KIPLING'S WILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 8

KIPLING'S WILL

FORTUNE OF £150,000

The "Daily Telegraph" states that a fortune of £155,228 was left by Mr. Rudyard Kipling, whose ■will was admitted to probate recently. The net personalty is £142,488.

The principal beneficiary is Mrs. Kipling, the sole executrix. She is bequeathed the house and land at Burwash, Sussex, and the income for life from the residuary estate.

Mr. Kipling directed that income from his books should accumulate lor 21 years from the date of his death, and be added to the capital.

To his daughter, Mrs. George Bambridge, he left 5000, stating that he had already made other provision for her. Captain Bambridge, his son-in-law, receives £1000.

Mr. Kipling's son John was killed while serving with the Irish Guards in the war. • ■

At Mrs. Kipling's death the income from the residuary estate passes to Mrs. Bambridge or her children.

If there are no children at the death of Mrs. Bambridge, one-quarter of the estate will go to Captain Bambridge, if living. The remainder will be divided equally between the Australian and Canadian branches of the Fairbridge Farm Schools.

Sir Patrick Fagan, a former member of the Imperial Legislative Council of India, told the "Daily Telegraph," that during his lifetime Mr. Kipling was a generous contributor to the Fairbridge Farm Schools on many occasions.

The object of the schools is to send out from England destitute or orphan children who are not getting a fighting chance at home.

Mr. Kipling died on January 18 at the age of seventy.

His is one of the largest fortunes left by a British poet or author. Two Poets Laureate, Mr. Robert Bridges and Mr. Alfred Austin, left £6000 and £2000 respectively. Sir William Watson left £733.

Among authors, Sir Hall Caine's £200,000 was easily the largest. Mr. Thomas Hardy left £91,000, and Mr. John Galsworthy £88,000.

Mr. Kipling's royalties; were enormous. Up to 1935 as many as 3,500,000 copies of his books had been sold in this country. American royalties over a period of forty years totalled £350,000.