Book excerpt: Lieutenant Colonel George Brenton Laurie (1867-1915) was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was educated at Galt Collegiate Institute, Ontario, and at the Picton Academy, from whence he passed into the Royal Military College, Kingston, Canada, in 1883. He joined the Royal Irish Rifles as a Lieutenant in 1885, going with them to Gibraltar in 1886, and on to Egypt in 1888. He was promoted Captain in 1893, and when the Rifles came back to home service he obtained an Adjutancy of Volunteers in Devonshire in 1896, and from that date until 1901, by ceaseless energy he brought the battalion to full strength and high efficiency. In 1901, he was appointed a special service officer, including the command of a mounted infantry battalion for the South African War. After peace was signed he served in Ireland, and in 1904, obtained his majority. Afterwards he served in England till, becoming Lieut. -Colonel in 1912; he went out to India to take command of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. He had previously written a history of The French in Morocco, compiled from many sources during his years in the Mediterranean.