Irish Wolfhound History

Bits & Pieces

DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH - Thursday 31st December, 1896

Miss Decima Moore, the principal girl in the Drury Lane pantomime, is a great lover of dogs and has quite a collection of valuable animals. First in size, says a correspondent, is her magnificent Irish wolfhound Ulick, by Brenda out of Lufra, one of Lord Caledon's famous breed. Ulick, who is just over three years old, stands 33 inches to the shoulder - just two inches lower than his sire. His splendid coat of wiry hair is fawn-colour; his ears, which are soft and seem to invite carresses, are almost black, as is his mask. He is a gentle and affectionate dog, devoted to his mistress, and his size alone makes him an invaluable guard. Another of her pets is a smart-looking fox terrier, Chilcombe Bramble, by Dysart Rambler out of Kitty Raby. Miss Moore is also a keen angler, and Bramble is always permitted to accompany his mistress on her fishing excursions, and is said to be an adept at landing fish.

 Decima Moore
 Note: although Ulick is said to have been by Brenda out of Lufra in this article, he is listed in Graham's Pedigrees as being by Balor out of Colleen, wh. 3rd July 1893, bred by Alexander and first owned by Mrs. C. Walker-Leigh. He was not registered with the Kennel Club. Interestingly, in Pedigrees he is described as 'Height 33 inches, just 2 inches lower than his sire. Fawn colour, black mask and ears.' Miss Decima Moore later became Lady Guggenheimer.

LINK

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decima_Moore

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THE GRAPHIC - Saturday 2nd March, 1901

The wonderful escape from death of a lady who was saved by her brave and faithful dogs is another proof of the devotion and keen instincts even of Irish wolfhounds, not generally looked upon as ladies' pets. Mrs. Gerrard, the lady in question, was out walking in Cheshire one day when a savage pig attacked her and threw her down. Her cries for help were fortunately heard by her wolfhounds in the adjoining field, who at once responded to her voice, and, leaping over hedges and ditches, flew to her rescue, dragging the pig away and pinning him down. On country walks a large dog is indeed a valuable protection, for he is as a rule as quiet as he is strong and as brave as he is affectionate. No tramps would dare molest a lady walking with such a protector and, indeed, a large dog is a far preferable companion to the little, snapping, snarling terriers which usually usurp the best places in the drawing-room under the guise of spoiled favourites.

Note: Mrs. Gerrard (which should have been spelt 'Gerard' ) had the kennel name of "Kidnal" and was the owner of Cheevra, a very daney bitch who still had a marked effect on the breed. Mrs. Gerard's Rajah of Kidnal was the first mascot given to the Irish Guards by the Irish Wolfhound Club.

 Cheevra  Cheevra, by Garryowen ex Raheen, whelped June 29th 1892

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THE EVENING NEWS - Saturday August 17th, 1901

ANIMAL PAINTING IN HAMPSHIRE
At Headley Mill Farm, three miles from Liphook, Hants, is to be found the only school for animal painting in the world. It is conducted by Mr. Frank Calderon, and an interesting article has been written about it in the August "Strand". The school was founded six years ago off Bakerstreet, and it grew so in popularity that it was found necessary to move to the country, where genuine models could be used by the students. In fine weather the work is done in the open air, and a large barn is used when this is not possible. Models are got from the country folk, and these often cause much amusement while being sketched.
Mr. Calderon himself has a number of fine dogs, which figure to a large extent in the work of the school. Patrick, an Irish wolfhound, served as the model in "Orphans", Mr. Calderon's popular Academy picture. Patrick was a great favourite with the students, and there was much sorrowing amongst them when he died a year ago. A life-size cast of him in bronze occupies a conspicuous place in the class room.
Goats are occasionally used as models, and unless they are well fed every minute they make frantic efforts to lunch off paint rags and colour tubes; this has never been accomplished as yet, although one pretty girl student has had occasion to lament the painful disappearance of a picture hat, pins, roses and all.
At another time a bulldog of high degree, which had been kindly sent over from a neighbouring kennel for the students to paint, watched his chance when the attendant was napping and went tooth and nail for a canvas against a nearby tree, on which his trained eye caught sight of two demure-looking tabbies, apparently napping in the sunlight. He had torn out a goodly bit from both figures by the time the picture was rescued, and displayed the greatest ill-temper during the remainder of the sitting.
These little incidents all go to show the many ways in which the monotony of the work may be relieved most unexpectedly.

……………

Note: the following pictures and links have been added  and were not part of the original article: 
   
 Frank Calderon  Orphans painting
 Frank Calderon  Patrick and two puppies in "Orphans"

Cecil Aldin studied with Frank Calderon, and Patrick was said to be Mrs. Nagle's reason for having Irish wolfhounds.

LINKS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Frank_Calderon

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/artists/william-frank-calderon

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 THE WESTERN DAILY PRESS and BRISTOL MIRROR, Bristol, Monday January 7, 1935
 Cecil Aldin - The Dogs' Artist - Is Dead
 Mr. Cecil Aldin, the artist, died in London last night at the age of 64 years. He had been ill in a nursing home since early in November.
Mr. Aldin enjoyed a world-wide reputation as a dog artist. His pictures are prized in all countries by lovers of both art and animals.
A dog lover himself, he had a profound sympathy and understanding of canine ways. This was reflected in his work - he was able to catch a dog's expression and actions with brush or pencil in a life-like manner.
Owing to ill-health he had spent the larger part of the last two years abroad.
In 1932 he and his wife decided to live in Majorca. He took with him his five famous dog "models" - an Irish wolfhound, a long-haired dachshund, a sealyham, a bull terrier, and, last but not least, a species of terrier described as "just a dog".
Mr. Aldin was also well-known for his water colour studies and pencil drawings of other subjects of a sporting and topographical nature. He had published pictures of famous inns, golf links, cathedrals, and hunting scenes.

"Time I Was Dead"
He was born at Slough in Buckinghamshire, and studied art at South Kensington under Frank Calderon.
In 1918 he was official purchaser to the National War Museum.
Recently he published his reminiscences under the title of "Time I Was Dead".
A publisher said last night: "His recent autobiography shows Aldin as he really was. It's title "Time I Was Dead" had a painfully ironic ring today, but it was his own and very characteristic choice.
"It arose out of a joke against himself when he heard a potential purchaser of an etching in a printshop asking the name of the artist, and, when he was told it was Cecil Aldin, he exclaimed in tones of annoyance: 'It's time he was dead'
"It amused Aldin immensely."
 
 Cecil Aldin  Micky
 Cecil Aldin Micky, bred by Florence Nagle, and star of many of Cecil Aldin's illustrations

LINKS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Aldin

http://www.victoriagallery.co.uk/artists/aldin-rba-cecil-charles-windsor/1

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 DUNDEE COURIER - Wednesday 15 May 1929
 walking on golf course
 WELL GUARDED - Miss Garrick and Miss Clark, Formby, accompanied by Mrs.
Dunlop Hill's Irish wolfhound, walking on the Old Course at St. Andrews yesterday.

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YORKSHIRE POST AND LEEDS INTELLIGENCER - Friday 12 September 1930

A Craven Canine Fancier
The Silsden Agricultural Society, whose annual show takes place tomorrow, has this year chosen a woman for its president - Mrs. William Knox, one of the best-known canine fanciers in the Craven district. She is the daughter of the late Sir John Clough, who was a leading figure in his time in Keighley's commerce. Mrs. Knox has had an interest in horses and dogs almost since she was a child. Some time ago she took up the breeding of Irish wolfhounds, and at present there are a dozen of these noble animals in her model kennels, which are fitted with vita-glass and electrically heated. She was once invited to visit Princess Mary's stud of Irish wolfhounds at Goldsborough Hall and, later, was entrusted with four of the Princess's dogs. For many years Mrs. Knox has been secretary of the Keighley branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Note: Mrs. Knox's kennels were Raikeshill and she had her first hounds in 1926. 
 Mrs. Knox
 Mrs. Knox at her home in the West Riding of Yorkshire

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 THE COURIER AND ADVERTISER - Friday, January 15th 1937
 triplets
 DRESSED ALIKE, and bearing a strong resemblance to each other, the Mawby sisters,
who are also triplets, are familiar figures at Shoreham. They have four dogs - an Irish
wolfhound, a Scottie pup, a Cairn puppy, and a spaniel puppy
 
The triplets had frequently been in the media through their lives:- 
 triplets
 
 triplets
 
 triplets

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 DUNDEE EVENING TELEGRAPH - Tuesday 23 May 1939
 
 IRISH AND PROUD OF IT
 child and hound
 A fine Irish wolfhound proudly leads little four-year-old Jennifer Siggers,
daughter of the kennel manager, for a walk at Mr. J.V. Rank's kennels at
Godstone, Surrey.

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 NOTTINGHAM EVENING POST - Monday, November 22nd 1948
 Irish beauties
 A charming picture at Kersey, Surrey, as Miss Gina Egan takes Oinseach of Boroughbury,
Mrs. G. Browne-Clement's Irish wolfhound, and three of her puppies for a run at
Corfe Chase Kennels. The puppies are dollar earners, and one buyer flew from
New York to make a purchase.

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 GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO - Monday 29 August 1949
 meeting of horse and hound

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HASTINGS and ST. LEONARDS OBSERVER - Saturday 10 February 1951

OBITUARY

Author and Traveller Major A.J. Dawson

Major A.J. Dawson, author and traveller, who had lived for many years at St. Leonards, died on Sunday at his home at 3, Mazehill Mansions.
Third son of Mr. Edward Dawson, he was born in 1872, and in the 1914-18 war he commanded his company, the 11th Battalion Border Regiment, and was twice mentioned in dispatches. He was severely gassed and invalided home, afterwards being gazetted to the General Staff in control of a section of the Intelligence Department. Later, he was transferred to the Air Force, and took over similar work at the Air Ministry. After the Armistice he was appointed Director of Information at Bombay, but ill-health later forced him to relinquish this post. In 1940 he joined the 23rd (Sussex) Battalion of the Home Guard.
Between the years 1905 and 1914, Major Dawson's energies were largely concentrated on the aims and ideals of the National Service League, and the service and stimulation of closer union within the Empire. Armed with a written message from Lord Kitchener, he launched the Standard Recruiting scheme, and was responsible for the enlistment of many men in and around London. He also joined the late Mr. Harry Crust as first organising secretary of the Central Committee for National Patriotic Organisation, under the presidency of Lord Rosebery and Mr. Balfour.
Widely travelled, Major Dawson was the author of a score of books, some based on his wartime experiences, and others on his extensive knowledge of every continent.
His writings found much favour with the critics in the early years of this century. Three journals in particular, "The Athenaeum", "Pall Mall Gazette", and "The Bookman", were respectively very impressed by Major Dawson's comparatively early works. "Hidden Manna", a romance of Morocco, "Daniel Whyte", a life story novel, and "African Nights' Entertainments", based on a collection of Moroccan stories.
Among other books, some of which he wrote while at St. Leonards, Major Dawson's "Everybody's Dog Book", published in 1922, quickly became a recognised standard work. This was not surprising, as he was a judge and exhibitor of pedigree dogs, and had won honours at many championship shows with his Irish wolfhounds.
Major Dawson also compiled a history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
His activities locally included membership of the Twenty Club.
The funeral was on Thursday, cremation taking place at Charing. Members of the family attended.

 The frontispiece of "Everybody's Dog Book":
 author and dogs
 Major Dawson writing while surrounded by his dogs.
Of course, he also wrote "Finn the Wolfhound",
"Jan, Son of Finn" and several other novels, as well
as many other books on a wide variety of subjects

LINK

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_John_Dawson

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1/10/2016