From the News

Dated: December 30, 1915

Major Fane, of the 3rd O.M.R., won high praise from his officers and men at the time he was wounded, while in action. Lieut. Campbell, writing home to Edmonton says:

Major Fane was a brick, and as brave and cheerful as could be. He was made as comfortable as possible in the bottom of the trench, and he laughed and kept the boys in good spirits. When it was over, and night came on, our stretcher-bearers started taking out the wounded, but the Major would not let himself be moved until all were out. I then let six of my big men from First Troop carry him. He has now been sent to England, and will not be back for some months. We will miss the Major so much. He was like a dad to us, and the place seems lost without him. *** The men were splendid, and we received great praise from General Seely the next day. He said that more shells fell on our part of the trenches than on any other part of the same length during the war, and that he was very much surprised that our casualties were not more, but considering we were only 87 strong at that time, and had 25 casualties in a few hours behind the trenches, I think it was quite enough.

Another officer writes:-

"You will have learned that Capt. Monkman was also killed that afternoon and Major Fane and Lieut. Kelly wounded. Major Fane was blown out of the trench also, but only sustained a broken leg. He had a wonderful escape. His conduct after that was wonderful. He was the first to be hit of the squadron. His men lifted him back in the trench and laid him down in the bottom. They wanted to take him to the dressing station but he refused to leave his men until the bombardment ceased. He sat there smoking cigarettes and chatting to those in the trench. He would not be moved until the last of his men who were wounded had been moved, and when he reached the dressing station he would not be dressed until everyone else had been dressed. His men are full of his gallantry. From what I know of Major Fane, I think he would probably deny this story, but it is as exactly as told to me by his men the day before yesterday.

"The boys of "C" squadron always thought a great deal of their major, Major F.W. Fane, but he has gone up in their estimation another hundred per cent. Although wounded early he refused to be moved, but lay there cheering the boys, not till every man that needed attention had been attended to, would he allow the medical men to do anything for him. He is certainly made of the genuine stuff. "C" squadron will never look the same."

The above is a passage in a letter written by Trooper Sam Anderson who left Edmonton with the 3rd C.M.R., dated France, Dec. 4th, 1915.

Major Fane is known to many in Lethbridge and his wife, a daughter of Mrs. D. Duff, is at present staying in the city.