"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial
1
From - Lieutenant-Colonel P. L. Murray, Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa, p. 8:
Extract from Report of Major GL Lee, New South Wales Lancers
Monday, 15th January:
About 5.15 p.m I saw Colonel Porter with Warrant Officer Duncan and Private Buckhotz, 1st Australian Horse. The latter reported that Lieutenant Dowling's patrol had been surrounded and cut up, and that he was the only one who had escaped. Warrant-Officer Duncan and two others had been detached by Lieutenant Dowling to examine Foster's farm, and so escaped.
The patrol had reconnoitred, according to instructions and was about returning to camp when Warrant-Officer Duncan with two men was detached to examine Mr Foster's farm at Kleinfontein. After doing so, he went in search of Lieutenant Dowling's party, failing to find them, he concluded they had reed to camp. At 4:30 p.m. I was informed that a Now South males Lancer patrol had, been cut up.
Upon examination it was found that Sqdn. Sergeant-Major Griffin, 1st Australian Horse, had been killed, and Corporal Kilpatrick, New South Wales Lancers; was found severely wounded through the lungs, and lower jaw smashed.
Corporal Kilpatrick expired at 11 a.m.
One officer (Lieutenant Dowling) and 13 men are still missing.
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial
1
Miscellaneous information
Wounded in action, 4 September 1900 POW at Carolina Died of wounds at Carolina, 10 October 1900 Originally buried at Carolina Cemetery
Lest We Forget
Further Items
Frederick Avard after being presented with the Gold Medal for best shot in the Regiment.
Frederick Avard at Aldershot identified by a "X" upon his hat.
Major Lee's Letter
Major Lee, Officer Commanding the NSW Lancers wrote the following passage about Frederick Avard to Major General French at Victoria Barracks, Paddington.
Letter by Maj. Lee to Gen French, 25 October 1900
The grave in South Africa
The grave of Frederick Avard
General French's Letter
The letter to General French gave a wonderful description of the work done by Farrier Sergeant Mullard in making the cross. When General French received the letter he ordered a note to be sent to the next of kin, Mr E. Avard of West Maitland.
Letter to Mr E. Avard of West Maitland, 18 December 1900, p. 1.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Letter to Mr E. Avard of West Maitland, 18 December 1900, p. 2.
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Frederick Avard went to England with the NSW Lancers and on the voyage home, as war broke out, Major Lee offered his force for service. Those who did not wish to serve in South Africa signed a blue slip declaring that he was not willing to serve in South Africa. However, despite signing that slip, Frederick Avard appears to have taken part in the fight at Graspan in December 1899 under the command of Lieutenant Osborne as part of 29 reinforcements to the 9th Lancers. This group was known as The Fighting 28.
On 4 September 1900 at Welgelegen near Belfast, Lieutenant Heron and six men were sent out on a patrol to seize an important hill that overlooked the Komati River. During an engagement with the Boers, Frederick Avard's horse was shot and shortly afterwards, he too was severely wounded with a bullet through a kidney. His wounds required that he be left behind. He was evacuated by the Boers to Carolina where he died as a Prisoner of War.
Killed in Action, 15 January 1900, Mr Foster's farm at Kleinfontein
Place of burial
Colesberg Garden of Rememberance
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial
1
From - Lieutenant-Colonel P. L. Murray, Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa, p. 8:
Extract from Report of Major GL Lee, New South Wales Lancers
Monday, 15th January:
About 5.15 p.m I saw Colonel Porter with Warrant Officer Duncan and Private Buckhotz, 1st Australian Horse. The latter reported that Lieutenant Dowling's patrol had been surrounded and cut up, and that he was the only one who had escaped. Warrant-Officer Duncan and two others had been detached by Lieutenant Dowling to examine Foster's farm, and so escaped.
The patrol had reconnoitred, according to instructions and was about returning to camp when Warrant-Officer Duncan with two men was detached to examine Mr Foster's farm at Kleinfontein. After doing so, he went in search of Lieutenant Dowling's party, failing to find them, he concluded they had reed to camp. At 4:30 p.m. I was informed that a Now South males Lancer patrol had, been cut up.
Upon examination it was found that Sqdn. Sergeant-Major Griffin, 1st Australian Horse, had been killed, and Corporal Kilpatrick, New South Wales Lancers; was found severely wounded through the lungs, and lower jaw smashed.
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