At age 17, Laurie received his first commission in the Royal Irish Rifles in September 1885, and joined the 2nd Battalion, then quartered at Halifax.

He went with them to Gibraltar in November 1886, and on to Egypt in January 1888, where the following year Lieutenant Laurie went up the Nile with the battalion.

He was mentioned in Despatches for his services (London Gazette, July 29, 1902), and received the Queen's Medal with five clasps.

Haliburton Laurie fell in the South African War at Philippolis, on a kopje, while rescuing a wounded patrol.)

The Boer war ended in June 1902, and three months later Laurie returned to be a regular captain in the 2nd battalion of his regiment, still stationed in South Africa.

Enos Collins, M.L.C., of Gorse Brook, Halifax, and great-grandson of Sir Brenton Halliburton, Chief Justice of Nova Scotia.