ERSKINE-FLOWER – HENRY NOEL CLARE

Note:
IN HIS BOOK ‘RUSTENBURG AT WAR’ LIONEL WULFSOHN QUOTES FROM THE REMINISCENCES OF W.A.SCHOCH  ‘TRANSVAAL-34 YEARS IN THE COUNTRY OF THE BOERS ‘ AS FOLLOWS:-
“IN THE MILITARY HOSPITAL TO WHICH THE WOUNDED HAD BEEN SENT, LIES A VERY YOUNG SCOTTISH LIEUTENANT, WHO RECEIVED A BULLET THROUGH THE SPINE. I FOUND HIM SURROUNDED BY LOVELY BUNCHES OF FLOWERS, WHICH INHABITANTS WHO HAVE PITY ON HIM, HAD SENT TO THE HOSPITAL. HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND SLEPT LIKE A CHILD. SLOWLY, SLOWLY HIS VITALITY EBBED AWAY, THE HEART BEAT MORE FEEBLY BY THE HOUR! AND AT HOME IN FAR AWAY SCOTLAND HIS AGED PARENTS IN THEIR CASTLE WORRY ABOUT THEIR ONLY SON, WHO HAD ENTERED THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY FULL OF IDEALS JUST LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER YOUNG NOBLEMEN. HE THOUGHT TO RETURN HOME WITH GLORY! SINCE THE PARENTS HEARD BY CABLE ABOUT THE INJURIES TO THEIR SON, DAILY CABLES ARRIVED AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF RUSTENBURG 7,OO0 MILES AWAY, ASKING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE YOUNG OFFICER. THERE IS NO DISTANCE TO THE LOVE OF PARENTS, AND DAILY THE GRADUAL SINKING OF THE VITAL POWERS OF THEIR SON WAS REPORTED TO THEM. THEN THE END WAS HERE. WHEN I CAME ONE DAY THE BED WAS EMPTY, AND A FRESH MOUND HAD JOINED THE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN THE CEMETERY.” ( NOTE:- BY LIONEL WULFSOHN – IN ACTUAL FACT THERE ARE 77 GRAVES OF BRITISH SOLDIERS IN THE RUSTENBURG CEMETERY)