Given by Bassano & Vandyk Studios, 1974. Copyright National Portrait Gallery.
Although I was eleven when he died, I don’t remember Uncle Herbrand well. I do often think of him as I have his hairbrushes.
Really he’s a great-uncle by his marriage to one of my grandfather’s sisters, Aunt Ada, whom I remember well and with fondness. However, he wrote a memoir and I have got to know him a little through reading it. This has only been possible because Aunt Ada forgot to put it in storage when she was moving house. The furniture repository burnt down. I still would not have read it if his great niece, Lady “Janey” Alexander had not published his memoir and set it in the context of his life. He was born in 1888 (died 1965) and the journals cover 1908 to 1920: “I began my first term at Sandhurst in January 1908”. To my surprise he “passed out” in December that year. Although courses are a bit shorter now, for a long time they were two or three years.
Janey, who died in 2017, compiled an admirable memorial to Uncle Herbrand. She was painstaking in providing biographical footnotes; summarising the rest of his life; and lavish in her plundering of family photograph albums. It is a book to cherish and may be purchased on AbeBooks, if the price is negotiable.
On 1st January 1909 Uncle Herbrand was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant in the 6th Royal Irish Lancers. The following year the regiment was posted to Marlborough Barracks (renamed McKee today) in Dublin. “Marlborough Barracks were modern by the standards of that time. They actually had electric light, if not baths or showers.”
He had plenty of time to go hunting, usually with the Meath, but not always.
”One particular hunt was with the Louth Hounds, during which we crossed the Great Northern railway line, ran through a large park containing a small lake and a beautiful battlemented castle, perfectly reflected in the surface of the lake. On enquiry I was told that the property belonged to Lord Bellew and was called Barmeath Castle. Little did I realise that day how closely Barmeath Castle and the Bellew family were destined to feature in my life.”
Very Brideshead.
Christopher,
I was not aware of your family association with the Alexanders.
Firebrand, like other Alexanders (recall Field-Marshall Alexander eg) was a fighting military man. All four male siblings served, and survived, the Great War. His strongest inclination, however, was for all things equestrian, and he enjoyed noteable success as rider, owner, trainer and breeder.
Janey inherited the horsey gene, which I believe, makes her book all the more engaging. An extremely keen and able horsewoman herself, Jayney had been enjoying well warranted success at National Hunt and was doing great things at Caledon when, sadly she took ill and departed this life.
Post scriptum. When I am next chatting to Nicky I must tell him that you are still using his great uncles brushes to style (?) your silver threads. He will be so spirited he may even become a follower.
Your Uncle spent Christmas 1928 at NTPolesden Lacey the country estate of Margaret Greville. It must have been very special. Been looking at trying to get a copy of Firebrand but none available. Love to know if he made any reference to his stay at Polesden. He was among a very interesting party: The Chamberlain family, Dutch Ministers, a french count and a few others.
I am writing biographies of the guests who signed the Visitor Book to share with our visitors and to build a picture of Margaret Greville
Hi Christopher, I am wondering if you can help me again.
In the archive at Polesden Lacey there is a photograph of an ‘unknown man’.
Strange as it is signed Hugo Denison! I have been searching and have not been able to find a single photograph of Hugo to match this with.
Hugo was born in 1894 this photo is dated 1913.
His daughter Zinnia was born in November 1937, Hugo died in April of that year.
Angela Mary Bellew married Simon Hugh Walford. She was the daughter of Jeanie Anne Walford wife of Tim Hugo Comins, son of Zinnia.
Do you have any links to this family? I would love to share the photograph with them, and also confirm the identity for our records.