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On Thursday Captain Horace Dickson Mayhew, eldest son of Mr. Horace Mayhew, Broughton Hall, entrained at Chester at five o'clock to join his regiment at York. The regiment sails for South Africa on the 11th inst. The officials and work-people connected with the Aston Hall, Lane End and Main Coal Collieries could not allow him to depart without some token of their appreciation of his kindly manner during the time he has held various official positions among them. They presented him with a wristlet watch and a handsome illuminated address, which read: "To Horace Dickson Mayhew, Esq., 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Dear Sir, - The officials and workmen employed at the Aston Hall, Lane End and Main Coal Companies, Hawarden, have heard with pride your patriotic offer to serve your country in South Africa, and congratulate you on his Majesty's acceptance of the same and your appointment, attached to the 4th Yorks Regiment, now going abroad to the seat of war. Their knowledge of you, acquired from intimate associations while you were with the above companies occupying various official positions, has by your invariably courteous conduct and most kindly manner gained the esteem of all, and justified them in hoping that you will succeed in the performance of your military duties, and will not be unrecognised while on active service. That you may be spared to return home to your family with a soldier's honourable reward and the satisfaction of duty well done is their sincerest wish. They beg your acceptance of a wristlet watch, which they hope you may wear as a memento of the friends of all classes who now wish you God-speed and a safe return."
Cheshire Observer, Saturday 8th March 1902

The usually quiet village of Hawarden and the surrounding district were thrown into ecstasies of joy on Friday evening, when the inhabitants turned out to give a right royal welcome to Capt. Horace D. Mayhew on his return from South Africa. Captain Mayhew, who is the son of Mr. Horace Mayhew, of Broughton Hall, Deputy Lieutenant of Flintshire and a magistrate of the counties of Flint and Lancaster, belongs to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. When the late Boer war broke out, his battalion was embodied for service at home, and for eighteen months they did garrison duty at Plymouth, and also served on Salisbury Plain. The battalion was then embodied. In the beginning of the present year the War Office asked for officers to go out to South Africa, and Captain Mayhew gallantly volunteered. His services were accepted, and he was attached to the 4th Yorkshire Regiment, with the rank of captain. He embarked in February last with his regiment for the front, and saw service in the Vryberg and Klerksdorp districts, where he had charge of several blockhouses, extending in length to a distance of four miles. He came in contact with the enemy during one or two of Kitchener's favourite drives. He became a great favourite in his regiment, and was spoken of in high terms of praise. Captain Mayhew returned on board the transport Sunda, arriving on Thursday at Queenstown, where he was met by his father, mother and sister. The little party reached Chester yesterday (Friday), and left for Hawarden by the 7.10 p.m. train from the Northgate Station, arriving at their destination shortly before eight o'clock. As the train drew up, the band of the village company of the Welsh Fusiliers appropriately played "Home, Sweet Home." Captain Mayhew's stepping out on to a platform, which had been reserved, was the signal for an outburst of cheering. He was met by Mr. T. Wright, chairman of the Parish Council, Mr. C. B. Toller, and the following among other members of the welcome-home committee: Capt. Swetenham, Messrs. J. Hampson, F. Green, H. Cunningham, J.H. Adkins, T. H. Haswell, T. H. Gibson, etc. The first enthusiastic greetings over, Mr. Mayhew and Captain Mayhew got into their carriage, and, the horses having been removed, they were hauled merrily along by the members of the Aston Hall Football Club, to the strains of the band and the dazzling glare of countless torches, which contrasted strongly with Hawarden's usual "outer darkness." The procession contained, beside the band, the Hawarden Volunteers, including most of those who had been out to South Africa, several Buckley Volunteers, and a large number of employes at the Aston Hall Collieries. The Volunteers were under Captain Swetenham, Lieut. Underhill and Sergt.-Major Claridge.
At the fountain, close to the entrance to the park, the procession stopped, and a lurry, which had been transformed into a stage, was mounted by Captain and Mr. Mayhew, Captain Swetenham, Mr. T. Wright, etc. From this improvised platform, Mr. T. Wright read the following address of welcome to Captain Mayhew: - "On behalf of the parishioners of Hawarden, I give you a hearty welcome on your return home from active service in South Africa. I can assure you that the Hawarden people are very proud of their South African soldiers. (Applause.) They have shewn that they are made of the stuff which makes a man loyal to his country in time of need. While we rejoice in the return home of so many of their comrades, we cannot help a feeling of sadness when we think of those brave hearts which have gone never to return. We deeply sympathise with their relatives, and thank God that He permitted you to return to your family and friends, safe and sound. I give you a sincere welcome home in the name of the parishioners of Hawarden and the welcome home committee." (Applause.)
Captain Swetenham, on behalf of the Volunteers of Hawarden, tendered to Captain Mayhew their very hearty welcome home from active service in South Africa. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Mayhew had said to him that it was good of the Volunteers to turn out. He (Captain Swetenham) did not think so. It was not at all good of them. It was their duty. (Hear, hear.) As Captain Mayhew belonged to the 3rd R.W.F., and as the Hawarden Volunteers formed a part - no doubt a very humble part - of that celebrated regiment, they were only doing their duty by assembling there in the best numbers they could. He hoped that Captain Mayhew would have very many years of health and happiness before him, and that he would look upon his experiences in South Africa with pleasure. (Hear, hear.) Captain Mayhew had served with credit, not only to the 4th Yorkshire, but also to the 3rd R.W.F. (Applause.) Mr. Mayhew, the captain's father, had been a very hearty and generous supporter of the Volunteer movement in that neighbourhood. (Hear, hear.)
Captain H. D. Mayhew, who was received with great applause, said it was almost impossible for him to express his feelings to them in words for the very kindly reception they had given him. His only regret was that he did not go out sooner, and although rather late, he just managed to get there in time, before the war was over. With reference to the Volunteers, he considered them a splendid force. (Applause.) They had sent a number of representatives from Hawarden, and they had all done very well in South Africa. He would be very proud to be a member of the Hawarden contingent. He was pleased to think that he belonged to the same regiment, if not to the same battalion. Although he could not say what he would like to say, he thanked them from the bottom of his heart for the kind way they had received and treated him. It was the proudest moment of his life. (Applause.)
Mr. Horace Mayhew, who evidently spoke under great emotion, said it was hard for him to say what he felt, but he thanked them for the kindly reception they had given his son. He deeply sympathised with those who had boys who had gone out and not come back again, and he felt how great a hardship it must have been for any relatives of those to come there that night. He thanked them very sincerely for their presence. It was a great honour to see so many of those with whom he had lived for many years around him to give his son a welcome. It touched him deeply, and he trusted that his children and he might deserve the honour they had done them. He thanked them all. (Applause.) It was exceedingly kind of Capt. Swetenham and the officers and men of the Hawarden Volunteers to turn out that evening. He knew the interest that Captain Swetenham had taken, and always did take, in anything connected with the Volunteers in that district, and he thought it was exceedingly good of them and their old friend, Mr. Wright. He was always ready to do anything he could that might promote either the good of Hawarden or its happiness. (Hear, hear.)
The ceremony concluded by three cheers being given for Captain Mayhew, Mr. Horace Mayhew, Mr. T. Wright and Captain Swetenham.
The assembly sang "For they are jolly good fellows" and the band played "Auld Lang Syne." A cannonade of jelignite, which is more powerful than dynamite, was fired in the park. The procession re-formed, and Captain Mayhew and Mr. Mayhew were drawn on to the hill just outside the village, where the horses were put in to the carriage. Captain Mayhew, together with Mr., Mrs. and Miss Mayhew, drove to Broughton, where they had another hearty reception.
The inhabitants of the village formed a torchlight procession a short distance past the church. When they met the hero of the hour they at once took away the horses from the carriage. Under the superintendence of P.C. Nelson, the carriage was drawn through the village by men and boys to Broughton Hall. On entering the grounds he had to pass under a beautiful evergreen arch, where were displayed in gilt letters the words "We Welcome You." Along the drive there were Chinese lanterns. On arrival at the front door three hearty cheers were given by the people who had assembled in great numbers. An address was read by Mr. John Reynolds, as follows: - "Captain Horace Mayhew. - Dear Sir, - We, representing the inhabitants of Broughton and Bretton, have assembled here to-night to congratulate you on your safe return home. We feel doubly proud that we have the opportunity of welcoming home one from our little village who has had the courage to go out and fight for his King and country. We further hope that your life may be spared, and that the time may come when you will have the pleasure of describing to your children the dangers and difficulties you have had to contend with while serving in South Africa under the British flag. - the Union Jack of Old England. We beg to remain, on behalf of the inhabitants, your humble servants (Signed), John Reynolds, Chairman; William Bell, Hon. Secretary." - Captain Mayhew suitably replied, thanking all those who had taken such a deep interest in his return. - At the front of the hall there was a grand display of fireworks in honour of the event. Afterwards refreshments were provided for all those who cared to stay, and were served in a large room adjoining the house. Mr. Mayhew and his family joined and drank to the health of Captain Mayhew. An enthusiastic evening was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.
Cheshire Observer, Saturday 27th December 1902


We regret to announce that a cablegram from Nova Scotia has been received containing the news of the death of Captain Horace D. Mayhew, Broughton Hall, Chester. Deceased was out at Broughton, Cape Breton, representing his father in his business, and his health seems to have collapsed suddenly. Almost three weeks ago the intelligence was communicated to his home in this country that he was ill and obliged to leave Cape Breton for a month. He was not then regarded as being in a serious condition, and subsequently his father received at Broughton Hall a letter from Dr. S. J. McLennan, of Glace Bay, where the deceased was staying, saying there was no need to be alarmed about his son's health, as he was very much better and would make a complete recovery. On Monday morning, however, the sad message arrived by cable from Major Maddocks, of Sydney, an old friend of the family, that the captain had passed away. He had been suffering from acute rheumatic gout and insomnia. Deceased was only 32 years of age. The funeral took place at Sydney on Tuesday morning. Deceased served in the Boer War, and his home-coming just before Christmas, 1902, was the occasion of much enthusiasm in Hawarden and Broughton. He belonged to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. When the later Boer War broke out, his battalion was embodied for service at home, and for eighteen months they did garrison duty at Plymouth, and also served on Salisbury Plain. The battalion was then disembodied. In the beginning of 1902 the War Office asked for officers to go out to South Africa, and Captain Mayhew gallantly volunteered. His services were accepted, and he was attached to the 4th Yorkshire Regiment, with the rank of captain. He embarked in February, 1902, with his regiment for the front, and saw service in the Vryberg and Klerksdorp districts, where he had charge of several blockhouses, extending in length to a distance of four miles. He came in contact with the enemy during one or two of Kitchener's favourite drives. He became a great favourite in his regiment, and was spoken of in high terms of praise. Deceased was most popular with all his friends, and for his parents and family many will feel profound sympathy.
Cheshire Observer, Saturday 18th August 1906

There is a town called Sydney on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, near to Glace Bay. But it's not the one he died at.

Five days earlier, a different report had appeared in an American newspaper.

SYDNEY, N. S. W., Aug. 12. - Horace Dickson Mayhew, son of Horace Mayhew, of Broughton Hall, Lancashire, England, president of the Cape Breton Iron and Railway Company, committed suicide by cutting his throat before a looking-glass at his apartment in Moira, N. S. W. A Coroner's jury decided that he was temporarily insane. He was 34 years old and unmarried.
San Francisco Call, Monday 13th August 1906

The town of Broughton, Cape Breton, has a very interesting history. It was co-founded by Horace Mayhew, senior. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broughton,_Nova_Scotia I've put it on my list of places to visit in Canada.

This article on Broughton, in a Cape Breton Newspaper, says that Mayhew committed suicide while on a hunting trip. www.capebretonpost.com/opinion/columnist...till-haunt-us-20895/ Mira Gut is an area near Broughton NS - the Moira that was mentioned in the San Francisco report?.

So is the Sydney, Australia, report incorrect? Did he die in, or near, Broughton, Cape Breton?

Edit: - The San Francisco report is incorrect in the location of Broughton Hall. It was in the Flintshire village of Broughton, not far from Hawarden, and definitely not in Lancashire. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broughton_Hall,_Flintshire