This song was written by Chas. K. Harris, who was known as "The king of the tear-jerkers". Interestingly, he originally wrote it about a fireman killed in a fire, but in 1897 at the time of the Spanish- American war he re-wrote it as a battle song. A couple of years later it became a big hit in Britain at the time of the Boar War.
Harris was better known for writing "After The Ball"