DEATH OF A CRIMEAN HERO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2429, 4 February 1888, Page 2

DEATH OF A CRIMEAN HERO.

Colonel W. B. Ainslik, C.8., died recently at his residence in Chester Street, Elinburgh. The event was sudden and unexpected, the deceased having been in fairly aood health on Sunday. The deceased was born at Futtigur, his father being at the time a colonel of the Madras Army. Colonel Ainslie entered the army at an early age, and attaching his destinies to the 93rd" Highlanders, rose to the command of the regiment, and led it through some of tho most memorable engagements of the Crimean War. Ho led tho intrepid Highlanders up the heights of Alma, and at a latter stage of that memorable campaign it was he who formed the Highlanders into tho now historic " thin red line," which has so well been depicted on canvas, and which holds a foremost place in the history of the Crimean War. Besides being present at the Alma and Balaclava, the gallant Colonel took part in other engagements with tho Russians, but the formation of the " thin red lino," devised for the purpose of resisting tho heavy onset of Russian cavalry, has given himself and his men a lustre only perhaps equalled by tho famous charge of the Light Brigade. For his services in the Crimea, Cfilonel Aiuslie was decorated with the honour of Commander of the Bath. He was a lino example of the old British soldier.