162 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



all tlie North Stafiford meets. There were six sons, all 

 soldiers, and all devoted to hunting — men of fine presence 

 «ind cheery, good sportsmen of the best type ; of the six 

 only one survives, and he was the oldest of them all, the 

 present baronet, Sir Morton E. M. Buller. The five 

 younger brothers generally got long leave for almost the 

 whole of the hunting season, and used to do their five 

 days a week with the North Stafford and the Meynell, 

 training for the distant meets. 



The first of this gallant band of brothers to join the 

 majority was Colonel Coote Buller, of the Rifle Brigade, 

 who was severely wounded in the thigh at Inkermau, and 

 invalided home before the conclusion of the Crimean War. 

 His wounded leg was shorter than the other, and he never 

 was quite the same man afterwards ; but he lived till 1868, 

 and went as gallantly and pluckily with hounds as ever, 

 although if he came to grief he knew that he could not 

 get on his horse again without help. Like his brothers, 

 he was a good man with hounds, having been entered 

 early, and having a thorough love of sport. For several 

 years he was honorary secretary to the Hunt, and was a 

 constant and regular follower until illness laid him low. 

 He was gazetted Colonel of the 1st North Staffordshire 

 Rifle Volunteer Battalion on the establishment of the 

 volunteer movement in 1859-60, and held the appoint- 

 ment with much distinction until his death, in the spring 

 of 1868. He was never married. 



There are many who still remember the gallant show 

 the Buller family used to make in the North Staffordshire 

 country in the latter years of Mr. Davenport's Mastership. 

 It was a sight to see the six brothers in full hunting 

 costume, well mounted, and well turned out, full of go 

 and pluck, and showing their heels to many a good 

 sportsman. 



Their father, the first baronet, the late Sir Edward 

 Manningham Buller, of Dilhorn Hall, who for years was 

 Member for North Staffordshire, was a Liberal in politics, 

 belonging, however, to the school of Palmerston and Lord 



