Our Citizen Soldiers - Surgeon H.R. Horne at the Boer War

‘Surgeon Horne’s Sensational Experiences’

An Australian soldier, (says "The Age"), who had an escape from death in South Africa, which can only be characterised as marvellous, is surgeon H.R. Horne, of Traralgon, who left Melbourne with the Cameron Scouts in March last and returned on Thursday night in the "Aberdeen" on three months' leave of absence. Probably there is not another man in the Imperial Army who was shot clean through the body by a bullet which penetrated both lungs and heart, and yet is alive to tell the tale. Such an occurrence befell Surgeon Horne.

The adventure happened at Tuli, in Rhodesia, on the 21st of October. A sniping engagement was in progress, when a Boer spy entered the British lines, and when within 60 yards of Surgeon Horne, took aim and fired at him. The bullet entered the Surgeon's right side, penetrated the lung, cut the heart, traversed the left lung, and leaving the body, Surgeon H.R. Horne embedded itself in the ground. Wonderful to relate, Traralgon Cricket Team 1893-94 the wounded man did not lose consciousness, but he was so prostrated that he had to be assisted into camp.

He was at once invalided and was laid up for a fortnight. Leave of absence from 7th of December to 7th of March was granted him. He has now completely recovered from the effects of the wound, and states that he feels as strong and sound as when he left Melbourne. He attributes his recovery to the fact that the bullet missed the cavity of the heart. The bullet was secured by a Kaffir servant, and is now in Surgeon Horne's possession. He has had it mounted as an interesting memento of the occurrence.

Dr. Horne went to South Africa as a private, but was promoted to the position of Surgeon shortly after arrival. Nevertheless, he acted as a combatant all through, and was engaged in a considerable amount of dangerous work as a despatch bearer to General Carrington.

The Cameron Scouts accompanied the Rhodesian Horse from Beira to Mafeking, arriving at the latter place shortly after its relief. The Surgeon was present at a good many engagements which followed, including those at Ottoshoop, Zeerust, Elands River, Rustenburg, Boffleshock, Maico River, Brockfontein and Doorndrift.

Twice previous to the occasion mentioned above, he was slightly wounded, once in the knee and again in the neck.

The most exciting time he passed was at Elands River, where a camp of 450 British and Australians were surrounded and shelled by about 4000 Boers. In the first 24 hours, 1800 shells were dropped into the camp, which was only 4 acres in extent. During the whole of the first night the "besieged" worked with pick and shovel, and by morning were all underground. Surgeon Horne heard as much as (3 was offered and accepted for the loan of a pick for half an hour. The little force defended the position for 11 days, when it was relieved by Lord Kitchener. The affair was described as one of the most meritorious of the campaign, and the Australians, particularly Major Tunbridge, of Queensland, were singled out for enthusiastic praise.

Surgeon Horne will spend about six weeks in Victoria, and will then return to South Africa to continue fighting, if there is any to be done. He will leave for his home in Gippsland in a day or two.