Description
1902 Coronation Medal, Mayor and Provosts Issue, named on the rim to Hamilton Traherne Baillie, Mayor of Monmouth, saw 3 consecutive terms as Mayor from 1900-1903.
Contemporary hand engraved naming reading: “Hamilton T. Baillie Monmouth”
This attractive variety of the 1902 Coronation Medal was designed by Emil Fuchs and struck by Elkington and Co.
It was only awarded in small numbers to the serving Mayors and Provosts (A Scottish version of Mayor) who served during the Coronation year.
It was awarded unnamed, by like with this example it was occasionally engraved by the recipient.
Mr Hamilton Traherne Baillie was the Mayor of Monmouth, initially from 1900-1901, he would then be re-elected 2 years in a row to continue on for 3 consecutive years.
Eldest son of Hamilton Baillie, J.P. of Doward House, near Monmouth.
His Mayoress, was Mrs Ada Baillie nee Haddock, daughter of Haddock Esq in Government Appointment of Fiji,
Star of Gwent, 15th November 1901, has a sketch of him and the following:
“MONMOUTH’S NEW MAYOR
Mr Hamilton Treherne Baillie, who has for the 2nd time been chosen as Mayor of Monmouth, is descended from an old Scotch (originally French) family, which traces its lineage to beyond the conquest. The family furnished 2 King’s Of Scotland, John de Baliol, proclaimed King by Edward II of England in 1291, and his son, Edward de Baliol, who was banished in 1339 and died without issue in 1363.
The family afterwards became known as the Baillies of Dochforn and Dunain, and figure largely in Scotch history, and Mr Baillie is but one removed from being the head of the family.
Mr Baillie was born at Cheltenham in 1859, and was educated at Wellington Military College in Berkshire.
He has spent most ohis life abroad in Ceylon and the South Sea Islands.
He is married, and has one son and two daughters.
He was first elected to the council on 18th April 1898, and is a Churchman and Conservative.”
Mayor Baillie was extremely popular in Monmouth, when Monmouth was visited by “The King” Newspaper they wrote an article about their visit “An Impression of Royal Monmouth” where they write the following, including a picture of the Mayor and his Wife wearing his Collar of office:
“The Town Council consists of 4 Aldermen and 12 Councillors, from whom the Mayor is annually elected.
On two occasions Lord Llangattock has filled this position at critical times, while at the present moment Monmouth in singularly fortunate in possessing a Mayor who, in addition to being most able and deeply interested in the welfare of the town, is highly respected by all classes.
So popular is Mr Hamilton Traherne Baillie that his fellow townspeople have unanimously re-elected him Mayor for the second year running, an additional compliment in this the Coronation year.”
