COCKBURN, HAMPDEN ZANE CHURCHILL,
Major, the son of Mr George Ralph Richardson Cockburn (a Director of the
Ontario Bank at Toronto, and for many years MP for that city, as well as
Principal of Upper Canada College); was born on 19 November 1857; was
educated at Upper Canada College (Toronto), and Rugby School, England. On
20 November 1891, he entered the Governor-General's Bodyguard as 2nd
Lieutenant On 20 September 1897, at great risk to himself he saved the lives
of two brothers, Robert and James Harris, who were drowning in Lake
Rousseau, Canada, and was awarded the Royal Canadian Humane Society's
Medal. Early in 1900 he volunteered for service in the Boer War of
1899-1902, and won the Victoria Cross as described in the London Gazette of
23 April, 1901: "Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn, Lieutenant, Royal Canadian
Dragoons. Date of Act of Bravery: 7 November 1900. Lieutenant Cockburn,
with a handful of men, at a most critical moment, held off the Boers to
allow the guns to get away. To do so he had to sacrifice himself and his
party, all of whom were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, he himself
being slightly wounded". Lieutenant Cockburn, Lieutenant Turner and
Sergeant Holland won the Victoria Cross in a very gallant defence of the
guns at Komati River. General Smith-Dorrien, by a wide turning movement,
compelled the enemy to vacate a very strong position. The Boers were very
strongly reinforced during the night and tried to recover their position
next day; but Colonel Evans, with the Canadian Mounted Rifles and two guns
of the 84th Battery, forestalled them, after a gallop of two miles. On the
returning march, the rearguard consisted of the Canadian Dragoons and two
Canadian 12-pounders, under Colonel Lessard. After some heavy fighting they
were unexpectedly charged in the afternoon by 200 mounted Boers, who got
within seventy yards before they were stopped by the Canadian Dragoons.
Lieutenant Cockburn held them off at a most critical moment and deliberately
sacrificed himself and his party to let the guns get away. He was slightly
wounded himself, and his men were all either killed, wounded, or taken
prisoners. Later in the day Lieutenant Turner, who had already been twice
wounded, dismounted, and deploying his men at close quarters, drove off the
enemy. Sergeant Holland worked a Colt gun with most deadly effect, until at
last he found the enemy almost on top of him, and the horse attached to the
carriage much blown. He then lifted the gun off the carriage, mounted his
horse, and rode away with the gun under his arm. Besides the Victoria Cross
he also received the Queen's Medal, with clasps for Cape Colony, Diamond
Hill, part in forty-five engagements. He won the Victoria Cross under the
command of Colonel Lessard, commanding the unit, and Major-General Smith-Dorrien,
General Officer Commanding. He was decorated by HRH the Duke of Cornwall
and York at Toronto on 11 October 1901, and on the same occasion a sword of
honour, voted to him by the council of that city, was presented to him.
Major Cockburn later belonged to the Canadian Reserve of Officers. He was
killed by his horse on his ranch at Maple Creek, Canada, July, 1913.
