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On the last page of his letter, Horrocks lamented the necessity of ending the expedition early, as the three men and the camel were working well together. He had intended exploring further to the north-east and to cover some 300 to 400 miles to assess fully the nature of the country. He did not however believe that there was useful country to be found in the direction he was exploring.

John Ainsworth Horrocks had offered to lead an expedition, funded by fellow colonists, to explore the country north of Spencer Gulf. He was looking for country suitable for farming or pastoralism. His expedition included Bernard Kilroy and Theakston, both workmen from his property, ST Gill an artist, to record the country, Mr Garlick, Jimmy Moorhouse an Aboriginal man, and a camel, considered to be the first in Australia.

Horrocks had been reloading his gun to shoot a bird for the natural history collection they were making, when it was accidentally discharged when the camel lurched, knocking him. This movement fired the gun, shooting the ramrod through his fingers and lower jaw, knocking out a row of teeth from his upper jaw. Kilroy returned to the expedition's depot, some 100 miles, to fetch help.

Horrocks had written this letter while in an enormous amount of pain from his injuries. Kilroy returned with the horses and help, and Horrocks was carefully carried back to his home at Penwortham. His friend Dr Nott came up from Adelaide to tend him but there was little that could be done. He was lovingly tended in his last days by his brother Arthur, John Green who had accompanied him from England in 1839, and the rest of his men. John Ainsworth Horrocks died 23 September 1846, and was buried in the churchyard at Penwortham, the church he had erected for the village.

Horrocks, John Ainsworth, 1818-1846

Gill, S. T. (Samuel Thomas), 1818-1880

Kilroy, Bernard

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing. Taking it to the edge August 2004-