TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD, V.C. SOME MEMORIES OF A FAMOUS SPORTSMAN, SOLDIER AND WIT [Illustration: “FIGHTING BILL” _Reproduced by permission from “Vanity Fair”_] LORD WILLIAM BERESFORD, V.C. SOME MEMORIES OF A FAMOUS SPORTSMAN, SOLDIER AND WIT BY MRS. STUART MENZIES WITH APPRECIATIONS BY THE EARL OF CROMER & ADMIRAL LORD BERESFORD 38 ILLUSTRATIONS, ALSO REPRODUCTIONS OF THE SIGNATURES OF THOSE PRESENT AT THE FAMOUS FAREWELL DINNER AT CALCUTTA HERBERT JENKINS LIMITED ARUNDEL PLACE HAYMARKET LONDON S.W. ✤ ✤ ✤ MCMXVII PRINTED BY WM. BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND INTRODUCTION There are days when we are under the spell of the past, when lovely times, lovely things, and delightful people that have lapsed into “have beens” are again with us, in a mist of memories and dreams, but memories and dreams that have been true and real--to be treasured always. In my memory there are silhouetted against the horizon of the past a few figures (amongst the many kind friends who have journeyed with me) who stand alone, whose greatness of character singled them from their fellows, others whose splendid works for state or humanity have marked them, but I pause before a figure that would have told us he was nothing in particular, yet few men have been so loved, so universally popular as the late Lord William Beresford, V.C., one of the most charming characters and greatest personalities of the age, a brave and gallant soldier, a loyal and faithful friend, possessing an extraordinarily generous nature. A man has not lived for nothing, and must be something in particular, when his friends can truly say that of him. I have waited a long time before undertaking this work, hoping some more able pen than mine would give to his old friends and future generations some record of Lord William’s eventful life, a few memories of his many kindnesses and unostentatious charities, his pluck, deeds of daring and unfailing cheeriness. No such scribe appearing, I have taken my courage in both hands and endeavoured to pay a small tribute to the memory of an old and valued friend, being encouraged by the letter I received (January 16th, 1916) from Lord Beresford, better known and loved by the great British public as Lord Charles Beresford, in which he wrote: 1, GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE, LONDON, W., _19th January, 1916_. “DEAR MRS. STUART MENZIES,