Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sergeant Rule went to South Africa as a private in the First Victorian Contingent, and took part in every battle in which the Victorians fought up to the time that Lord Roberts left the field.  When the First Contingent was disbanded, Rule joined Scott's Railway Guards (afterwards called the Cape Sharpshooters).  This corps was engaged on armoured trains in patrolling the line north and south of Kimberley.  After nin months of this work Sergeant Rule joined the Fifth South Australian Contingent, and took part in the great drive conducted by General Elliott.  He had been at the front all through the war up to this time, and had not received a wound nor lost an hour through illness.  In leaving camp on a foggy night in march last his horse unfortunately stumbled on a tent rope and plunged violently, falling backwards on the barbed wire entaglements.  Rule was underneath the horse, and got so badly injured that he had to be sent to the hospital.  In the ambulance waggon with him were two enteric patients, from whom he contracted fever.  It was only a mild attack, however, and he recovered before peace was declared.  Sergeant Rule had a magnificent reception of the citizens of Echuca on his return to that town.