| Harold Lothrop Borden | |
|---|---|
Harold Lothorp Borden |
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| Born | 23 May 1876 Canning, Nova Scotia |
| Died | 16 July 1900 (aged 24) Witpoort, South Africa |
| Buried at | Braamfontein Cemetery, Brakpan, Greater Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Allegiance | Britain |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars |
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Lieutenant Harold Lothrop Borden, (23 May 1876 - 16 July 1900) was from Canning, Nova Scotia and the only son of Canada's Minister of Militia and Defence, Frederick William Borden. He became the most famous Canadian casualty of the Second Boer War.[1] Queen Victoria asked F. W. Borden for a photograph of his son, Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier praised his services, tributes arrived from across Canada, and in his home town a monument (by Hamilton MacCarthy) was erected to his memory.[2]
Bordon's military career began in 1893, when he entered the King's Canadian Hussars. In 1897, as a member of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Contingent he received the Jubilee Medal. By 1899 he rose to Major in command of this corps. At the outbreak of the Second Boer War Borden received a commission as Lieutenant with the 1st Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles and allotted to the 1st Battalion, "B" Squadron as Officer Commanding the 4th Troop. He was brought to the attention of Field Marshal Lord Roberts', the British commander-in-chief in South Africa, for repeatedly swimming with Richard Turner across the Vet River at Coetzee's Drift, to draw the fire of the Boers who were dug in on the north bank (5 May 1900).[3]
Borden also fought with distinction at the Battle of Faber's Put(30 May 1900). The battle was one of the most desperate actions faced by Canadians while campaigning in South Africa: 27 killed and 41 wounded and the loss of a large number of horses. Field Marshal Lord Roberts reported: “Lieut. H. L. Borden, gallant conduct in swimming the Vet River under fire, 5th May, and in capturing some of the enemy’s wagons on 30th May.” [4]
The death of Lieutenant Harold Lothrop Borden at Witpoort on 16 July 1900 occurred when Lieutenant John Edgar Burch and he, when rendering assistance to the Royal Irish Fusiliers and some New Zealanders to withstand a Boer assault on Witpoort ridge, they led a counter-attack. It was successful, but Boer marksmen standing at less than 200 metres, shot them as they stood up to lead the assault. Lord Roberts reported to the War Office that Borden and Burch "were killed while gallantly leading their men in a counter attack upon the enemy's flank at a critical juncture of his assault upon our position." [5]