The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-08
BY LA MAnQuISE DE FONTENOY.
- APTAIN CLAUDE CHAMPION DE
CRESPIGNY, of the End LIE
Rl. La

- APTAIN CLAUDE CHAMPION DE
CRESP1GNf, of the Ind Life
Guards, who arrived on Satur-
day last 20 join Captain Miller's
polo team, for the matches whico ate
TO be played at Lakewood and Mead
OVERLOOK. enjoys the distinction of
having been on no less than two oc-
casions strongly recommended by his
commanding officers for the Victoria
Cross. for deeds OF conspicuous GAL
lantry. being obliged, however, 10 con-
tent himself with the Distinguished
Service Order, and with the knowledg g
walls in the army, and among the pub
lie in general. that he should have re-
ceived the Victoria Cross asked for
him on the last occasion By Lord
Roberts during the South African War.
The particular exploit which was
made the basis OF the veteran field
marshaFs recommendation of Captain
Claude Champion de Crespigny, was
MS daring rescue, under heavy ire OF
TWO troopers who had been sent for
ward TO reconnoitre, and whose horse
were Killed, and they themselves
placed hors de combat. He rode out.
and brought one OF the men IN, his
own horse being wounded. and then
vaulting on tho back OF another horse.
returned for the other injured man
whom he also brought in, despite two
wounds which he himself received
while so doing. He is very tall, with
reserved in his speech and retlccnt In
his manner; and is as enthusiastic d
sportsman as his father, Sir Claude
Champion de Crespigny, to whose
baroneicy he is the next heir. DesDite
his stature. he is one of the best gem
tleman riders in the British army, but
a few years ago was hfaten by his
father in Steeplechases coming ter
rife eropper, which smashed his arm.
and enabled his seXagenarian, but still
tremendously vigorous parent. to win
the race.
Although Sir Claude wen, through
tie bankruptcy court some ten or iif-
teen years ago, his son. Captain de
very rich indeed, owing TO the falling
in of an immense number of leases in
the northern part OF London. The
.baronetage is of relatively modern ORR
George ". The family. however is
one Of the Oldest of Normandy. but has
been settled in England since the sew
lenteenth century, when it emlSrated to
England in connection with the reYo-
cation of the Edith of Nantes.
Both Captain dc C-espigny and his
father, Claude, are much liked by the
royal family. In fact. King Edward
may be said to owe. his life to Sir
Claudc.j 1t happened off Portland.
where Edward VII, then heir appar-
ent, was visiting the channel squadron,
and was watching the working of
new gun on board the man-of-war
Sultan. He had just turned TO ask
some question of the commander. Cap
tain Vansittart, when suddenly the
windlass started, and the handle, dying
around with frightfnl velocity, would
have struck the princes head killing
him on the spot, had not Sir Claude.
quick as flash. dragged his future
sovereign back with little ceremony
and so much visor that he almost
brought him down sprawling on the
deck. AS it was. the handle missed
the princes head by barely an inch.
Picturesque Character.
Sir Claude is one OF the most pic
turesque characters in English life
midshipman of Admiral Lord Charles
Beresford. an officer Of tho English
Rife Brigade, a cavalryman in the
German army during the Franco-Ger-
man War, war correspondent.
champion swimmer, a champion bal
.loonist, and for many years champion
amateur boxer OF England He holds
the Royal Humane Society medal for
saving life from drowning; was bit
fused 10 carry him on his back across
the Falls of Niagara on a tight rope.
and has figured as an amateur picador
in a Spanish bull fight. 1t was while
in the command of the Suffolk Hus-
cars, one Of the crack regiments of
the Yeomanry, or militia cavalry. OF
Ihe army. that Sir Claude was taken
to task by the old Duke Of Cambridge,
then COMMANDMENTS -chicf for some
manoeuvres, The duke, whose lam
guage was always picturesque apos--
trophized Sir Claude as "a damned
fool and then afterwards with his