"LORD BILL."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16916, 31 January 1917, Page 6

"LORD BILL."

_ What a string of complimentary adjectives could be used in describing Lord William Beresford. Let this tribute, written by Earl Cromer to tho author of "Lord William Beresford, V.C." (Jenkins), give some mensirre of the man. 'Dear Mrs Stuart Menzies, — "As I understand that you are 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 loyalfy to both his country and hia 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 spnse of humour. I was for some years associated with him when iie was on the staffs of Lord Northbrook and Lord Ripon when Viceroys of India. Hβ 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." •' "One of tho best." lam sure Lord Bill desired no better epitaphs, and his friend, Mrs Stuart Menzies, gives us many proofs of his unfailing generosity, ability, and resource in this exceptionally enjoyable volume. —Winning the V.C.— The winning of the V.C. in the Zulu war proved his gallantry in the field of war, as his courtesy to the ladies in Simla and elsewhere proved ic on the field of pleasure. It was while he was A.D.C. to Lord Lytton in India that our hero applied for leave to go to South Africa, where he was the right hand of Sir Redvers Buller. A reconnoitring party was surprised by some 3000 Zulus. Two men were killed and a third wounded, his horse bolting. Looking round Lord William saw him lying on the ground about 200 yards in front of the advancing horde of savages:— Quick as thought, Lord William turned his Irish charger and galloped back, threw himself out of the saddle, and tried to put Fitzmanri.ee up on to his horse, bnt the wounded man was as

splendid as his preserver. Realising that delay only meant both being killed —one might possibly escape, but two? It seemed impossible—the Zulus were close on them, so he shook his head feeblyj saying "No," begging Lord William to leave him and save himself. Of course, Lord Bill would have none ox this, and, swearing mighty swear words, yelled at the man, "Come along, you b—— f " . (meaning, I suppose, '"beloved friend"). If you don't I'll punch your b (beloved!) head for you." This explanation of the swear words shows that Mrs Menzies has a pretty wit. Lord Bill had his way, and, thanks partly to the gallantry of Sergeant O'Toole and his gallant charger, brought the man back to safety. He always had a thought for others, and insisted that if he had the V.C. O'Toole also should have it. He _ expressed the same opinion'to Queen Victoria when he went to Windsor to receive the precious piece of bronze, and her Majesty, subsequently, bestowed the reward upon the sergeant. —An Old Night Club.—

In the 'seventies the Old Raleigh Club (now a club for Oversea Soldiers) was a great institution! All the lively men about town belonged to it. "Within these portals huge sums of money changed hands', 'highly-flavoured stories circulated, and cards fibred largely; so did swearing, if I may believe what I am told. In fact, it was considered a sign of \inilitary efficiency." Mrs Stuart Menzies was surprised to find out —after she was married —what a lot of nice men belonged to the Raleigh, and that "some of these elderly friends of my youth were among those who 'kicked up the most row.'" All, the members were not old. Lord William Leslie de la. Peer Beresford was born in 1846, and it was while he was stationed ■with the 9th Lancers ab Hounslow in 1869 that he was a frequent visitor: — It was in the Raleigh that Lord William and one of his brothers, Lord Marcus, I believe, or both of them, for some reason, or perhaps for no reason, put the hall porter into the refrigerator. The heat of the man's body, or his language, caused the ice to melt, so one of them drew from the tap some water inter a tumbler and sent it with his compliments to a friend in the smoking room, describing it as "Garcon Glaee." The porter was left in a little too long, and there was some trouble afterwards. This became known as the "Garcon Gla-ce" incident. Everyone thought it funny except the waiter, and he had to be pacified. It was at Hounslow that Mr SmithDorrien, now General Sir Smith-Dorrien, acted as secretary -.to the Tenth Hussars Steeplechases in 1871; the first time that King Edward, then Prince of Wales, entered a horse in his own name for a race. —At The stay of the Ninth Lancers at York is still spoken of as a red-letter time. They were socially a great success, and the young officers had a gay time. They were all, of course, members of the solemn old club that stands close to the Lendal Bridge. Lord Rcssmore passed into the club one evening just in time to see one of the kitchen girls escape from a young man who was annoying her. As she ran down the area steps Lord Rossmore collared the youth, and began to give him a lecture: —

At this moment, who should come out of the club but Lord William. He at once scented battle; without having the slightest idea what it was about,° but longing to be in it, he cried, "Let me have him, Derry. Oh, do let me have him." "No," replied the other, jealous of his capture. "I found him; he is my man." They became so absorbed in the argument as to who should make the prisoner's teeth chatter that the man took the opportunity to make his escape. Looking round and discovering his loss, Lord Rossmore indignantly reproached his friends. "Now look what you have doneP , . he cried; "this is what comes of trying to steal my man." Then as the "absurdity of the whole thing struck them, they laughed uutil their sides ached. After which Lord William apologised profusely for having spoilt "Derry , s" sport, and losing his man.

It was on tlie Lendal Bridge that, late at night or early one morning, Lord Bill and Mr Joseph Leeman, M.P., as a mattar of sport spent an hour "struggling desperately to see which could put the other over the high balustrade of the bridge into the river below."

—Ragging.— They were jolly boys in the army these days, and their high spirits found an outlet in peace, as their gallant successors are finding it in this war in Picardy. A young bounder joined the regiment and his brother subs, thought he wanted a lesson : —

His clothes did not please them, his face did not please them—in fact, nothing about him pleased them. So, while he was out of his room one evening they, with much difficulty and the help of many people, persuaded a lover of thislles to malk upstairs into his bedroom, where it was put to bed. A large cock with a strong voice was also thrust, protesting, into a dirty-clothes' basket, where it presently fell into a brooding silence of despair. When the unfortunate owner of the room returned he had many exhausting moments with. the donkey before lie successfully turned it out of the room and could co to bed. At dawn he was awakened from a refreshing sleep by the clarion notes of the cock issuing from the cJothes'-basket, and he began to wonder if the claret of the night before had disagreed with him, or if it was all a horrid nightmare. —In India.— It was in India that William spent the most successful years of his life. He was A.D.C. and Military Secretary to three Viceroys, Lord Northbrook, Lord Ripon, and Lord Lytton, and won encomiums from them all. There is high comedy in the description of the reception of Lord Lytton by Lord Eipon; Mrs Menzies is as great a humorist as Lord William himself. His racing stables were particularly good—m fact, other sportsmen grumbled somewhat because Lord Bill and his partners (Indian Prir,ccs) carried off nios lof the prizes. He won the Viceroy's Cup twice with the Australian, horse