THE LATE LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 64

THE LATE LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD.

The death o f .Lord Williom Beresford removes one of tho keenest sportsmen of the generation. He was fond of relating how once the three brotheis rode a steeplechase in Ireland, and finished in this order : William, Marcus, and Charles. But Lord William Beresford al«a\s addtd, "Charlie beat Alexandria with the Condor, and every Radical at the poll.'' and nothing could exceed the good-fellowship of the three famous sporting sons of the fourth Marquis of Waterford. their mother being the daughter of Colonel Powell Leslie, of Glasslough, Monaghan.

Lord William Beresford used to say that he went to every race meeting in the neighbourhood when he was at Eton, and always considered the swishing from the headmaster as part of the fun. Tough as nails, he was not too thoughtful of delicate boys, but as loyal and as frank a fellow as ever stepped. He fought every Brocas cad, and one or two licked him, and he once jumped out of a second floor window after "lockup"' to go down to Tap to get a bottle of beer. He then rang the front door bell of his master's house, and, walking into the study, told what he had done.

He carried the same spirit into the service. He saw a rare lot of fighting, played polo, rode winners, danced, flirted, acted admirably in amateur theatricals, and was military secretary for 14 years to three Viceroys of India. He was the best loved man in Anglo-Indian society. He shot all there! was to shoot, organised a race meeting wherever a dozen horses and a few rupees could be scraped flp, and was the life of all Calcutta as well as Simla.

At last he came back to England wearing the V.C. and being made a K.C.I.E. Then he created yet another sensation by marrying Lily, Duchess of Marlborough. She was the daughter of Commodore Price of New York, snd was first married to Mr Hammersley of that city, then to the eighth Duke of Marlborough, so that now, while still barely middle-aged, she is a widow for the third time. The union was one of great happiness, and Lord William's pride in his baby son will be remembered by all his friends.

Latterly he has raced on a tremendous scale, his wife being as keen on the sport as he is. To him is mainly due the importation of Tod Sloan to England. He once drove nine thoroughbreds while riding the tenth. He hunted with every pack, and claimed to have broken his collarbone more often than any other living man. He died in the prime of life, full of zest, and with his splendid spirits and his tremendous enthusiasm absolutely unspoilt. Few more dare-devil Irishmen have ever carved out a joyous career, and his anecdotes were intensely amusing.

The late Lord William Bercsford was not on the Retired List of the army, as many of the daily papers have had it, but on the Unemployed Active List, and was considered qualified for staff employment under paragraph 217 of the Queen's Regulation?. He hud been unemployed since Jdmwiy, 1394.