“As soldier I cannot speak of him from personal knowledge. I have the satisfaction of being a member of society who, when war is abroad, is entitled to seclude himself from its ranks--(laughter)--but it is a consolation to feel that a good plucked one, like our friend Bill, is to the fore to protect me--(hear, hear, and laughter). I recollect I first saw him as a soldier, gay and dapper, in 9th Lancers uniform, brown hair, sufficient of it, and a straight nose--(laughter)--escorting the Prince of Wales from Prinseps Ghât to Government House, but this is only the show side of a soldier’s life. For its realistic side one must go further afield, and there are those amongst us from whom no doubt I could glean facts to set forth his worth, but there is no need. He bears on his breast the sign manual of merit in the proud insignia of the Victoria Cross, and I am justified in accepting that as sufficient evidence--(loud and prolonged cheers).
“As official, we have all known him best as Military Secretary to the Viceroy of India. He has (after six years’ service as A.D.C. to Lords Northbrook and Lytton) held the post for twelve years under three successive Viceroys; has raised the office to a science, and himself from an official into an institution--(cheers)--acquired a reputation absolutely unique, and so identified himself with the position that when a new Viceroy is appointed it seems more natural to ask who is to be his ‘Bill Beresford’ than his ‘Military Secretary’--(cheers and laughter)--and when it is Bill himself the Viceroy elect has secured, what is of great value, the same capacity and undeviating loyalty enjoyed by his predecessor--(cheers). In all this I need not rely upon my own judgment, for it is proved a hundred-fold in the fact that he has been the choice and acquired the confidence and esteem of successive men of high intellect and such different characters as Lords Ripon, Dufferin and Lansdowne--(cheers). More than that I understand his worth has been recognised by a power higher even than a Viceroy’s, and testified to by his elevation to a Knighthood in the Order of the Indian Empire, of which he is already a member--(loud and continued cheering). I knew that would elicit the hearty congratulations of you all, and I am glad we are the first to offer them.