The Memoirs of Admiral Lord Beresford

[Frontispiece: Charles Beresford, Admiral]




  THE MEMOIRS OF
  ADMIRAL
  LORD BERESFORD



  WITH TWENTY-THREE ILLUSTRATIONS



  FOURTH EDITION IN ONE VOLUME



  METHUEN & CO. LTD.
  36 ESSEX STREET W.C.
  LONDON




  First Published (2 vols.) . . . . October 6th, 1914
  Second Edition . . . . November, 1914
  Third Edition . . . . December, 1914
  Fourth Edition (1 vol.) . . . . September, 1916




  TO
  MY BROTHER OFFICERS
  OF THE
  ROYAL NAVY




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PREFACE

This work is a record of my life from the year 1859, when I entered the
Royal Navy, to the year 1909, when I hauled down my flag and came on
shore.

For the Introduction and the Notes, which have been written in order to
amplify the personal narrative and to connect it with the historical
events of the period, Mr. L. Cope Cornford is responsible.

I have dedicated the book to my brother officers of the Royal Navy.

As luck would have it, my career has been of a singularly varied
character.  And my hope is that, in reading its story, boys and girls,
as well as their elders, may find pleasure.

CHARLES BERESFORD
    _Admiral_

1 GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE, W.
    _June_ 1914




[Illustration: CURRAGHMORE]




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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

CHAP.

I. I SEE THE FLEET

II. THE BEGINNING OF SERVICE

III. THE SHIP OF HAPPIEST MEMORY

IV. THE SHIP OF UNHAPPY MEMORY

V. THE MIDSHIPMAN OF 1864

VI. STRICT SERVICE

VII. THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. _GALATEA_--
    I. TO THE ANTIPODES

VIII. THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. _GALATEA_ (_continued_)--
    II. MY TWO FAITHFUL SERVANTS

IX. THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. _GALATEA_ (_continued_)--
    III. TAHITI AND THE SANDWICH ISLANDS

X. THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. _GALATEA_ (_continued_)--
    IV. OLD JAPAN.  NOTE

XI. THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. _GALATEA_ (_continued_)--
    V. WITH THE DUKE IN JAPAN

XII. THE CRUISE OF H.M.S. _GALATEA_ (_continued_)--
    VI. THE HOMEWARD VOYAGE

XIII. FLAG-LIEUTENANT AT PLYMOUTH

XIV. POLITICAL EVENTS OF 1873-80 AND POSTSCRIPT.  NOTE

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XV. AN IRISH ELECTION AND IRISH POLITICS

XVI. MEMBER FOR WATERFORD, AND COMMANDER, ROYAL NAVY

XVII. WITH THE PRINCE IN INDIA

XVIII. THE EGYPTIAN WAR--
    I. THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE.  NOTE

XIX. THE EGYPTIAN WAR (_continued_)--
    II. THE BOMBARDMENT OF ALEXANDRIA

XX. THE EGYPTIAN WAR (_continued_)--
    III. CHIEF OF POLICE

XXI. THE EGYPTIAN WAR (_continued_)--
    IV. GARRISON WORK

XXII. PASSING THROUGH EGYPT

XXIII. THE SOUDAN WAR OF 1884-5--
    I. SUMMARY OF EVENTS.  NOTE

XXIV. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    II. HOW WE BROUGHT THE BOATS THROUGH THE GREAT GATE

XXV. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    III. UP THE CATARACTS AND ACROSS THE DESERT

XXVI. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    IV. THE FIRST MARCH OF THE DESERT COLUMN.  NOTE

XXVII. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    V. THE DESERT MARCH OF THE FORLORN HOPE

XXVIII. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    VI. THE FIGHT AT ABU KLEA

XXIX. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    VII. THE FIGHT TO REACH THE RIVER

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XXX. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    VIII. DISASTER

XXXI. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    IX. THE RESCUE

XXXII. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    X. THE EFFECT OF THE ACTION OF WAD HABESHI

XXXIII. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    XI. THE RETREAT

XXXIV. THE SOUDAN WAR (_continued_)--
    XII. SEQUEL AND CONCLUSION

XXXV. ORGANISATION FOR WAR

XXXVI. THE TWENTY-ONE MILLION

XXXVII. H.M.S. UNDAUNTED--
    I. WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN FLEET

XXXVIII. H.M.S. UNDAUNTED (_continued_)--
    II. THE SALVING OF THE _SEIGNELAY_

XXXIX. THE SECOND SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMME

XL. STEAM RESERVE

XLI. VIEWS AND REVIEWS

XLII. COVETED CHINA.  NOTE

XLIII. THE INTROMISSION OF THE ADMIRALS

XLIV. TRAFFICS AND DISCOVERIES--
    I. CHINA

XLV. TRAFFICS AND DISCOVERIES (_continued_)--
    II. JAPAN

XLVI. TRAFFICS AND DISCOVERIES (_continued_)--
    III. THE UNITED STATES


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XLVII. H.M.S. _RAMILLIES_

XLVIII. HER MAJESTY'S MIDSHIPMEN

XLIX. THE PARLIAMENTARY ANVIL

L. THE CHANNEL FLEET

LI. BOAT RACING

LII. THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION

LIII. SPORTING MEMORIES--
    I. RIDING AND DRIVING

LIV. SPORTING MEMORIES (continued)--
    I. SHOOTING

LV. SPORTING MEMORIES (continued)--
    III. FISHING

LVI. HOME WATERS: THE LAST COMMAND

POSTSCRIPT. THE MAKING OF AN ADMIRAL

INDEX

(The "Notes" are by L. COPE CORNFORD)




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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

THE AUTHOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_
    From a photograph by Heath

CURRAGHMORE
    From a photograph by G. D. Croker

SIR JOHN DE LA POER BERESFORD, 4TH MARQUESS OF WATERFORD

CHRISTINA, MARCHIONESS OF WATERFORD
    From paintings at Curraghmore

THE AUTHOR AS NAVAL CADET
    From a photograph

H.M.S. _MARLBOROUGH_, 1861
    From a painting in the possession of the Author

THE OFFICERS OF H.M.S.