OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21967, 26 November 1934, Page 9

OBITUARY

SIR ERNEST BUDGE NOTED EGYPTOLOGIST (Received November 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 24 The death has occurred of Sir Ernest Budge, the famous British Egyptologist. Sir Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge, one of the most eminent authorities on Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities, was born in 1857, and educated privately and at Christ's College, Cambridge. As a boy he was interested in Eastern countries and, coming under the influence of C. W. Seager, an authority on the Hebrew and Chaldee languages, he took up Oriental studies when at Cambridge, becoming Assyrian Scholar, Hebrew Prizeman and Tyrwhitt Hebrew Scholar. In 1870 at the suggestion of Dr. Birch, keeper of Oriental antiquities at the British Museum, he made a special study of Egyptology and Assyriology. For many years he travelled and excavated in Egypt and Mesopotamia, discovering objects of the utmost, value for filling the gaps in the history of ancient Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia. The British Museum received from him some of its rarest papyri, including "The Book of the Dead," accompanied by translations made by himself, and a very large portion of its store of pottery, jewellery and other objects illustrating the ancient life of the countries in which he laboured. He also wrote a great deal, publishing accounts of his discoveries and translations of records he had found. When in 1893 he was appointed keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities at the British Museum his treatises already exceeded 30. In the next 36 years their number grew to over 100 and ranged fromlearned works on ancient languages to catalogues of specimens in the museum and guide books for tourists who wanted to wander over the regions in which he had done pioneer work. In 1920 he was knighted and four years later gave up his post at the museum. Sir Ernest was a great favourite with King George and Queen Mary and was often their guest, particularly when they' were at Balmoral. He had received several hon. degrees and was a member of a number of learned societies.

THE REV. W. P. BESLEY NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATIONS J LONDON, Nov. 24 The death occurred after an operation of the Rev. Walter Philip Besley, rector of St. Lawrence Jewry, which is known as "the New Zealanders' Church," London. He was chaplain to the Lord Mayor of London and a prominent Freemason, being a past grand chaplain. Mr. Besley was born at Barnstaple, Devon, and was 64 years of age. For three years he was in New Zealand, and for two years, 1892 and 1893, was on the staff of Wanganui College. In 1894, he was at Heretaunga School, Hastings. He took his degree at King's College, Cambridge, and was ordained in 1897. For two years he was domestic chaplain to the Bishop of Ripon. From 1914 to 1920 he was warden of the college of minor canons of St. Paul's Cathedral and in the same year was appointed rector of St. Lawrence Jewry, an old • Wren Church which stands in the Guildhall Yard. Every Michaelmas Day for over 200 years the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of London have attended service at St. Lawrence Jewry. Mr. Besley, who had been chaplain to four Lord Mayors of London, a few years ago made the church the official church in London for visiting New Zealandors.