ONE major news item that would have hit the headlines in Thornbury sometime in September, 1880, concerned the death of Lieut. Hector MacLaine, son of W. O. MacLaine of Kyneton House. This may have been announced as follows:
Tragic Death of Brave Young Officer
WE heard some weeks ago that Lt Hector MacLaine, son of Col W O MacLaine, of Kyneton House, had been injured in the disastrous battle at Maiwand in Afghanistan. Captured whilst searching for water for his surviving men and horses, Lieut. MacLaine was being held captive at Kandahar. News has now been received that, just as units of the British Army, under the command of General Sir Frederick Roberts, were entering the town, having defeated Ayub Khan's army after an arduous march from Kabul, Lieut. MacLaine's captors cut his throat.
We are sure that all our readers will join with us in extending our deepest sympathies to Col MacLaine and his family, for the loss of such a brave young officer.
(Subsequently a memorial drinking fountain, paid for by public subscription, was installed on the west side of the High Street at the point where the Fire Station was later built. The fountain was eventually moved to the top of Castle Street, just below the gates of the Bank, where it can still be seen, though no longer supplying drinking water)
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