Chapter I: Introduction

There are days when we are under the spell of the past, when lovely times, lovely things, and delightful people that have lapsed into “have beens” are again with us, in a mist of memories and dreams, but memories and dreams that have been true and real--to be treasured always.

In my memory there are silhouetted against the horizon of the past a few figures (amongst the many kind friends who have journeyed with me) who stand alone, whose greatness of character singled them from their fellows, others whose splendid works for state or humanity have marked them, but I pause before a figure that would have told us he was nothing in particular, yet few men have been so loved, so universally popular as the late Lord William Beresford, V.C., one of the most charming characters and greatest personalities of the age, a brave and gallant soldier, a loyal and faithful friend, possessing an extraordinarily generous nature. A man has not lived for nothing, and must be something in particular, when his friends can truly say that of him.

I have waited a long time before undertaking this work, hoping some more able pen than mine would give to his old friends and future generations some record of Lord William’s eventful life, a few memories of his many kindnesses and unostentatious charities, his pluck, deeds of daring and unfailing cheeriness.

No such scribe appearing, I have taken my courage in both hands and endeavoured to pay a small tribute to the memory of an old and valued friend, being encouraged by the letter I received (January 16th, 1916) from Lord Beresford, better known and loved by the great British public as Lord Charles Beresford, in which he wrote:

1, GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE,
LONDON, W.,
_19th January, 1916_.

“DEAR MRS. STUART MENZIES,

“Thank you for your letter. I am so delighted to hear that you are
going to write the life of my dear brother Bill; he had the most
lovable nature, the most charming character, the pluckiest spirit
and most generous mind that I have ever met. He was always thinking
of others and never of himself. I shall be delighted to help you in
any way that I can.

“May all good luck attend you. The whole family will be most
interested in your life of perhaps one of the most gallant
officers, noble gentlemen, and charming comrades that ever existed.

“Yours very sincerely,
“CHARLES BERESFORD.”

Lord Cromer also, who was for some years associated with Lord William in India, wrote to me saying:

“DEAR MRS. STUART MENZIES,

“As I understand that you are engaged in writing the life of
my old and very dear friend, Bill Beresford, I hope you will
allow me to bear testimony to his great charm of character, his
characteristically national sense of humour, and his staunch
loyalty to both his country and his friends. I knew Bill Beresford
very well and had a great liking for him. He was a fine gallant
fellow with all the pluck and dash of his race and family,
and moreover had a keen sense of humour. I was for some years
associated with him when he was on the staffs of Lord Northbrook
and Lord Ripon when Viceroys of India. He was the cheeriest of
companions and the most gallant of soldiers--in a word, one of the
best fellows I have ever come across during a long life.

“Very sincerely yours,
“(Signed) CROMER.”

I wish to take this opportunity of thanking the many friends of his and mine who have been so good as to assist me, without whose help I could not have hoped to do justice, even in this small measure, to a life so full of incident, and kindness for all who were associated with him. More especially are my thanks due to his brother, Lord Beresford, Lady Waterford, Edith Lady Lytton, Lord Ripon, Lord Rossmore, Sir Claude de Crespigny, his brother officers in the past, and his contemporaries on the various staffs, to Mr. Arthur Meyrick, also to his old and faithful friend, Mr. Charles Moore.

I have used one or two cuttings from old newspapers, but having no idea what they appeared in, I have been unable to ask permission to reproduce them, therefore ask forgiveness from all on whose grounds I may have trespassed.

I must also ask the indulgence of my readers in the matter of dates, having had to rely on memory to a great extent, aided by a few letters, papers, race cards, photos, etc., being handicapped by there being no mother or wife living into whose store-house of precious letters, and documents, it might be possible to dip, also by so many of Lord William’s intimate friends having left us and passed into the great Silence.

A. C. STUART MENZIES.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

EARLY DAYS
PAGE
Early Childhood--Eton Days--Mischief and Whackings--Companions
at Work and Play--Sporting Contemporaries of Note--The So-styled
“Mad Marquis”--His Bride--Carriage Accident--Ride in Grand
National--House of Commons Acknowledgment of Lady Waterford’s
Goodness to the Irish during the Famine--Joins the 9th Lancers in
Dublin--A Few Sporting Mishaps--Why he Spent his Life in India 1

CHAPTER II

GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND

Coach-driving Exploit--The Badger Bet and How It was Won--The
Raleigh Club and the Garçon Glacé Episode--Some Merry Frequenters
of the Club--Regimental Racing--The Tenth Hussars’ Steeplechases,
Exciting Race Between H.R.H.’s Horse and Lord Valentia’s--Aldershot
Coaching Accident--Polo at Woolwich--Sale of 10th Hussars’
ponies--Friendly Altercations at York--The Three Brothers’ Race--Au
Revoir to Merry England 24

CHAPTER III

JOINS VICEROY’S STAFF

What he Might Have Been--A Happy Exile--Lumtiddy Hall--Unsuccessful
Journey to Pay Calls--Appointed to Staff of Retiring Viceroy--First
Summer at Simla--Appointed A.D.C. to Lord Lytton--Annandale
Racecourse--Birth of _The Asian_--Dinner to Its Sporting
Owner--Winner of Viceroy’s Cup--Delhi Durbar, 1887--Mighty
Preparations--A Terrible Accident 46

CHAPTER IV

HE WINS THE V.C.

Hero of Khartoum’s Fame and Tragedy, as Private Secretary--Indian
Famine--Lord William and the Jowakis--A Month’s Holiday
in Afghanistan--Back in Calcutta--Barrackpore Monument
to Lady Canning--Lady Waterford as Artist--Cawnpore
Memorial--Racing--Trouble in South Africa--A Favour Granted--Off
to the War--A Friend Left in Charge of Affairs--Some Fights for
Queen and Country--Some Fights for Private Reasons--Exciting
Moments--Irish Bravery of Man and Beast--Two V.C.’s at
Dinner--Receives Reward at Hands of the Queen-Empress--A Shower
Bath in Dublin--Some Racing and a Row--A Thrice-run Race--Miller
Addresses Lord William 65

CHAPTER V

THE VICEROY RETIRES

Change of Government and What it Meant--Why it Took Place
at Simla--The Ceremony--An Anxious Moment--A General
Stampede--Retirement of Lord Lytton--Work of Which Viceroy?--Lord
William’s Services Valued--A Bet Between Him and the Author--Lord
William’s 10 to 1 96

CHAPTER VI

AN IDEAL MILITARY SECRETARY

Dignity and Humour--Some Tests of Both--Affection of the Natives
for Lord William--How They Tried to Please him--What Happened
on a Slippery Floor--Some Tableaux--A Supper and a Race--What
the Jockey Club Would Have Said--Lord Ripon’s Message to the
Amir of Afghanistan--The Amir’s Reply--The Work of the Military
Secretary--Swelled Heads and Outgrown Shoes--How Lord William Dealt
with Them--Pay of Military Secretary--Compensation for Diminishing
Rupee--No Fish to Fry 112

CHAPTER VII

SOME RACING EXPERIENCES

First Racing Partnership--Some Successful Horses--The “White
Mutiny”--Military Secretaries Come and Go--Fleur-de-Lys’
Affection--Racing--Paperchasing--An Exciting Drive--Ponto’s
Admiration for the Fair Sex--Inverarm--How a Sick Soldier
Fared--Love of Children--A Children’s Party and How it Ended--The
Home for Lost Dogs--Simla Gymkhanas--A Sore Head--A Change of
Mounts--Sipi Fair and Marriage Market--What Some of Lord William’s
Friends Said--Why he was like King Solomon 132

CHAPTER VIII

LORD RIPON LEAVES INDIA

Arrangements for Entertaining Visitors--Lord de Grey’s Shooting--A
Good-looking Staff--A Fancy Ball--The Baby cries--Lord William
Feeds the Infant--Singing Quadrilles--Pig-sticking--The Tent Club
and Its Members--A Case of Mistaken Identity--The Reputation
Match--Lord William Resolves to Give Up Racing--Lord Ripon’s
Farewell 153

CHAPTER IX

LORD DUFFERIN’S VICEROYALTY

Lord Dufferin succeeds Lord Ripon as Viceroy--Durbar at Rawal
Pindi to Meet the Amir of Afghanistan--A Few Annoyances--How
it All Ended--Some Presents--Outline of a Viceroy’s Tour--A
Nasty Fall--Sale of Confederacy Horses--“Father Time”--Parlour
Fireworks--A Ride to the Pyramids--Unostentatious Charity--Some
Impositions 177

CHAPTER X

DEAR LONDON AGAIN

The Man Who Thought He Was King--A Dance After Dinner--How It
Ended--Corney Grain in Disgrace on the Door-mat--Racing--Trouble
in Burmah--Lord Dufferin and Lord William Go There--Collecting the
Offertory in Church--Some Schemes of Interest 196

CHAPTER XI

SOME SPORTING MEMORIES

Lord William’s Driving--One or Two Experiences--A Sermon in the
Smoking-room--Useful Shirt Cuffs--Convenient Handwriting--New
Year’s Parade--A Waiting Race--A Spoilt Meeting--Purchase of Myall
King--Dufferins Leave India--Rules Issued by Lord William for Their
Departure 214

CHAPTER XII

A WINNING YEAR

On Leave--At the Derby Once More--Lord Lansdowne Takes
Office--Conjurer’s Discomfort--A Gentle Reproach--Irishmen
in India--Another Racing Partnership--A Turf Club
Inquiry--Paperchasers--A Telegram from Lucknow--Lord William’s
Health--Jockey in Trouble Again 233

CHAPTER XIII

THE FAMOUS FAREWELL DINNER

Why the Maharajah of Durbangah Gave up Racing--The Maharajah of
Patiala Joins the Stable--The Indian Lotteries--Some Successful
Racing--Lord Bill Pays Up--Simla Feeling Sad--Death of Myall
King--Some of His Chief Races--Farewell Dinner--List of
Guests--Speeches 250

CHAPTER XIV

HIS MARRIAGE

First Visit to the Deepdene--Finds a Relation in His
Bedroom--Engagement to be Married Announced--School Treats--One New
Year’s Morning--King Edward VII Visits the Deepdene When Prince of
Wales--A Narrow Escape--“Tommy, Where Are You?”--Why Lord William
wore a Turban--Fast Trotters and Their Doings--Mishap on the Way
to the Derby--Racing in England--Racing Geography--Another Racing
Partnership--Accident While Hunting--Mr. Palmer to the Rescue--Lord
William Tells a Story Against Himself--A Son Born 283

CHAPTER XV

BRINGS TOD SLOAN TO ENGLAND

Engagement of Tod Sloan as Jockey--Beresford Family
Affection--Caiman Wins Classic Race--Democrat and His Races--A
Tip for the “Blues”--Accident to Sloan--His Downfall--Five Years’
Racing and Winnings in Stakes Alone--Volodyovski Bought--At
Liverpool When Ambush II Won the Grand National 299