Arthur Boyd-Rochfort

Born at Middleton Park House, County Westmeath, Ireland on January 1, 1880, George Arthur Boyd-Rochfort, was the eldest of three brothers involved with racing.

Cecil, who became knighted, trained whilst Harold was an owner/breeder.

Arthur rode over jumps in Ireland in the early 1900s but became principally involved with the Flat.

His Tally-Ho Stud produced a number of good winners. Some of these went jumping, the most notable of these being Flying Wild (but that was a long time after Arthur died. She was bred by his brother Harold in1956.)

Originally rejected for military service owing to varicose veins, Arthur was eventually accepted and joined the 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards.

On 3 August 1915, he was in charge of a small working party in the trenches between Cambrin and La Brasse.

At two that morning, a German mortar bomb landed on the parapet close to the working party. Yelling out a warning to his men, Arthur rushed forward and picked up the bomb. He hurled it over the parapet, where it exploded.

This action undoubtedly saved many lives and for this, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

His brother Cecil, who was also in the Scots Guards, was wounded at the Somme in 1915 and awarded the Croix de Guerre.

Harold, the only professional soldier of the three, won the DSO and Military Cross as well being mentioned in despatches four times.

All three brothers survived the war.

Arthur returned to run the family stud at Middleton Park in County Westmeath.

His health failed him in 1940. He underwent a serious operation that June only to pass away, in Dublin, on August 7, aged 60.

The stud passed to Harold.