Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Wallace1: medico captured Boers at Elandslaagte.
Source:# 251 Doctor from Adelaide in Ladysmith siege.
Source:# 439 Plague Officer in India & Transvaal, MO Natal MR wounded in action at Ladysmith 6.1.1900, Mentioned in Despatches Queen's South Africa Medal (Elands. & DoL), possibly the first Australian in action during Boer War.
Source:# 476 WW1 RAN.
URL2: WW1 AIF Major AMC.
URL3: medical practitioner aged 45 from Malvern Vic.
URL4: WO127 Natal Medical Service Corps roll Lieut. Hornabrook RW joined 29.9.1899 resigned 8.10.1900.
URL5: Ambulance Detachment Natal MR beseiged in Ladysmith.
URL6: WW1 AIF Captain AAMC aged 45 in 1916 born in Adelaide SA next of kin wife in Malvern Vic., Royal Navy Colonial and RAMC, large scar from old bullet wound, Major 28.8.1917 1AGH.
URL7: ?St. Peter's College Adelaide SA.
URL8: Aust. Boer War Memorial database record.
URL10: The gallantry of Australians in the battlefield is not a mere assertion. Major (Karri) DAVIS, a native of Australia, who has been living in South Africa a few years, and who is attached to the Imperial Light Horse, distinguished himself at Ladysmith, especially at the battle of Caesar's Camp. It now transpires that he was the first man of the relieving force to enter Mafeking, being several hours ahead of Colonel Mahon's force. Then remember the heroism of Drs. HORNABROOK and BONTHORNE, tho two young South Australian physicians, at Ladysmith.
Register: A WORTHY SOUTH AUSTRALIAN. London, 26.10.1899. After the battle of Eland's Laagte on Saturday last, Dr. Rupert W HORNABROOK of Adelaide, now a surgeon in the Imperial Hospital Corps, while advancing alone into country near the British camp, discovered a party of forty Boers, who had taken refuge among a quantity of war stores. He pluckily faced them, and sternly called upon them in the Queen's name to surrender. Realizing that their hiding-place was known, and there was no way of escape, they obeyed, gave up their rifles, and expressed themselves glad that the fighting was over.
Australasian: Dr. RW HORNABROOK was in South Africa when the war broke out. He joined the Natal Mounted Rifles. He received the Queen's medal, with six clasps.
Ad. Advertiser: The first item on the official programme was the unveiling by the governor of the memorial tablet erected in memory of the late Surgeon-Captain CAMPBELL MB BS. Mr. James HENDERSON BA prefaced the ceremony with an eloquent appreciation of the life and services during the Boer war of the late Dr. CAMPBELL. He said that by the thoughtfulness of the Vice-Chancellor there had been passed certain rules, which would be found in the calendar, enabling the University to commemorate, after death, such of her alumni as might be deemed worthy of that honor. Among those rules it was provided that if an alumnus had achieved distinction by signal acts of courage in the performance of duty, or in the cause of humanity, or had rendered eminent services to the Empire or to South Australia, he might be so commemorated. Some months ago Professor WATSON brought under their notice the case of the late Dr. Allan James CAMPBELL, and urged that his was a career worthy of the highest honor at the hands of the University. The Vice-Chancellor and various members of the council thereupon collated what information was available, and prepared a preliminary statement; but before submitting it to the council it was thought advisable to seek official confirmation from head quarters upon various points. In the circumstances of the case they could not let the Chancellor know what they were doing nor seek his help in any respect; but there was an esteemed friend of the University living in Victoria, to whom they did apply, and that not in vain. That was his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Tennyson. (Cheers.) With that readiness to do a kindly act, and that courteousness which had ever characterised him, his Excellency at once communicated with the War Office, and obtained official documents, which amply confirmed what Professor WATSON had told them. Thereupon they submitted to the council a short epitome of the career which they now sought to honor, and in June last [1903] the members present at the meeting unanimously determined "That Allan James CAMPBELL had achieved distinction by signal acts of courage in the course of duty and in the cause of humanity, and that his memory should be perpetuated within the precincts of the University." Last month with equal unanimity the Senate concurred in that decision. A tablet had accordingly been erected, and it was his privilege, on behalf of the University, to invite his Excellency to unveil it. Upon the battle-fields of South Africa in the recent memorable campaign, the Commonwealth of Australia was nobly represented. The crisis was a serious one in the history of the Empire, and for a time it seemed as if our time-honored flag were in danger; that flag which for so many years had stood throughout the world for justice, for honor, and for freedom. But from Australia and every part of the Empire, Britain's sons rallied round that old flag, and kept it flying. Of those who thus went forth, some went to smite, and the foe, brave though he was, learned to dread our intrepid bush men and riflemen. Others, and there was a noble band of them - men and women went to heal, to succour, and to save. In this department the University of Adelaide was splendidly represented. First there was Professor WATSON. His genius and skill as a surgeon had a world-wide reputation; and who could measure the value of his great services in the cause of humanity in those crowded hospitals, and to those wounded and suffering men? People here knew his great skill and his great heart, and they could not but wonder that the Imperial authorities had not shown some recognition of the great and voluntary services he rendered. Then there was Dr. Frank DOUGLAS, who frequently, under fire, rescued and tended wounded comrades, and who, if he had done nothing more than rescue Captain COLLINS under the circumstances in which he did rescue him, deserved high honor. Next there was Dr. Rupert HORNABROOK. In the hospitals and on the fields of battle he risked his life in the cause of his comrades, with a total disre gard of personal danger which amounted almost to recklessness. They might read of his heroic conduct in that stirring book of MACDONALD's, "How we kept the flag flying." That these men were with them to-day, considering the perils they had passed through, was indeed little short of the miraculous. But there were two others to be mentioned who died in South Africa at the post of duty. One of these was the late Dr. HOPKINS, whose memorial tablet upon that wall records "That under fire, and at imminent risk of his life, he tended and rescued comrades wounded and in danger." The other was Dr. Allan James CAMPBELL.
Ad. Advertiser: ST. PETER'S COLLEGE. A MEMORIAL TABLET. OLD SCHOLARS SERVICE. An interesting ceremony was performed at St. Peter's College on Sunday morning [7.9.1902] when the Bishop of Adelaide unveiled a tablet recording the names of the old boys who fought for the Empire in the late Boer war. The memorial was erected by the Old Scholars' Association, and on it are inscribed the names of just four score soldiers who saw service in South Africa. The roll of honor is alphabetically arranged thus - GR ALDRIDGE, EK ANDREWS, CP BUTLER, DW BROCK, FW BELT, S BLUE, GE BLACKMORE, JR BECK, JWH BOSWORTH, S BAGOT, HR CORPE, GE CATCHLOVE, AJ CAMPBELL, N CAPMBELL, RH CUDMORE, NW CUTHBERTSON, FS CUDMORE, AC CARTER, G COSSINS, FS DOUGLAS, JH DOWNER, HSC DALE, AE DAVIS, HM DOWNES, Harold DOWNES, WH EDMUNDS, RH FERGUSON, CC FERGUSON, RS FOTHERINGHAM, WH GOSSE, AH GLEN, FWC GEYER, FD GOWER, JLH GORDON, JM HOWE, R HAMILTON, WF HOPKINS, CF HONNER, RW HORNABROOK, LF HAYWARD, FDV HODGSON, G LEWIS, C MORPHETT, FH MAKIN, JH MAKIN, LH MILNE, VM NEWLAND DCM, D OLDHAM, NB O'HALLORAN, G PALTRIDGE, H PAGE, CH PACKARD, EJ PIZEY, Gordon DEREYHER, JP RICHARDSON, HG RANKINE, AG RANKINE, WH SCOTT, CG SABINE, AE SHORT, FL SIMPSON, GJ SANGSTER, WM STEWART, CG FRAMPTON, HA TOLMER, HF TOLMER, FB TREVENEN, W TWEEDIE, MD TWEEDIE, J WAY, RD WEBB, AOH WRIGHT, PE WARBURTON, Guy WYLLY VC, PWG WILSON, SA WHITE, AB WORTHINGTON, OD WIGLEY, KA WARMINGTON. The tablet has been erected in what is known as the big schoolroom and the unveiling was witnessed by a large assemblage of past and present scholars, the former embracing some of the best known men in the State, including Senator Sir John DOWNER and the Treasurer (the Hon. R BUTLER). ...
Exp&Tel.: Dr. R HORNABROOK, who was accorded a splendid reception [by the St. Peter's Collegians' Association 29.5.1902], gave an interesting address of his experiences in South Africa in the early, part of the Boer war.
Ad. Advertiser: Dr. RW HORNABROOK, who distinguished himself in South Africa in the early stages of the war, returned on Sunday [16.2.1902], to South
Australia from the scene of operations. He disembarked in Melbourne from the
steamer Sophocles, and came as far as Aldgate by express train. Dr. HORNABROOK
went back to South Africa in May last with the intention of settling there, if the state of affairs proved favorable, but as the war was still being carried on and there appeared to be no immediate prospect of a cessation of hostilities he decided to return to Adelaide.
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