Book details

ISBN: 978 1 8382544 83

288pp +2499 illustrations

Paperback

Memoir

29 June 2024

‘Anniversary of our Wedding Day, the first since my Darling was taken from me. He often talked about this day, and last year he used to say, “Just think, next year we will have been married fifteen years!” and there would follow reminiscences of that Wedding Day, and other happy incidents in our life.

'Now there is no-one to talk over those bygone years, and memories stored away soon grow dim. So I am going to write down all that I can remember of our life together during those fourteen years, and as I have always kept a very short diary, the task should be a fairly easy one. It will be a labour of love, for every word will bring back something of him and some day it may help the children to remember him, and give them some ideas of our married life.’

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Beatrix Waterford was born Lady Beatrix Petty-Fitzmaurice in 1877. She was a member of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy, both by birth and by marriage. A daughter of the 5th Marquis of Lansdowne, she spent part of her childhood in India, where her father was Viceroy. He also served as Governor General of Canada, Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Her mother, Lady Lansdowne was Vicereine of India, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Alexandra and was awarded a GBE for charitable services after the Great War. In 1897 Beatrix married Henry Beresford, 6th Marquis of Waterford. They lived mainly in Curraghmore, County Waterford and had six children. Her husband died aged 37 in 1911. She was decorated by the King for her work with the Red Cross during the Great War. She set up the first Red Cross War Hospital Supply Depot in Merrion Square, Dublin, and this employed over 1,500 workers and there were a further 50 Depots around Ireland. She was awarded the GBE and the DGStJ. In 1918 she re-married, her second husband being Osborne Beauclerk, later 12th Duke of St Albans. They lived at Newtown Anner near Clonmel in County Tipperary. She died in Ireland in 1953.