West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 13 August 1901, page 6


THE LATE LIEUT. STANLEY REID. LETTER. FROM HIS BROTHER. The following is a copy of a letter sent by Surgeon Captain Reid. of the Sixth West Australian Contingent; to his parents in Adelaide. describing the death of Lieut. Stanley Reid. The letter was sent on to Mr. Philip Cantor, of this city, to whom we are indebted for the conv of it:"June 25.-Here I am in hospital, where I am looking after Stanley. It was the day before yesterday he was wounded, and, so far, is doing fairly well. To-morrow we hope to be able to tell how things are to go with him. If he gets through to-morrow without any serians symptoms, he will have a quick recovery. The day before yesterday, as soon as it was light enough to march, the Fifth and Sixth W.A.M.I. and Imperial Light Horse, with two Colt guns, left camp to reconnoitre the surrounding country, as the Boer snipers had been giving a lot of annoyance on the previous day. On a kopje about three miles from camp we lodged the guns in a position in which they had command on all sides within a range of about 3,000 yards. From the kopje we advanced, the Fifth on the left and the Sixth in the centre, and on the right we advanced two and a half miles from the guns to some kaffir kraals, where we halted, while Stanley was further ahead with his troops in skirmishing order to see what was over the sky-line which was about three miles away from us. They advanced slowly, and when they were near the sky-line we heard heavy firing going on. Stanley and his troops disappeared from view be-hind a ridge, and the rifle firing became very heavy and continuous in their direc-tion. Then we saw about twenty mount-ed men appear from the ridge over which his troops had disappeared from view. We took them to be our men returning until they came within 300 yards or so. Then we discovered they were Boers chasing two of Stanley's men. We open-ed fire on them and drove them back. Then these two men told us that of Stan-ley's troops' two men were killed and three wounded, the rest being taken pri-soners. In the meantime the 5in. gun had been sent for and taken into position alongside the Colt guns. These now commenced firing on the enemy for a while at a range of about five miles. Af-ter they finished my orderly and myself rode across with the Red Cross flag, to the scene of the troops' engagement. There we found two dead and three wounded — Stanley through the stomach, his sergeant in three places, through the neck, through the leg, and through his lungs; and a private through the chest. We at once dressed Stanley's wounds, and made him as comfortable as it was possible, the men of ours doing all they could to make him comfortable, taking off half their own clothes to make a bed for him and to cover him. In about an hour and a half the ambulance waggon came, and we took them all back to camp. Major Jones, who is in charge of the hospital, has done everything to make him comfortable. "June 30, 25 miles from Middleburgh, —Stanley died yesterday morning at 5 o'clock. Since he was wounded I have been near him all the time, and was with him when be passed away. I had all the surgeons in the camp. but they all agreed it was hopeless. He was in consider-able pain, but stood it as I have seldom seen a man stand it. The men of the contingent fairly worshipped him; and are very cut up over his death. Poor Stanley's grave is the best I have seen in South Africa. The men asked leave from the captain to look after the grave. Leave was granted, and they worked away at it and made it up splendidly." LETTER FROM CAPTAIN CAMPBELL. The following letter was forwarded to the patents of the late Stanley Spencer Reid by Captain Campbell, the officer commanding the Sixth West Australian Contingent; and has been sent to us for publication:- -"Rudde Krnal Camp, with Colonel Pitcairn-Campbell's column, June 30, 1901.-From 'Captain Campbell, officer commanding Sixth W.A.M.I.-It is with very great regret that I have to apprise you of. the death of your son, Lieut. Stanley's. Reid. who was wounded in an engagement with the enemy at Spitz Kop on the 23rd inst., and died this morning from the result of his wound. From the time' of receiving his woundlie was attended without intermission by the officer commanding the field hospital of General Kitchener's column, and his brother. our own medical officer, who was untiring in his attendance, and who was with him constantly night and day until the time of his death. 'Both officers and men under my conmmand feel acutely' the loss of your gallant son, who by his kindliness end manly bearing had endeared himself to everybody with whom he was associated. His conduct dn the field was most exemplary. During our engagement at Break-pan he was severely wounded in the stomach. but, notwithstandihg the severity of his wound, he continued in action, and led his division until the close of operations. For this conspicuous bravery I mentioned him in despatches, and the general commandine this column was pleased to forward it o" to the Cornmander-in-Chief: He was hburied this mmiorFnhuratnsnll +nnmnmn hrre at 9

o'clock. with all due military honours, the funeral bein,. attended by Colonel Campbell and his staff, together with representatives from all the regiments comprising this column, the burial service being performed by his friend, our chaplain, Mr. Collick. The grave is situated under a clump of Australian wattles and a large wooden cross has been placed substantially at' the head, bearing his name, etc. The men who were lately under his command, comprisir- his division, have taken upon themselves the arrangement of the grave nicely. with stone device, etc., being anxious to do all in their power to show their regard towards their late officer. Will you please accept from me. and also from the officers and men under my command, our sincerest sympathy with you in your sorrow, and ma.o, we hone that the fact of your son dying as an officer on the field of battle, leading his men for his country, may reconcile you and the other members of your family and those who were dear to him to his loss."