AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19625, 2 May 1927, Page 10

AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

REMOVAL OF A BULLET. SOUTH AFRICAN. WAR WOUND. [FROM OUR OW'fl CORRESPONDENT. 1 VANCOUVER, April 6. Receiving a bullet wound in 1901 in the South African War, and having it removed 26 years later in' Vancouver, has been the experience of ex-Trooper W. A. Alexander, who has now practically recovered from an operation performed- on March 10. At the age of 18, Mr. Alexander enlisted at Melbourne, with three brothers. After eight months of active service he was severely wounded in an engiagen nt between • the force of General Botha and Colonel Benson's column at Bethel, Northeastern 'Transvaal, in October, 1901. His wounds were grave, causing a compound fracture of both thighs, and, as he lay wounded, he received another bullet in the back. The latter was regarded by the doctor who attended him as being only a flesh wound, as it healed while he was being treated in hospital for his major disablement. As years went on, pain developed m the spine, which Mr. Alexander took to be rheumatism. Eventually it began to cause him some alarm, and he placed himself in the care of Dr. Wallace Wilson, of Vancouver, where he had settled down. An X-ray examination showed four pieces of metal close to the spine, which, when removed under an anaesthetic, proved be parts of an explosive bullet. The largest piece taken out was the base of the bullet, and was found to be encased in a covering of gristle, quarter of an inch thick. This covering was, no doubt. Nature's way of protecting the tender flesh from the jagged edges of the projectile. It is surmised that it formed while he was recovering from his other wounds. Mr. Alexander savs he thinks tlhe bullet struck his ammunition pouch, and »-x----nloded before actually entering the flesh Despite his wounds, he became a noted athlete here, and represented tlhe Vancouver Athle+ic Club, also winning the amateur middle-weight boxing championship of British Columbia, and the Pacific Coast championship in the same class. He is a prominent Labour delegate *>nd did mnch toward establishing the eighthour day for engineers in the lumber muls of this province.