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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,

“Thank you for your letter. I am so delighted to hear that you are going to write the life of my dear brother Bill; he had the most lovable nature, the most charming character, the pluckiest spirit and most generous mind that I have ever met. He was always thinking of others and never of himself. I shall be delighted to help you in any way that I can.

“May all good luck attend you. The whole family will be most interested in your life of perhaps one of the most gallant officers, noble gentlemen, and charming comrades that ever existed.

“Yours very sincerely,

“Charles Beresford.”

Lord Cromer also, who was for some years associated with Lord William in India, wrote to me saying:

“Dear Mrs. Stuart Menzies,

“As I understand that you are engaged in 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 loyalty to both his country and his 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 sense of humour. I was for some years associated with him when he was on the staffs of Lord Northbrook and Lord Ripon when Viceroys of India. He 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.

“Very sincerely yours,

“(Signed) Cromer.”

I wish to take this opportunity of thanking the many friends of his and mine who have been so good as to assist me, without whose help I could not have hoped to do justice, even in this small measure, to a life so full of incident, and kindness for all who were associated with him. More especially are my thanks due to his brother, Lord Beresford, Lady Waterford, Edith Lady Lytton, Lord Ripon, Lord Rossmore, Sir Claude de Crespigny, his brother officers in the past, and his contemporaries on the various staffs, to Mr. Arthur Meyrick, also to his old and faithful friend, Mr. Charles Moore.

I have used one or two cuttings from old newspapers, but having no idea what they appeared in, I have been unable to ask permission to reproduce them, therefore ask forgiveness from all on whose grounds I may have trespassed.

I must also ask the indulgence of my readers in the matter of dates, having had to rely on memory to a great extent, aided by a few letters, papers, race cards, photos, etc., being handicapped by there being no mother or wife living into whose store-house of precious letters, and documents, it might be possible to dip, also by so many of Lord William’s intimate friends having left us and passed into the great Silence.

A. C. STUART MENZIES.