only died eight years ago, aged 98. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen at Albion Park.'

Major Edward Henry Weston's father was an officer in the British Army in colonial India and his mother was the daughter of Colonel Johnston of Annandale, a suburb in Sydney. Johnston Street is named in his honour. He acted as Governor of New South Wales following the arrest of Governor Bligh. His mother's uncle, Captain Robert Johnston, was the first Australian officer to join the British Navy.

Also, the following was a letter to the editor in the Illawarra Mercury, Thursday 18 October 1894, page 2.

HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE
(To the Editor)
'I think that every lover of his country will regret the absence of Captain E. H. Weston and his son Alick from the late sham-fight at Wollongong. It was the Captain who organised the South Coast troop of cavalry, and all the members of that troop whom I have the honor to know would follow him not only in a sham-fight but to 'grim death' itself, if he would lead them. There has been a ' blunder ' somewhere in his resigning his commission. He is "a soldier every inch," and so also is his brave young son; then why were they not present? The services of such men should not be forgotten by the military authorities of our country, for honor should be paid where, and to whom, it is due. I do hope to see both father and son "shoulder to shoulder" again at our next sham fight, whenever that may come off. We should honor brave, self-denying men, for we have not too many of them. J.S.
Dapto 16th Oct'

See also lot 476 for an award to his son and lot 477 for another award to E.H.Weston.