The Blaydon Courier 14/02/1920 reports:
"Co-oerative Employees Welcomed Home.
Those employees of the Swalwell Co-operative Society who have returned from active service were welcomed home at a gathering in the Council Schools, Swalwell, over which Mr. Thomas Shield presided. Mr. J. Howard, on behalf of the Society, presented gold medals to the following employees:
Sergt. W.W. Saul
Sergt. J. Myers
Gunner P. Barrson
Driver J. Dixon
Pte. J. Meek
Pte. J. Douglass
Pte. T. Laidlaw
Pte. George Charlton
Private J. Sutton
Pte. J. Hutchinson
Pte. N. Watson
Pte. A. Gray
Pte. W. Hayes
Pte. J. Garrett
Pte. T. Watson
Pte. H. Lockey
Pte. J. Richardson
There was a gold medal for the relatives of the late Pte. Elsdon Smiles, who was killed in action.