FORMER ENEMY'S SWORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 7

FORMER ENEMY'S SWORD

OWNER BEING SOUGHT CAVALRY CHARGE INCIDENT ' A resident of Volksrust," in the Transvaal. Mr. Henry Horak. is anxious to return to its owner, his family, or to his rcg : raent, a sword belonging to a member of the 16th' Lancers, who were engaged with General French in breaking through the Boer lines' during the South African War to relieve Kimbsrley.

"I belonged to a section of a commando ordered by General Cronje io proceed to_ Rohdawels Drift, Modder River, to oppose the advance on Ivimberley by General French," said Sir. Horak. "About five miles from our destination we tooic up our positions for the conflict. "We were about 250 strong. The scene is as vividly before me now as when it- occurred in those far-off days. - "The Lancers came up- to about threequarters of a miie in front of our three* positions, which were almost in a straight line, and then formed into a charge formation. They formed into one long line and as far as* I could see a, second line was formed by ©very 20th or 25th man ridingforward. Right in front of the long" line was the leader.

"We wore, in the meantime, subjected to a terrific bombardment by the English artillery. The ground between the Lancei'3 and ourselves was ideal for a charge. First one end of our position wis taken, then a turn was made in order to envelop lis. At this juncture we retreated, and it was about four miles from here that the owner of the sword was shot. There was no time to ascertain whether the person who fell was dead or wounded, as an ambulance mule waggon was racing from point to point picking up the dead and wounded. The owner of the sword was removed within five minutes. I took the sword, which was attached to his - horse, and have had it 111 my possession since." Mr. Horak also found a letter which was in a coat, but lost it. It came from Bournemouth. England, and was written bv a sister of the lancer.