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Viscount St. Vincent, whose death we deeply regret to have to announce, was born on the 3rd of April, 1850, and succeeded to the title as fourth Viscount in July, 1879.
His lordship, who received his education at Harrow School, first served in the 7th Hussars, and then joined the 16th Lancers, becoming captain in February, 1881, and adjutant in February, 1883. Lord St. Vincent served in the Zulu war of 1879 as orderly officer to Major-General Marshall, and was present with the 17th Lancers in the engagement at Zuinguin Mountain and Ulundi (medal with clasp). He served as orderly officer to Brigadier-General C.M. McGregor in the expedition against the Marrees in Southern Afghanistan in 1880, and was mentioned in the despatches. Served in the Boer war of 1881 as adjutant of Barrow's Mounted Infantry; served in the Egyptian war of 1882 as aide-de-camp to Major-General Drury-Lowe, commanding the cavalry division, and was present at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir and the capture of Cairo. Mentioned in the despatches. Medal with clasp, Fourth Class of the Medjidie, and Khedive's star.
The deceased nobleman had a seat at Norton Disney near Newark, and was the patron of the living of that village. He was, however, in consequence of his military service, seldom seen at Norton Disney, his last visit being at the close of 1883. He then attended the dinner that was held in connection with the Collingham Agricultural Show, and in responding to the toast of the Army, Navy, and Auxiliary forces referred to his recent experiences and insisted upon better treatment and more pay for the British soldier. He dwelt especially on the working of the new system of organisation of the army, and more particularly with reference to the manner in which it had affected the social well-being of the individual soldier himself. He had been benefitted to a very large extent by the changes that had taken place in later days. The army was a better school for him, at all events, than ever his native village was likely to be, for while drill tended to develop his body, military education expanded his mind, and taught him to act and to think for himself. Whilst on that topic of drill, he might say that the strength of the army did not lie so much in its actual numbers as it did in the civilising and educational influences which were brought to bear upon each one of its members. As long as the Government were able to keep its battalions in time of peace up to their strength, by the changes that had taken place in later days. The army was a better school for him, at all events, than ever his native village was likely to be, for while drill tended to develop his body, military education expanded his mind, and taught him to act and to think for himself. Whilst on that topic of drill, he might say that the strength of the army did not lie so much in its actual numbers as it did in the civilising and educational influences which were brought to bear upon each one of its members. As long as the Government were able to keep its battalions in time of peace up to their strength, and capable of doing that work in days of peace that was required, and at the same time putting into the field on the first outbreak of war regiments fully equipped and ready to face the foe, he could not see that much more could be asked of them. The question arose in the minds of all soldiers whether the vote that was proposed and granted in Parliament each year for the maintenance of our army was sufficient in its present condition to keep it as efficient as they all of them would wish it to be. It was a great question to his mind whether the regiments in the present day were kept up to that proper strength which enabled them to do the work which devolved upon them in the time of peace. Nearly all soldiers agreed that that was not the case, and urged that a larger amount of money ought to be voted than was spent on the old long service system, and moreover that the old long service system was a thing of the past, and could never come back except by means of a revolution. He felt certain that, seeing the justice of the case, the country would never refuse that vote. He was sorry to say that there was an extreme difficulty nowadays in getting the work done by the different battalions throughout the Kingdom in a manner in which their regiments should do it. Greater inducements were doubtless required, for in these enlightened days men could not be got to serve a whole life in the army as in times past, but it did no man any harm to serve his Queen and country for a few short years. He did not really think that anyone was prepared to serve a whole life in the army when there were so many tempting civil avocations in store for him at home. More money must be spent on the army, and he thought England ought to be the last country to refuse it.
The late Lord St. Vincent had two brothers, who are in the army. One of his sisters, the Hon. Alice Maude, was married in 1868 to Mr. J.L. Francklin, J.P., of Gonalston Hall, near Nottingham.
The Jervis family have for a long time been associated with the service of the country. Admiral Sir John Jervis, K.B., the celebrated naval commander, was his lordship's direct ancestor. Admiral Sir John Jervis in 1797 obtained a splendid victory over the Spanish at Cape St. Vincent, was on that account created Earl of St. Vincent, and in 1801 Viscount with remainder to his nephews.
At a largely attended meeting of the members of the Dundalk Hare and Hounds and Football Clubs the following resolution was moved and passed unanimously:-
"We, the members of the Dundalk Hare and Hounds and Football Clubs, desire to express our deep and heartfelt sorrow at the untimely death, in the service of his country, of the noble and gallant officer, Captain Viscount St. Vincent, 16th Lancers. He at all times proved himself a brave and fearless soldier, and an amiable, genial and popular sportsman, and for the interest he took and the services he rendered in promoting the prosperity of these clubs we owe to his memory a debt of deep and lasting gratitude."
The United Service Gazette says:- The late Lord St. Vincent, who has succumbed to the wound received at Abu Klea, deserves something more than a formal obituary notice. He was in truth one of the ornaments of the army. Gentle, modest, somewhat reserved with strangers, he was full of heart and courage, a brave soldier and a good comrade. To know him was to love and admire him. Quiet as was his demeanour, he possessed a daring, dauntless spirit, was a fearless horseman, and some seven or eight years ago received the Royal Humane Society's medal for saving a person from drowning. Subsequently he saw much service in the field, gaining additional credit in each campaign. Alas! he will fight no more, and the army has lost a brave comrade, the Queen a devoted officer, and the young aristocracy a fine example. He has, however, died a soldier's death, so why should soldiers lament him? Rather should they envy his honourable grave, and bear in mind the good example which through life he set.
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