MR BUNTINE'S HEROISM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 293, 11 December 1899, Page 3

MR BUNTINE'S HEROISM.

RECOMMENDED FOR THE V.C.

The following- from the "Times" of Natal, dated October 25, appeared as an extract from a private letter Avhich had been received from the front, giving particulars of the heroic deed of Dr. R. A. Buntine, on account of Avhich he Avas recently mentioned .in Sir George White's despatches "for conspicuous gallantry." The letter Avas dated October 21:—

"Little stories of individual gallantry are cropping up as the Avar progresses. One of the most brilliant so far was the plucky conduct of Dr. Bimtine, of Maritzburg-, who was out with the Carbiniers during the brush they had with the Boers, when Lieut. .Gallvvey was lost. As the Carbiniers retreated one. of the horses fell and threw his rider heavily, who was partially stunned. Dr. Buutine rode back and picked him up, and when helping him along on foot Ay.as hotly fired on by the Boers. On seeing this, Dr. Buntme's orderly, called Duke, came back to their assistance. The injured trooper was put on the horse of the orderly, and Dr. Buntine brought his man back, holding on to his stirrupleather. Doctors arc often described as non-combatants, and in consequence are often looked down upon by their more war-like brotherofficers. Well," at least, sometimes they can be heroic. Dr. Buntino is an. Australian."

Dr. Morrison, the principal of the Scotch College, has received tile following letter from tie Rev. J. M. Macdonald, an old pupil of the school, and a son of the late Dr. Macdonald, of South Melbourne: —

"The Old Deanery, Maritzburg, October 26, 1899. My dear Principal,— The other night Dr. 31. A. Buntine and I were yarning- about our old school, so, though I am -vvm-kinj"- under high pressure, I hasten to tell you that a despatch from the general officer commanding in Natal," Sir George White, V.C., goes home by to-morrow's mail', bringing to the notice of Her Majesty the conspicuous bravery under, firein the face of the enemy of SurgeonCaptain It. A. Buntine, of the Natal Volunteer Medical Corps. He is recommended for the V.C. It Avould be nice if the first Australian to get the Victorian Cross should be an old Scotch College boy.. Please put up a shield in the long schoolroom for conspicuous bravery, civil or military, and put Dr. Buntine on it for 1899. In the long hot nights of the summer on the plains of India, where I serve the soldiers of the Queen for Christ's sake, I often wake to find I have been dreaming of the days when I was a rowdy, happy boy' at 'The Scotch,' lacking goals against 'The Grammar' and 'The Wesley College.' Some day I shall come back to see the dear old school."