§ LORD WAVENEYasked the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether the details of the death of Lieutenant Thurlow of the 51st Regiment have been correctly reported in the public Press; and whether it is proposed to recommend that any special mark of Her Majesty's favour be conferred upon his surviving comrade, Lieutenant Reid, of the same regiment? The noble Lord called the attention of the House to the gallant character of the feat of arms that appeared on the record. It appeared that the two young soldiers, of barely one year's service, who were with the Forces in Afghanistan— Lieutenant Thurlow and Lieutenant Reid, of the 51st Regiment—were on the high road, about three miles distant from the post to which they were attached, when they were suddenly attacked by a body of hill men, numbering from 30 to 40, and Lieutenant Thurlow was killed, two bullets entering his head and neck. The pony of Lieutenant Reid bolted with its rider; but as soon as that officer could master the animal he returned to the body of his dead comrade, shot one of the hill men, and was again attacked, one bullet tearing away his sleeve and part of his jersey. Perceiving that nothing more could be done for his comrade. Lieutenant Reid rode back to the post, arriving in time to bring out a detachment by which the body of the deceased officer was recovered and saved from further mutilation. He did not suppose for one moment that the noble conduct of Lieutenant Reid had escaped the notice of 887 the military authorities; but he desired that it should be rewarded with some special mark of Her Majesty's favour that would add honour to the young officer's professional career.
THE EARL OF MORLEY,in reply, said, that the noble Lord had given a substantially accurate account of the circumstances of Lieutenaut Thurlow's death, and of the behaviour of Lieutenant Reid on that occasion. There was no doubt that Lieutenant Reid behaved most admirably, and displayed that cool gallantry and presence of mind which, fortunately, British officers generally exhibited in times of emergency and difficulty. The account of the incident was forwarded by the Commander-in-Chief in India to the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief; but, although mention was made in the despatches of the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Reid, no special recommendation was inserted: and, under those circumstances, the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief did not consider that any particular mark of Her Majesty's favour was called for. Still, there was no doubt that Lieutenant Reid behaved in a most gallant manner, under most trying circumstances.