OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 20886, 23 September 1929, Page 7

OBITUARY

ADMIRAL SIR H. MEUX. LADYSMITH SIEGE RECALLED. Rugby, September 20. Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux, whose death is announced to-day, was associated with one of the important episodes of the South African War. He was then Captain Lambton, as he only assumed the name of Meux in later years in accordance with the will of Lady Meux. General Sir George White had been forced to concentrate his forces on Ladysmith and act on the defensive. He had only light artillery and his chances of withstanding the attacks of the Boers were small. Naval assistance having been asked for his Majesty’s ship Powerful, with Captain Lambton in command, was sent to Durban. On her arrival on October 29, 1899, the Powerful's 4.7-inch guns, previously mounted for use in the field, were landed immediately and sent with a naval brigade under Captain Lambton to Ladysmith. The arrival of these reinforcements undoubtedly saved Ladysmith.—Australian Press Association.

The Hon. Hedworth Lambton, who changed his name to Meux, was born in July, 1856, as the 3rd son of the 2nd Earl of Durham. Entering the Navy in 1870, he was flag lieutenant of Admiral Seymour at the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882, after which he served ashore, taking part in the battle of Tcl-el-Kebir. In 1886 lie commanded H.M.S. Dolphin which was engaged in suppressing the slave trade in the Red Sea. Two years later he was put in charge of the Royal yacht Osborne anil in 1889 he was promoted captain. From 1894 to 1897 he was private secretary to Earl Spencer and Viscount Goschen during their terms as First Lord of the Admiralty. In April, 1897, he commissioned H.M.S. Powerful for the China Station and while he was bringing the vessel home the South African war broke out. She was diverted to Durban. On his way there he called at Mauritius and on his own initiative embarked half a battalion of troops which proved most valuable. When he reached Durban, several 4.7 and 12-pounder guns were taken from the ship and mounted on improvized carriages for land transport. Lambton and a mjval brigade of about 250 men made a dash for Ladysmith, arriving just in the nick of time, for the place was completely invested immediately afterwards. Lambton’s guns were the only ones capable of replying effectively to the Boer artillery and he saved the town from capture. From 1901 to 1903 he commanded the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert. Promoted rear-admiral in 1902, he was successively second in command of the Channel Fleet and commander of the j cruiser division of the Mediterranean Fleet, i With the rank of vice-admiral he commandj ed on the China Station from 1908 to 1910. i In 1912 he was appointed commander-in-I chief Portsmouth, a post which ho held till 1916, hoisting his flag as admiral of the fleet in 1915. He was elected Unionist M.P. for Portsmouth in 1916, sitting in the House of Commons for two years. In 1900 he had contested Newcastle as a Liberal. Lambton married Viscountess Chelsea in 1910. Next year he succeeded to a large fortune and part of the Theobald’s Park estates under the will of Lady Meux on condition that he changed his name to Meux. He was knighted (K.C.V.0.) in 1906 and was made K.C.B. in 1908 and G.C.B. in 1913. His colours were well known on the turf. BENJAMIN MARINS WILSON. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, September 22. The death occurred this morning of the general manager of the Government Tourist Department, Mr Benjamin Marins Wilson, aged 59 years, after a few days' illness from pneumonia. He was born at Thames and was appointed to the head of the Tourist Department 18 years ago. Prior to that ho was secretary to several Ministers. MR ANDREW B. RIDLAND. The funeral took place at Bluff on Saturday of the late Mr Andrew B. Ridland, an old and esteemed resident of the port, when a large number of old and life-long friends attended to pay their last respects. The service was conducted by the Rev. M. Ayrton. The late Mr Ridland was a bootmaker for many years and the claims of that trade for longevity were worthily upheld by Mr Ridland, who attained the great age of 97 years and nine months. He was born on December IS, 1831, at Omrossness, Shetland Islands, and arrived at Port Chalmers on

the ship Auckland in November, 1874, coming on to Bluff a fortnight later by the paddle steamer Comerang on his way to Invercargill. Mr Ridland worked for the late Mr Charles Fairweather as a bootmaker for a couple of years before launching out for himself at Bluff. He built a shop and dwelling on the Point Road opposite the Soldiers’ Memorial, subsequently removing to more central premises next door to the Bay View Hotel. He carried on there a successful bootmaking establishment until 25 years ago, when he retired from active business. In religion he was an energetic members of the Primitive Methodist Church, and an ardent Prohibitionist, but withal of a retiring and quiet disposition.