24 FOX-HUNTING FROM SHIRE TO SHIRE 



of Westminster — came to reside at the old Haycock 

 Inn, Wansford, which they converted into a private 

 residence, hunting with the Fitzwilliam and Cottes- 

 more. Lord Chesham was the last master of the 

 Royal Buck Hounds, after eight seasons' master- 

 ship to the Bicester, where he greatly improved 

 the pack with purchases of Lord Henry Bentinck's 

 blood. A fine example of an English gentleman ! 

 a leader of the chase, or the more serious business 

 of war, a friend and genial comrade to all who had 

 the good fortune to know him, next to death on the 

 field of battle, he would probably have chosen 

 the fate that befell him when hunting with the 

 Pytchley in November 1907. Lord Chesham w^as 

 the leader of the influential committee that organised 

 the Imperial Yeomanry for the South African war, 

 and took out the first battalion. In a letter, written 

 on the 14th of that terrible December 1899 — an 

 extract of which appeared in the Field — when 

 he thought himself on the eve of departure for 

 South Africa with General Kelly Kenny, was the 

 following pathetic sentence : " My son jealous, as 

 his regiment does not go yet ! But it's all right ; 

 as in partridge driving, old birds come first ! " 

 His splendid boy was killed on Diamond Hill. 



In a speech at the Yeomanry dinner held at 

 Melton Mowbray, January 1911, Col. the Hon. 

 W. A. Lawson told the whole history of this great 

 movement, saying that although he had served for 

 over fifteen years with his regiment, the Scots 

 Guards, the warmest corner in his heart was for 

 the Imperial Yeomanry, for it was with them that 

 he saw active service. Whatever traditions the 

 Yeomanry might have had before 1900, they must 

 always think of the great reputation which they 

 gained in the South African war. Curiously enough, 



