On 7 November 1900, at Liliefontein, near the Komati River, a large force of Boer commandos sought to encircle a retreating British column whose rearguard comprised two troops of Royal Canadian Dragoons and two 12-pounder guns of “D” Battery, Royal Canadian Field Artillery.

At one point, the remnant of Lieutenant Cockburn’s troop of Dragoons fought desperately against 200 Boers who were intent on capturing “D” Battery’s two guns. His handful of men successfully held off the Boers, thus allowing the guns to escape, but all became casualties, including Cockburn who was slightly wounded. For his part in saving the guns, Lieutenant Cockburn received the Victoria Cross, one of three awarded for separate incidents in this action.

Cockburn died in Grayburn, Saskatchewan on 12 July 1913.

“Lieutenant Cockburn, with a handful of men, at a most critical moment held off the Boers to allow the guns to get away; to do so he had to sacrifice himself and his party, all of whom were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, he himself being slightly wounded.”

- Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, no.27307, 23 April 1901