Gift of Natalie O’Shea
2016.9.5
This quilt was commenced in 1899, at the
time of the South African War, by Mary Macher (“Minnie”) Mullan of
Stanley. Her fiancé, James Pringle, was far away in South Africa, fighting against
the Boers. In 1899, James had left for
service in the South African War as a member of "G" Company of the
2nd Royal Canadian Regiment. For service in that conflict, he was awarded
the Queen's South Africa Medal, with three bars.
Many of the fabric pieces within this
quilt bear the names of leaders and battles relating to the war: "Paasdeberg",
"Kimbery", "Tranzvaal", "Steel: Strathcona horse
otter" , "J", "Canada". "Belmont",
"Kruger", "Pretoria", "M.M.M",
"Ladysmith", "Buller", "Methuen",
"Baden-Powell", "1900 Oom Pail", "Boer 2",
"Stanley", "Company C" "O.F.C", "Jamie","Victoria",
"Majuba Hill", "Walker", "SA", "Feby
18th", Feby 27th 1900". "Cronge", "Bobs",
"March 17th", "Oct.23rd 1899", and "Mafeking."
Upon wars end in 1901, James Pringle
returned to his home in Stanley and married Mary Mullan; sadly however, Mary
later died in childbirth.
In 1903, James Pringle became
the first commercial traveller for James S. Neill and Sons. With the coming of the
First World War in 1914, he was appointed to the 26th Battalion, New
Brunswick Regiment, as Major and Quartermaster and served the duration of the
war with the rank of Major. (He had held these same ranks for a number of years
with the 71st York Regiment in Fredericton.)
Twice mentioned in despatches
for distinguished service at Vimy Ridge and at Passchendaele in 1917, he was
also awarded the Military Cross for his service at Amiens in 1918 (in later
years, he was still referred to as Major Pringle, M.C.).
After the First World War
James Pringle entered into a partnership with R. L. Phillips to establish
Phillips and Pringle, a Ford car dealership at Phoenix Square in Fredericton.