The death of Mr. No Grenfell, Lord Desborough's only surviving
son, after a motor accident, has afflicted with a strange pang of personal sorrow a great many persons who never knew him. For memories flew back to those days in the War when Julian Grenfell, No Grenfell's eldest brother, died of wounds (in May, 1915) just after he had written that unforgettable poem with its haunting Chaucerian note, " Into Battle " ; to the days also when Julian Grenfell's next brother, Gerald William—known universally to his friends as Billy— was killed in action (July, 1915). The full stretch of the accomplishments of these gallant brothers was not known to the nation until the main facts were taken from a wonderfully moving memoir which had been written privately by Lady Desborough and were made public. The misfortune which has pursued the Grenfell family is like that of the Greek tragedies in its intensity, and it is small consolation to reflect that these Grenfells cut off in their dazzling youth must have been greatly loved by the gods. The sympathy felt for Lord and Lady Desborough has been extraordinarily widespread.
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