| Skeffington | Algernon William John Clotwort | | Captain | SKEFFINGTON, THE HONOURABLE ALGERNON WILLIAM JOHN CLOTWORTHY (VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARD), Captain, was born 28 November 1873, son of the 11th Viscount and Florence, only child of Major George John Whyte-Melville, the famous sporting poet and novelist. He was educated at Winchester and Sandhurst, and was gazetted to the 17th Lancers 20 February 1895, becoming Lieutenant 13 November 1895; Captain, 1900, and Adjutant, 17th Lancers, 1900. He served in the South African War, 1900-2, as Adjutant, 17th Lancers, 1 November 1900 to 31 May 1902, taking part in operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including actions at Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions at Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900, including action at Caledon River (27 to 29 November); operations in Orange River Colony, 30 November to December 1900: January to February 1901, and April to June 1901; operations in Cape Colony, December 1900 to January 1901; February to April 1901, and June 1901 to 31 May 1902. He was wounded; mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901, aud 29 July 1902]; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps; the King's Medal with two clasps; was given the Brevet of Major, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "The Honourable Algernon William John Clotworthy Skeffington, Captain, 17th Lancers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was invested by the King 18 December 1902. He was promoted to Major 29 November 1904, and retired from the 17th Lancers 18 May 1907, and entered the Special Cavalry Reserve. He served in the European War, 1914-15, with the North Irish Horse; and was twice mentioned in Despatches. He became DAA and QMG. He had succeeded his father in 1905 as (12th) Viscount Massereene and Ferrard (created 1660); Baron of Loughneagh (created 1660); Baron Oriel (created 1790); Viscount Ferrard (created 1797); Baron Oriel (UK, created 1821). He owned about 16,000 acres, and amongst the treasures in his possession was a picture of Lord Oriel, the last Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, also solid silver-gilt mace, and Speaker's chair, and several pictures by Lely, Godfrey Kneller, Gainsborough, etc. He married, in 1905, Jean Barbara, eldest daughter of Sir John Stirling Ainsworth, Bart, MP, and Margaret Catherine (who died in 1918), daughter of Robert Reid Macredie, and they had one son, the Honourable John Talbot Foster Whyte-Melville Clotworthy Skeffington, born 22 October 1914, and one daughter. Major Whyte-Melville never met Adam Lindsay Gordon, whose fame was chiefly posthumous. Major Whyte-Melville at once recognized that Gordon was a real poet, and his letters were some of the few gleams of happiness that came to cheer Gordon's last years. They wrote to each other a good deal, hut unfortunately Gordon's letters to Whyte-Melville are not extant.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers |
