Boer Chivalry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 246, 16 November 1903, Page 4

Boer Chivalry.

"One touch of chivalry makes the whole world kin." Many kindly actions of the part of the Boers W»r»'v unrecorded in the late campaign. I cannot, however, allow one or two which caine under my special notice to pasa without mention. On April 30, 1900, when we were engaged with that clever General De la Rey, my scouts, while reconnoitring under Lieutenant Tugh, far in advance of the main body, came suddenly upon a well-concealed Boer outpost, who opened fire upon them, wounding poor Franks severely. Fugh stuck to him gallantly, making for where he considered our leading column would be. Franks, however, got bo weak that Lieutenant Pugh and the other two scouts had to dismount him ftpd leave him on the veldt. Later in the day, wh»n the enemy's lire slackened, some friends of Franks were able to go and carry I him in aavd place him in the bauds of Dr. Powell, whp did all that was possible for him }»}' the circumstances. We were holding 49 Hjjjgpabie position, and when the order to retire early in the afternoon, poor Franks bad to be loft until au ambulance might be got to carry him I buck to our lieadcjuartcrs camp at Spytfontein. Shortly after our retirement from the sßot where JlO lay the Boers occupied the' ground wp had left, and, finding Franks, treated him with ev#ry kindness and attention. It was the last we saw of him. Some five days later, at the fight near Brandfort, a Boer ambulanc« containing several wounded Boors, and with Dr. Everard in charge, fell into our hands. On my riding np to interview the latt®.r, > 110 asked if we were not Lumsden's Horse, and cm my replying in the affirmative, he said ; One of your men, named Franks, fell into our hands on April 30, and was under my care. I did all 1 could for him. but the poor fellow died." Then producing a small notebook from his pocket, he said : "In this I have noted when and wfiere he was buried. I also found on his person two sovereigns and two rings." These the doctor handed to liif with' a request that I would be good enough to forward them to the boy's mother. I thanked him most gratefully for what he had done on behalf of my lato charade, and in due cours*.' wos able to forward, through Ti ioper Pits, ton, the relics handed to 111,3 to Mrs Fianks, of The Chase, Clapham Common, London. On the same day (April 3D), Lieutenant Crane, with a small detachn»nt of my corps, was sent by Colonel Rose, ooir commanding officer, to occupy a low-lying kopje on our left front. They were attacked by an overwhelming number of the enemy, and nearly the whole of the little lot were either killed, or wounded, or | taken prisoners, as they maintained their position to the last. Lieutenant Crane himself, being badly shot in the groin, was lying in an exposposition unseen by us, and under iire of our own Maxim gun, which was playing 011 the kopje now occupied by the Boers, and in imminent risk of being killed by our own fire j Suddenly one of the Boers came forward amidst a hail of bullets, lifted up Lieutenant Crane, and carried him to a place of safety. Many a V.C has been gained by doing a similar action. The story was subsequently corroborated by Lieutenant Crane, who told me that the man who' behaved so gallantly towards him was Jtamed Meyers.-From the History 01 Luinsden's Horse."-