A WATERLOO VETERAN.

Patea Mail, 22 April 1882, Page 3

A WATERLOO VETERAN.

; Major Ronan, a veteran of the Peninsular war and Waterloo, died recently ut the little village of Gilford, county of Simcoe, having reached the ripe old age of 105. Major Timothy Ronan served His Majesty King George 111. in the 47th Infantry Regiment, the same corps which lay in Toronto at the time of the Fenian raid in 1866. Most of his military life ‘ was passed in active service, for he was engaged in many of the sangni nary r battles: ; fought between the French and British in Spain during: the; years 1809: and 1811,’ and was privileged to take part in the closing engagement at Waterloo; - Although it, was Major Roiian’s good fortune, to die fall of years, surrounded by the comforts which bis own exertions, bad . won. for him, he did not escape unscathed from all the battle fields on which his courage and devotion Jo: country-had been tried. He was shot in the groin at the siege of Badajos, .arid carried the bullet; .hi his body up to thplimc of his death. Again at Waterloo he was, severely ;wounded. During the terrific charges which the French cavalry made on the British squares at the former engagement he was singled out 'for personal cotribat by an officer in the ..enemy’s, squadrons. The; Frenchman charged furiously upon' ‘him 1 , and with, a single sweep of his sabre, severed the bridle lines of Renan’s horse; with ' the : object of having the rider at, his mercy. But while..monsieur was so engaged his intended victim ran a sword through his body. But Ronan had, by, the.cutting, of the bridle .lines, lost control of his horse, and another Frenchman endeavored to take advantage of his predicament by also charging upon him. The British officer, however, adroitly fell over his horse, and slipping under the animal's - body, managed to catch the second Frenchman in the nick of time, and, by an upward sweep of his sword, nearly decapitated him. But feats of strength and daring . accomplished by Ronan on the eventful day • would fill pages. He was. severely , wounded towards the close of the battle. Shortly before Blucher’s arrival was announced a shell burst immediately oyer hinr,~and a, fragment fractured bis /skull! / He was carried to the ; rear; and An the hospital the:wound was silver-trepanned. He wore the plate to the end of his Wic.—Toronto. Mail.