Reminiscences of Queensland, 1862-1869Corfield, William Henry
History
Reminiscences of Queensland, 1862-1869
Corfield, William Henry
Frontier and pioneer life -- Australia -- Queensland; Queensland -- History
Although the Bush Brotherhood was founded by the Church of England at a
period later than that at which I decided should end these
reminiscences, it may not be out of place to allude to the good work of
the Brethren, and the success of their endeavours to promote the
spiritual and oftentimes the material welfare of the west. The members
lived a life of hardship and self-abnegation, which was appreciated by
people of all and of no religious beliefs.
One of its most notable members was the Reverend Hulton-Sams--known as
the Fighting Parson--and who was the winner of many friendly fights. He
travelled the west visiting stations and shearing sheds with his Bible
and prayer-book on one handle of his bike, and a set of boxing gloves on
the other, and after preaching an impressive extempore sermon,
concluding the service, would invariably say, "Now, boys, we will have a
little recreation!" and invite his hearers to put on the gloves. He was
not always the winner, however. His manly virtues, the sincerity of his
life, and the beauty of his character, made him one of the best loved
amongst western men. On his return to England, after the war broke out,
he enlisted, and received a commission as a Lieutenant in the "Duke of
Cornwall's Light Infantry." He went with his regiment to France, and was
instantaneously killed by a shell when seeking water for his wounded
comrades. He died, as he lived, a Christian hero, and nothing better can
be said of any man.
The following account of his death, received by his sister, Lady
Wiseman, was published in the London _Evening News_:--
The Adjutant of a battalion of the D.C.L.I., said:--"He died a glorious
death--that of a British officer and gentleman, commanding a company in
an important position, and sticking it where many others might have
failed. We were hanging on to the edge of a wood, and the Germans were
trying to shell us out of it. That night the Germans attacked us
again--bombs and liquid fire. C. Company stuck to it, and through all
the terrific shelling they never flinched, although they lost heavily.
"They were there at 10 a.m., and I crawled to and talked to your brother
several times. He was magnificent and very cheerful. His last words to
me were, 'Well, old boy, this is a bit thick, but we'll see it through,
never fear.' His company sergeant-major told me that at about 10 a.m.
your brother crawled away to see if he could get any water for the men,
many of whom were wounded and very thirsty.
"He was hit by a piece of shell in the thigh and side, and killed
instantly. He died doing a thing which makes us feel proud to have
known him. He was a fine officer, a fine friend, and was worshipped by
his men."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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