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The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931) Tuesday 25 March 1902

THE LATE TROOPER N. HORSFALL.

Mr. Henry Horsfall, of Hindmarsh, recently received particulars of the engagement at Kroonspruit, in which his son Nathaniel was killed on January 24. A paragraph in the regimental orders by Major Shea, D.S.O., officer commanding the South Australian (Imperial Bushmen) Fifth Contingent, reads thus:— " January 25 — The commanding officer regrets to announce the death of 248, Trooper N. Hors- fall, who died yesterday afternoon, of the wound received in action at Kroonspruit earlier in the day. Horsfall was a plucky fighter and a good soldier of the best stamp, and his loss will be deeply regretted by all ranks. He was never away from the regiment, and always took a keen pride in doing his duty"

Major Shea, in a private letter to Mr. Horsfall, wrote.—"I very much regret to   have to inform you of the death of your son, which occurred on Friday last from wounds received in action that morning. Though he was wounded through the stomach, I am assured by Colonel Trevor, the doctor who attended him, that once in hospital they were able to keep him comparatively free from pain. We buried him on Saturday morning by a farm just south- west of Lindley, and were fortunate enough to get the services of a clergyman. One of his comrades carved a headstone, which will in time be replaced by a better one; and I can assure you that every respect has been paid to his resting place. Your son was one of those men who always made me feel proud to think that I commanded them — an Australian of the very best type. He had never been once away from the column, and was valued by his officers and comrades as a stanch and plucky fighter, and I have to deplore the loss of one of the nicest and pluckiest men under my command. He was wounded when stopping behind to stop a rush of the enemy on the rear guard, and though he knew that his wound was a mortal one, his pluck and cheerfulness did not desert him. He told one of his comrades to let you know that he had died doing his duty. In offering you my most sincere sympathy for your loss, I am sending you the sympathy of the whole regiment."   

Lieutenant H. E. Francis, one of the officers of the contingent, wrote:— "As troop- leader of C 2 troop, of which your late son was a member, I should like to express my sorrow at losing one who had his whole heart in the work, and I would ask you to accept my deepest sympathy. Your late son proved himself to be a thorough man, always cheerful, plucky, and cool under fire. He had never missed a single day from duty, and was never afraid of any kind of work. He met his death as a soldier and a man, doing his duty fighting for his country."

Trooper Leonard W. Matters, in a letter   to Mr Horsfall, on behalf of No. 2 Troop, C. Squadron, says:— "The Imperial Bush- men had been out all night, and at day- light came upon the Boers, who were in great force at Kroonspruit. The enemy were at first mistaken for a party from Colonel De Lisle's column, but when firing started your son, with several other men, who had got close up to them, had to retire for cover, as a very heavy fire was being poured in. It was during this retirement that he was twice wounded — in the abdomen and left foot. Although terribly hurt, he bravely stuck to his horse, which was also hit, and rode for a safe place. After going for about half a mile he was so weakened that he fell from his horse, and was subsequently picked up by our ambulance corps."

Lance-Corporal J. B. Pickering, in a letter to his parents at Brompton, wrote: — "We went out on a night march on January 23, and at daybreak came across a large number of Boers, and we had to retire. Nat. Horsfall was shot in the stomach and one   foot, and was taken into camp. We got to another ridge, and the Boers made a rush for twelve of us, and when within 20 yards fired at us from off their horses. I just got away by the skin of my teeth, only losing my new hat, but they captured three of my mates, stripped them, and then let them go. We retired into camp. Poor Edgar Gluyas has just died from fever. He was a good lad. He was in the hospital about two months. He had a chance to leave before he contracted fever, but was anxious to stay until we all went home."

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