``Both mounted troopers were former soldiers who had been seconded to the Mounted Police Force. On 12 November 1845 they were searching for bushrangers at Bottle Forest near Liverpool. The bushrangers set a number of fires to delay the police and the two troopers were trapped in the ensuing bushfire. Kirk was burned to death while Dunn lingered for nine days before he finally succumbed. At the times of their deaths both troopers were attached to the Mounted Police Force and stationed in the Sydney area.``