Old White Lodge

Sir Horace Westropp McMahon, born 1863

1893: After the death of his brother Aubrey in 1893, the baronetcy passed to Horace Westropp McMahon. It was obtained from Brenda Whitmore (nee Bancroft) who is Sir Horace's granddaughter by marriage.

The London Gazette, December 15th 1885

1896: A transcription of the shipping Lists from the South Africa Magazine dated May 2, 1896 shows a Captain Sir H. W. McMahon, Bart. in transit to Cape Town where he was severely wounded, mentioned in dispatches and awarded a DSO.

1898: In 1898 Horace was in Crete where he received his brevet of Major. According to Wikipedia:

"An insurrection in 1897 led the Ottoman Empire declaring war on Greece. However, the Great Powers (Britain, France, Italy and Russia) decided that Turkey could no longer maintain control and intervened. By March 1897, the Great Powers decided to restore order by governing the island temporarily through a committee of four admirals who remained in charge until the arrival of Prince George of Greece as first governor-general of an autonomous Crete, effectively detached from the Ottoman Empire, on 9 December 1898. Turkish forces were expelled in 1898, and an independent Republic of Crete formed"

From the Boer War services of officers
(Credit: Robert Smith)

Sir Horace Westropp McMahon
(Credit: Brenda Whitmore)

1907: Horace receives the DSO.

Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Wednesday, May 26, 1897

1907: Sir Horace retires:

The London Gazette, 27th September 1907

Ellie, Horace's future wife was previously married to Captain Charles Edward Bancroft in Hong Kong in 1900 (eldest son of Squire Bancroft and Effie Marie Wilton who were well known actors) who died from an illness in 1906. The full story of Charles, his parents and his marriage to Ellie can be found on the OldWhiteLodge site here.

Charles was a Captain in the Welch Fusiliers until he dies in 1906.

Captain Charles Edward Bancroft, Ellie's first husband
(Credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])

Horace was also in the Welch Fusiliers and the following 1908 extract from Ellie's autograph book shows that she knew Sir Horace McMahon from much earlier. This was for a holiday at The Compleat Angler hotel (Ellie married Horace in 1911).

Extract from Ellie's autograph book for July 1908

1911: Sir Horace McMahon marries Ellie Maude Bancroft (Ellie was Australian and was born Ellie Maude Moses, daughter of Hon. Henry Moses MLC of New South Wales).


The signature of Hon. Henry Moses mlc and his wife, Annie of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Times, Friday, May 05,1911

Ellie and Horace's marriage certificate (click above to see full certificate)
(Credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])


Lady Ellie McMahon (nee Bancroft) in 1920s (Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])	Sir Horace Westropp McMahon c1907. (Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])

According to The Times, Thursday, Jul 24, 1913, Sir Horace bought Southbroom House in Devizes, Wiltshire. Ellie and Horace lived in Southbroom House until 1926 when it was sold to Wiltshire Country Council in 1926.

Southbroom House in Devizes

Sir Horace at Southbroom

The London Gazette, 27th August 1915

The London Gazette, 8th April 1916

c1915-17: A group photo of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers probably taken in 1917 or 1918. The officers with the ‘funny hats’ are Canadians i.e. C.E.F. (Canadian Expeditionary Force) officers and are most probably brigade or divisional staff officers. Horace McMahon is 4th from the left sitting.

A group photo of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers probably taken in 1917 or 1918.
Horace McMahon is 4th from the left sitting. Credit: (Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore)

1923: Lady McMahon already had a child when she was married by her first husband Captain Charles Bancroft - Primrose Bancroft born in March quarter 1903 (her first husband died in December 1906).

Note: More detail about Charles and his parents can be found on the OldWhiteLodge site here.

The Times, Saturday, Sep 29, 1923


Primrose Bancroft aged 17 (Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])	Primrose Bancroft in the late 20s, 'dressed for court' (Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])

Lady Ellie in 1928
(Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])

Lady Ellie McMahon (nee Bancroft) in 1928
(Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])

1928?: The McMahon's travelled a lot in the late 1920s including India and Australia where they visited their in-laws. Here is a cutting from an unknown newspaper about Lady MacMahon in India where they were entertained "right royally" by the Governor-General.


Ellie in India

An amazing non-PC photo of a shot tiger - a Xmas card from The Maharajah of Bikaner

1928: Sir Horace, circa 1928 (Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])

Sir Horace, circa 1928 (Photo credit: Brenda Whitmore [nee Bancroft])

1932: Sir Horace died in 1932 aged 68.

Sir Horace Westropp McMahon's obituary in his regimental journal, Dec 1932
( Many thanks Lt Col R. J. M.Sinnett RWF (Retd) and the RWF museum)

Sir Horace's grave in Kensal Green Cemetery in London
where he was buried in the family grave

1969: Horace's wife, Lady Ellie McMahon, died on the 21st December 1969 and is buried in the same grave as her husband shown below.

1930: In March quarter 1930 Primrose M H Bancroft married John W W Bisgood.

1930: In 1930, Brenda Helene Primrose Bisgood was born.

1948: In 1948 aged 18, Brenda changed her name to Bancroft, her mother's maiden name.

The Times 1948

1954: In 1954 Brenda marries.

The Times, Monday, Jul 12, 1954

1973: In 1951 Brenda marries again.

The Times, Wednesday, Oct 10, 1973

I was most pleased to meet Mrs Brenda Whitmore who very kindly allowed me to take copies of some of her photographs of the McMahon family as well as entertaining me with some interesting family stories from her grandmother Ellie's days.

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