promoted capt. Sept., 1896. He was A.D.C. to M^jor-
368 THE "LAST POST":
General Ivor Herbert, commanding the militia of the
Dominion of Canada, in May and June, 1890, and again
from Dec, 1890, till Aug., 1895, and was adjutant of the
2nd battalion of his regiment from Nov., 1897, to Feb.,
1901. Capt. Streatfield was serving in South Africa at
the outbreak of the war, having accompanied his battalion
from India to Natal in Sept., 1899. He took part in the
defence of Ladysmith, being mentioned in the despatches
of Sir George White, Dec. 2nd, 1899, an d March 23rd,
1900, L.G., Feb. 8th and Sept. 10th, 1901, and was
awarded the D.S.O. He retired from the army on
account of ill-health March, 14th, 1902, and died as
stated on the 26th of the same month.
Strong. ā Lieut. Charles Powlett Strong, D.S.O., 2nd
Batt. Bedfordshire Regt., was killed in action at Graspan,
near Reitz, June 6th, 1901. He was the second son of
Lieut.-Col. Strong, Chairman of Peterborough Quarter
Sessions, was born in Jan., 1875, and educated at
Harrow. He entered the Bedfordshire Regt. from the
Royal Military College in March, 1895, and was pro-
moted lieut. July, 1897. He was mentioned in despatches,
L.G., Sept. 10th, 1901, also in the despatch of Gen.
Lord Kitchener of July 28th, 1901, for having "when
in command of a rear guard by his determined resistance
to a superior force, enabled the baggage to get across a
bad drift without a shot being fired at it," and for having
"done consistent good work on many occasions." Lieut.
Strong was awarded the D.S.O.
Strong. ā Major Sydney Philip Strong, second in com-
mand, 2nd Batt. Scottish Rifles, died of wounds received
in action at Spion Kop, in the operations on the Upper
Tugela, on Jan. 24th, 1900. He was born in Feb., 1858,
educated at Winchester, and entered the 90th Foot Jan.,
1878, being promoted lieut. August, 1878, capt. Sept.,
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 369
1883, and major Oct., 1892. He saw active service with
the 90th Light Infantry in the South African War.
1877-78, in the Kaffir Campaign, and the operations
against the Galekas. He also served throughout the
Zulu War of 1879, and was present at the engagements
at Zungen Nek, Kambula, and Ulundi, and was men-
tioned in despatches, L.G., May 7th, 1S79, and received
the medal with clasp. Major Strong was adjutant of
volunteers from Nov. 1887-92. His death is mentioned
in the despatch of Lieut.-Gen. Sir C. Warren of Feb. 1st,
1900.
Stuart.ā Lieut. Charles McKay Stuart, South African
Town Guards, died of epilepsy at Mossel Bay on Dec.
12th, 1901.
Stuart.ā Major Sidney OrTord Stuart, F.R.C.S. Edin-
burgh, Royal Army Medical Corps, died of dysentery at
Winburg, O.R.C., on April 18th, 1902. He was born in
Nov. i860, and joined the R.A.M.C. as surgeon, July,
1882, and was promoted major July, 1894. Major Stuart
proceeded to South Africa in Nov. 1901, and served in
the Cape and Orange River Colonies.
Stuart. ā Lieut. Walter Ochiltree Stuart, 1st Batt.
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was killed in action in the
operations on the Upper Tugela, Feb. 23rd, 1900. He
was the son of Major Burleigh Stuart, of Dergmony,
Omagh, co. Tyrone, was born in Nov., 1S77, and
educated at Cheltenham College. He entered the 1st
Batt. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from the 5th Batt. in
Dec, 1897, being promoted lieut. Dec, 1898. He
accompanied his battalion to South Africa in Nov., 1S99,
and was present at the battle of Colenso and all the
subsequent fighting on the Tugela up to Feb. 23rd, when
AA
37 o THE "LAST POST":
he fell shot through the head while leading his men.
Lieut. Stuart is buried at the foot of the hill where he
was killed (known as Railway or Inniskilling, or Harts
Hill), beside Lieut.-Col. Thackeray and Major Sanders.
A marble headstone erected by their comrades of all
ranks marks the graves. Lieut. Stuart's name is in-
scribed on an obelisk twenty-seven feet high, erected on
this hill, in memory of all belonging to the ist Batt.
Inniskillings who fell on Feb. 23rd and 24th, 1900. His
name is also inscribed on the Eleanor Cross War
Memorial at Cheltenham College. (See Lieut.-Col.
Thackeray.)
Stubbs ā Capt. and Brevet-Major Arthur Kennedy
Stubbs, Worcestershire Regt., was killed in action at
Rensburg, Feb. 12th, 1900. He was the eldest son of
Major-General F. W. Stubbs, late Royal Artillery, of
2, Clarence Terrace, St. Luke's, Cork. Major Stubbs
was born in Dec, 1867, at Meerut, and educated at Mr.
Tottenham's School at St. Leonards, and afterwards at
the Oxford Military College, whence he passed into
Sandhurst. He entered the Worcestershire Regt. in
March, 1889, being promoted lieut. Dec, 1890, capt.
May, 1899, and brevet-major on July ist of the same
year. He served in the operations in the Niger Terri-
tories in 1898, including the Benin Hinterland and Siama
Expedition (wounded), being mentioned in despatches,
and receiving the brevet of major and the medal with
clasp. Major Stubbs accompanied the 2nd battalion of
his regiment to South Africa in Dec, 1899, and on
arrival was then sent with it to the North of Cape
Colony. At Rensburg the key of the position was a
group of three kopjes held by three companies of the
Worcestershire Regt., and here the Boers made a fierce
attack " in the cold misty light of dawn " on Feb. 12th
and got possession of some sangars. They could not,
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 371
however, advance any further owing to the accurate fire
of the Worcesters, and a desperate fight then ensued.
The right kopje, with a front of about three-quarters of a
mile, was held by Major Stubbs and his company, and he
was killed while leading and cheering his men on in a
forward rush to drive the Boers out of the north-east
edge of this kopje. Lieut.-Col. Coningham, who had
come up to the point of danger in the first alarm, was
killed close to Major Stubbs. Capt. Thomas, who had
been sent with his company as a reinforcement, was
also severely wounded, and died eight days afterwards.
The action lasted the whole day and with darkness the
Boers retreated. A cairn has been erected over the
graves of Lieut.-Col. Coningham, Major Stubbs, and
those of the Worcesters who fell in this action. (See
L ieut.-Col. Coningham.)
Sutherland. ā 2nd Lieut. Eric Macnaught Sutherland,
2nd Batt. Seaforth Highlanders, was killed in action near
Frederickstad on May 29th, 1902, two days before the
treaty of peace was signed. He was the eldest son of Sir
Thomas Sutherland, Chairman of the Peninsular and
Oriental Steamship Company, who represented Greenock
in the House of Commons for sixteen years. Lieut.
Sutherland was born in Sept., 1882, and educated at Eton
(Mr. Williams'). He passed out of Sandhurst in Dec,
1901, being gazetted to the Seaforth Highlanders, Jan.,
1902, and joined the 2nd Batt. in South Africa a few
weeks later. The day he was killed he was pursuing
some Boers with a handful of horsemen, when they were
ambushed by the enemy and 2nd Lieut. Sutherland got
separated from his horse. Scorning to surrender, he
fought his way on foot for over a mile, and was then
shot down by one of the enemy who had got round him.
The Boer Commander stated he had seen no finer
example of British courage during the war.
372 THE "LAST POST":
Sutton. ā Capt. Francis Hubert Clifford Sutton, Royal
Canadian Dragoons, died at sea whilst returning from
South Africa to Halifax, N.S. He was the only surviving
son of the late Rev. Walter Henry Sutton, of South
Cerney, Gloucestershire, and was thirty-five years of age.
Swanston. ā Lieut. Arthur William Swanston, 6th
Inniskilling Dragoons, was killed in action near Ermelo
Oct. 16th, 1900. He was the son of J. C. Swanston,
Esq., of Bourne End, Bucks, was born in Feb. 1875, and
educated at St. Paul's School, and Loretto (Musselburgh),
and also at Cambridge. He was fond of games and was
in the Loretto XV., and also rowed in the Cambridge
eight in 1898. He entered the 6th Dragoons from the
Northumberland Artillery Militia, in Nov., 1899, being
promoted lieut. Oct. 3rd, 1900. He joined his regiment
in South Africa early in 1900, and served with it till killed.
His commanding officer in writing concerning Lieut.
Swanston's death, states " he fell while trying to bring in
wounded troopers, and was shot dead on the second
occasion when he was so gallantly trying to save others."
Sykes. ā Capt. Herbert Schofield Sykes, Royal Scots
Fusiliers, was killed in action at Pieter's Hill, in the
operations on the Upper Tugela, Feb. 27th, 1900, He
was born at the Manor Adel, near Leeds, in June, 1863,
and was educated at Harrow. He entered the Royal
Scots Fusiliers, May, 1885, being promoted capt. Aug.,
1894. From 1894-99 he was adjutant of the 1st Volunteer
battalion at Kilmarnock. He proceeded to South Africa
and joined the 2nd battalion of his regiment in Dec, 1899.
At Pieter's Hill the Royal Scots Fusiliers were on the
British extreme right and rendered splendid service by
enveloping the Boer left, thus compelling the enemy to
withdraw from their position.
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 373
Symons. ā Major-Gen. (local Lieut.-Gen.) Sir William
Penn Symons, K.C.B., was mortally wounded Oct. 20th,
1899, at the battle of Talana Hill, and died three days
later. He was the eldest son of the late William Symons,
Esq., of Hatt, Cornwall, was born in July, 1843, and
educated privately. Sir W. Penn Symons married
Caroline, only daughter of T. P. Hawkins, Esq., of
Edgbaston, Warwickshire. He was a good sportsman
and fond of hunting, shooting and fishing. He entered
the 24th Foot in March, 1863, being promoted lieut. Oct.,
1866, capt. Feb., 1878, major July, 1881, brevet.-lieut.-
col. May, 1886, brevet.-col. July, 1887. He had his first
experience of active service in South Africa, when, as a capt.
of the 24th Foot, he took part in the operations against
the Galekas in 1877-78, and in the Zulu war during the
following year, being awarded the medal and clasp. He
next served with the Burmese Expedition in 1885-89 as
D.A.A. and Q.M.G., when he organised and commanded
the M.I. ; also as brigadier.-general in command of
the Chin Field Force (several times mentioned in
despatches, brevets of lieut.-col. and colonel, medal with
two clasps). He also took part in the Chin-lushai Ex-
pedition of 1889-90, in command of the Burmah column
(received the thanks of the Government of India, C.B.,
and clasp). In 1894-95 he commanded a brigade of the
Waziristan Field Force, and was mentioned in despatches
and granted a clasp. He then served in the campaign on
the North- West Frontier of India under the late Sir
William Lockhart, 1897-98, in command of the 2nd
brigade Tochi Field Force, and afterwards commanded
the 1 st division of the Tirah Expeditionary Force (twice
mentioned in despatches, K.C.B., and medal with two
clasps.) He was appointed brigadier-general in Natal,
May 15th, 1889, and major-general just before the com-
mencement of the war. At the battle of Talana Hill,
about 9 a.m., Sir Penn Symons, accompanied by Col.
374 THE "LAST POST":
Dartnell and Majors Hammersley and Murray, D.A.A.G.s,
galloped forward and jumped into a wood, in front of
which was the Boer position. Leaving their horses in a
donga, they then hurried on, and having arrived at the
edge nearest the enemy Major Hammersley was severely
wounded. A moment later, at 9.15, Sir P. Symons, as he
was stepping through a gap, was struck down, and turning
to Major Murray, he said, "I am mortally wounded." He
was then assisted and carried back into camp, and
as he was being taken away and afterwards when in
hospital, his only question was '* have they got the hill ? "
He died on Oct. 23rd, a few hours after the Boers entered
Dundee. He was mentioned in the despatch of Lieut.-
Gen. Sir George White, from Ladysmith, Dec. 2nd, 1899,
for his " energy and courage." Sir G. White considered
the country had lost " an officer of high ability and a leader
of exceptional valour," L.G., Feb. 8th, 1901. The men of
the Durban Light Infantry have erected a memorial over
the grave of Sir Penn Symons at Dundee, and an Institute
in his memory has been built at Umballa. where he was
commanding until summoned to Natal in 1899 to take
command of the troops there. (See Lieut. -Col. Gunning).
Tabor.ā Lieut. J. B. Tabor, nth Co., 3rd Batt., I.Y.,
was killed in action at Middleport Farm, Calvinia,
Feb. 6th, 1902. He joined the I.Y. in Oct., 1901, with
the rank of lieut. in the army. The late Lieut. Spratt,
I.Y., describing in a private letter the action in which
Lieut. Tabor fell, wrote : " Meanwhile the kopje where
Chichester and the nth I.Y. were, was rushed by the
Boers. Tabor lay there, the top of his head shot away
and Chichester with his helmet crushed down over
his face, streaming with blood. Six men lay dead
beside them. They had fought gallantly." Sergt. Ward
was also killed, but as he fell he shot his opponent through
the head with his revolver. (See Lieut. Chichester.)
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 375
Tait. ā Lieut. Frederick Guthrie Tait, Black Watch,
2nd Batt. Royal Highlanders, was killed in action at
Koodoosberg, Feb. 7th, 1900. He was the son of F.
G. Tait, Esq., M.A., Edinburgh University, was born
in Jan., 1870, and educated at Edinburgh Academy, and
Sedbergh School, Yorkshire, where he was in the football
team. On one occasion, at Sedbergh, he saved a school-
fellow from drowning. He was a famous amateur
golfer ; he held the Amateur Championship for the years
1896 and 1898, and was the runner-up in 1899. Lieut.
Tait entered the Leinster Regt. (Royal Canadians), in
Oct., 1890, being promoted lieut. April, 1893, and was
transferred to the Royal Highlanders June, 1894. He
was Superintendent of Gymnasia, Eastern District, from
July to Sept., 1898, and held a similar position in the
Scottish District from Oct., 1898, to Oct., 1899, when he
rejoined his battalion for active service, and accompanied
it to South Africa. He served with the Kimberley Relief
Force and was present at the battle of Magersfontein,
where he was wounded. His wound had scarcely healed
when he was again struck down at Koodoosberg ; as he
was hit his last words were, " they have got me this
time." A fund was raised to erect a suitable memorial to
Lieut. Tait, and as a result a bed has been endowed in
the Scottish South African Hospital. A ward is also to
be built and named after him at the Cottage Hospital,
St. Andrews.
Taplin. ā Lieut. H. E. B. Taplin, Cape Mounted Rifles,
was killed in action at Wepener, in the fighting from April
9th to 18th, 1900.
Tarbutt. ā Lieut. Charles A. Percy Tarbutt, South
African Light Horse, died of typhoid fever at Pretoria,
Feb. 13th, 1900. He was the eldest son of Percy
Tarbutt, Esq., of the Consolidated Gold Fields of South
376 THE "LAST POST":
Africa. Lieut. Tarbutt was twenty-six years of age, and
was educated at University College School (where he
was in the football XV.), and at the Bedford Grammar
School. When Lieut. Tarbutt landed in South Africa he
was given a commission as lieut. in the South African
Light Horse. After the battle of Colenso he was reported
missing, but it was subsequently discovered that he had
been wounded and captured.
Taunton. ā Major Charles Edmund Taunton, Natal
Carabiniers, was killed in action on Nov. 3rd, 1899, in a
reconnaissance from Ladysmith along the Colenso road.
The enemy was in considerable force and the officer in
command, finding their numbers increasing, determined
on withdrawing. Concerning this reconnaissance, Sir A.
Conan Doyle writes, "the death of Major Taunton, Capt.
Knapp, and young Brabant, the son of the general who
did such good service at a later stage of the war, was a
heavy price to pay for the knowledge that the Boers were
in considerable strength to the south." Major Taunton,
who was the only son of Mrs. Taunton, was a keen man
of business, well known in South African finance, and a
director of many of the older gold mining companies. He
was a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute, and his
name is inscribed on a memorial tablet in the hall of the
building in Northumberland Avenue, S.W.
Taylor.ā Capt. Herbert Wodehouse Taylor, M Battery,
Royal Horse Artillery, was killed in action at Geluk,
between Machadodorp and Heidelberg, Oct. 13th, 1900.
He was born in June, 1868, and educated at Clifton and
Wellington, where he was in the Hopetoun and a Prefect.
He entered the Royal Artillery from the Royal Military
Academy, Woolwich, in Feb., 1887, was promoted lieut.
Feb., 1890, capt. Oct., 1897, and proceeded to South Africa
in Jan., 1900.
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 377
Taylor.ā Lieut. John Taylor, King's Royal Rifle Corps,
was killed in action at the Battle of Talana Hill, Natal,
Oct. 20th, 1899. He was born in April, 1873, educated
at Winchester, and entered the King's Royal Rifle
Corps in March, 1S95, being promoted lieut. in May,
1898. At Talana his company was extended behind
a wall, and to show above this cover was to brave the
storm of a dozen Boer rifles. It was here that Lieut.
Taylor met his death, while endeavouring to return the
enemy's fire. He is buried at Talana.
Thackeray. ā Lieut. - Col. Thomas Martin Gerard
Thackeray, commanding the 1st Batt. Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers, was killed in action in the operations on the
Upper Tugela, Feb. 23rd-2_|.th. 1900. He was born in
June, 1849, entered the 16th Foot Nov., 186S, being
promoted lieut. in Oct., 1871. He exchanged into the
1st Batt. West India Regt. in Jan., 1S76, subsequently
obtaining his captaincy in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,
March, 1881, being promoted major Dec, 1889, and lieut. -
col. to command the 1st battalion of his regiment, Nov.,
1897. During 1880 and part of 1881, he served as fort
adjutant at Sierra Leone. Lieut.-Col. Thackeray proceeded
to South Africa in command of his battalion in Nov., 1S99,
and being sent on to Natal, joined the Ladysmith Relief
Force, under Gen. Sir R. Buller. Lieut.-Col. Thackeray
was present at the battle of Colenso and the subsequent
fighting on the Tugela up to his death. Mr. Bennett
Burleigh relates how at the battle of Colenso Lieut.-Col.
Thackeray found himself in command of a mixed party
of Inniskillings, Dublins, Connaughts, and Borderers, and
saved his party from capture by his wit and fortitude.
He was under cover with these men where they had been
left, and the order to retire had not reached them. About
1 p.m., an ambulance approached and the red cross was
raised. An informal truce was then inaugurated, the
378 THE "LAST POST":
Boer firing ceased and some of them advanced, while
Lieut.-Col. Thackeray was moving off with his men.
The Boer leader called on the party to surrender and lay
down their arms. " No," said Col. Thackeray, " you
advanced under the red cross, and we allowed you to do
so, let us go back and begin the fight again," and con-
tinued to argue the point. The Boer then said, " Perhaps
you are right, I'll turn my back and won't see you," and
the commander of the Inniskillings then retired with his
party. Lieut.-Col. Thackeray was killed the same day
as Lieut.-Col. Sitwell of the Dublins, and Thorold of the
Welsh Fusiliers. Sir A. Conan Doyle writes, " Thorold,
Thackeray, and Sitwell in one evening, who can say that
British colonels have not given their men a lead?"
Lieut.-Col. Thackeray was mentioned in despatches,
L.G., Feb. 8th, 1901, by Gen. Sir R. Buller, who referred
to the great loss the country had sustained by his death.
Lieut.-Col. Thackeray, Major Sanders and Lieut. W. O.
Stuart, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, all lie beside each
other in one large grave at the foot of the hill where they
fell (known as Harts or Railway or Inniskilling Hill). A
marble headstone has been erected by their brother officers.
An obelisk, 27 feet high, has also been erected by their
comrades on this hill in memory of all ranks of the 1st
Batt. Inniskillings, who fell there. It bears the follow-
ing inscription, " Near this spot were killed or mortally
wounded on Feb. 23rd-24th, 1900, Lieut.-Col. T. M. G.
Thackeray, commanding, Major F. A. Sanders, 2nd-in-
command, Lieut. W. O. Stuart, and 65 N.C.O. and
men of the 27th Inniskillings whilst advancing to the
relief of Ladysmith."
Theobald. ā Lieut. Stanley Reay Theobald, 9th Lancers,
died at Wolvevlei, Cape Colony, on Aug. 12th, 1901, of
wounds received in action three days previously. He
was the son of Col. Percy Theobald, of Cheltenham,
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 379
was born in Sept., 1877, and educated at Cheltenham
College. He entered the 9th Lancers in Sept., 1897,
being promoted lieut. in Oct., 1900. He accompanied
his regiment from India to South Africa in Sept., 1899
and served with the Kimberley Relief Force, taking
part in the engagements at Belmont, Enslin, Modder
River, and Magersfontein, and had been slightly wounded.
Lieut. Theobald subsequently served in the advance on
Bloemfontein, being present at Paardeberg and Driefon-
tein. On April 28th, 1900. he was reported to have been
killed near Thaba N'chu. It was eventually ascertained,
however, that he was a prisoner at Pretoria. On the
advance of F.-M. Earl Roberts he was released, and then
saw much fighting, but having suffered from an attack of
enteric had been advised to return home. Lieut. Theo-
bald, however, preferred to remain in South Africa,
hoping to see the end of the war. He was mentioned in
despatches by Gen. Lord Kitchener on Dec. Sth, 1901,
for " exceedingly gallant conduct on several occasions. "
His name is inscribed on the Eleanor Cross War
Memorial at Cheltenham College.
Thomas. ā Lieut. A. H. Thomas, Ceylon M.I., died of
enteric, at Bultfontein, on Oct. 6th, 1900. He was
educated at Harrow, and did good service in the war, for
which he was mentioned in despatches, L.G., April 16th,
1901. He was a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute,
and his name is inscribed on a memorial tablet in the
hall of the building in Northumberland Avenue, S.W.
Thomas. ā Capt. Berkeley Hardinge Thomas, 2nd Batt.
Worcester Regt., died on Feb. 20th, 1900, of wounds
received at Rensburg, in the fighting eight days pre-
viously. He was born in Jan., 1S65, and educated at the
United Services College, Westward Ho. He entered the
Worcestershire Regt. in Nov., 1887, being promoted lieut.
Nov., 1889, and capt. Dec, 1896. At Rensburg, he
380 THE "LAST POST":
received a wound in his right side, the bullet passing out
close to the spine. Paralysis supervened, and he died in
the Portland Hospital, at Rondebosch. His name is
inscribed on a memorial tablet in his old college at
Westward Ho. (See Major Stubbs.)
Thomas. ā Lieut. Charles Latimer Thomas, 2nd Batt.
West India Regt., died on Jan. gth, 1901, of enteric, at
Kroonstad. He was born Sept., 1875, and entered the
Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt. from the 4th Batt.
King's Liverpool Regt., in Dec, 1896, exchanged to
the West India Regt., Nov., 1898, and was promoted
lieut. Oct., 1899. He served in the operations on the
North-West Frontier of India in 1897-98, with the Mala-
kand Field, Mohmand Field, and Tirah Expeditionary
Forces, receiving the medal with two clasps. He was a
probationer for the Army Service Corps, and at the out-
break of the South African war was selected for special
service.
Thompson-Pegge. ā 2nd Lieut. John Francis Thompson-
Pegge, 10th Company, Eastern Division, Royal Garrison
Artillery, was killed by lightning at Dundee on Dec. nth,
1900. He was born in April, 1878, and entered the Royal
Artillery, Dec, 1897. He is buried in Dundee.
Thomson. ā Capt. William Gordon Thomson, 1st Batt.
Suffolk Regt., died suddenly at Pretoria on June 9th,
1900. He was born Oct., 1865, entered the Connaught
Rangers May, 1885, being transferred to the Suffolk
Regt. in the same month, and was promoted capt.
Nov., 1894. Capt. Thomson had been adjutant of his
battalion from Aug., 1895, to Aug., 1899. He accom-
panied the 1st battalion of his regiment to South Africa
in Nov., 1899, and served with it in the north of Cape
Colony, and afterwards in the O.R.C. and Transvaal.
OFFICERS WHO FELL IN SOUTH AFRICA. 381
Thornton. ā Lieut. Archer Henry Thornton, Brabant's
Horse, was killed in action at Wepener, April 12th,
1900. He was the son of Mrs. Thornton, of Park
Avenue, East London ; was born in Manchester in
1865, and educated at Sandbach Grammar School,
Cheshire. He went to South Africa in 1883, served in
Rhodesia, and assisted in subduing the Matabele rebellion
in 1893. He joined Brabant's Horse in Dec, 1S99, as a