NORWEGIAN ELKHOUND FORUM

He owned elkhounds that were bred in the UK. I have the details of at least one about me - I'll send them over the weekend - too jaded this evening and need to do a bit more digging.

Got it! Popping out for soup, but more later.... [Evil laugh!]

OK, I have dug and found out some more, having recalled some photos, which I've uploaded to the Gallery - the research may not be complete, as I don't have access to my early journals here at my house, nor do I have access to any online archive as Michael does (hint, hint, M.!). I do have photocopies of the registrations, but not all of the transfers (one day I'll get round to doing this).

Here is some information gleaned from cuttings. Be patient - there is a story and it will all come together as I proceed:

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Firstly, here is a family snapshot captioned as follows:
[Published 1926?]
[In pencil is inscribed 'Musti']. "LADY DOROTHY WOOD AND PETER AND RICHARD: THE RIGHT HON. E.F. LINDLEY WOOD P.C., M.P.
This snapshot of India's Viceroy-Designate was taken with his wife and two of his sons at Garrowby, Bishop Wilton, Yorks. Lady Dorothy Wood is a daughter of the fourth Earl of Onslow, and she and Mr. Wood have three sons and one daughter. Peter was born in 1916 and Richard in 1920. Lady Dorothy Wood is an expert in Norwegian Elkhounds, the dog in the foreground being a fine example of the breed."

It may interest you to know that Musti was born on 15.10.15 (Hafagr x Louvette). For more information about the family, visit wikipedia and here

Next, a cutting entitled "Dogs for sport and pleasure" subtitled "Elkhound progress", written by A. Croxton Smith, most likely again in 1926. "Lady Irwin, more widely known as Lady Dorothy Wood, will be much missed, but, as she has taken a favourite in the Viceregal entourage, it may be that a fashion will be created there which will help to give a stimulus to the breed at home. The influence of India upon certain breeds cannot well be overlooked. Lady Irwin, who was founder of the British Elkhound Society in conjunction with Lieut.-Colonel G.J. Scovell, is succeeded as President by Colonel P.L. Reid, with Mrs. G. Powell as vice-president....."

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A photo again now of the new Viceroy, his wife and Musti being seen off at the train station by the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Like you do.

From Elkhound Essays, as the breed notes in Our Dogs were styled in 1926 "We hear that her Excellency, Lady Irwin's Elkhound, Musti, has created quite a sensation in doggy circles in India; although the Simla climate is so different from that of the breed's native country, Musti has never been in more magnificent coat or better form than he is just now; he is, we imagine, the first of his race to enter India, so it will be interesting to see what effect such a typical dog, so influentially owned, has on the canine history of that country."

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Now a photo of Musti at "A Simla Gathering", published most likely in 1927. The Chairman of the South African Commission to India looks very pleased to have Musti sat at his feet.....

Now to the meat of the piece. Registrations for 1926 show the transfer of the bitch Sona from Mrs. L.E. Waterhouse to H.H. The Maharaja of Patiala. Sona was born 7.4.1925 (Jansen x Beltsa). Jansen was a half-brother to Musti, sired by the same dog, Hafagr. Jansen's breeder was Lady D. Wood. A piece from Elkhound Essays in 1927 tells us "One of the Elkhounds which went out lately to H.H. The Maharajah [sic.] of Patiala, was Mrs. Waterhouse's very promising young Sona, who took first in puppies, and 2nd and 3rd in other classes at Cruft's, as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Worcester Championship Show. As Sona's breeder considers the exported one better than Ch. Beltsa, the Indian potentate's Elkhound kennel will not lack in merit. Beltsa is still very fit, and likely to give many more meritorious additions to the Banbury kennel."

Finally, wth the date handwritten as Feb 4th [1927] another piece from Elkhound Essays "Colonel Scovell has just heard that the brace of Elkhounds which he exported to India, to join his HIghness of Patiala's famous kennel, have arrived safely at their destination. The first outing of that brace will not be to a show, but to Delhi, as his Highness intends taking them there shortly to pay a visit to Her Excellency, Lady Irwin, who will, we know, be delighted to see two of her favourites. Although she had to leave all her elkhounds, with one exception, in this country, Lady Irwin's kennel is beng carried on in her absence, and one of her bitches which is being bred from is the imported Binna-av-Glitre, litter sister to Bob-av-Glitre, and dam of that fine youngster Delhi of the Clyde." Also in the 1926 transfers, we see that one of the brace of elkhounds was Bjonn av Glitre, a proven sire in the UK, and a full-sibling to the aforementioned Binna and also to Bob av Glitre, born on 21.8.22 (Dyre av Glitre x Jerva II av Glitre).

I asked Stuart to have a quick flick through the next few journals, and in 1928 we see the export of the bitch Skoda, sold to the Maharaja by Mrs W.S MacLellan. Skoda had a litter at the beginning of the year by Delhi of the Clyde - HRH was buying proven stock. Stuart couldn't find a record of a transfer to Mrs MacLellan, but in 1926 we see the registration of Skoda owned and bred by Mrs D. Eyton Lloyd (Graftonia Kogi x Toorit). Delhi was owned by Mrs MacLellan and used at stud by Mrs Eyton Lloyd, so I would be relatively comfortable with believing the Skoda owned by each of them to be one and the same. Incidentally, Delhi was bred by Lady Irwin - his sire was Musti, who sired him before his departure for India, and his dam, as mentioned above, was Binna av Glitre. Skoda's dam, Toorit, was a daughter of Bob av Glitre, so the mating between the two represented a nice piece of line breeding.

I do particularly admire the proud photo of the Maharaja with the Segier and Segierinen

I have devoured the entire magazine, Michael - and noticed what you have done, which you told me you were thinking of doing. If only other people would do the same with the bits and pieces that they have (within the limits of copyright), and what a wealth of historical information we would be able to share. Did you not see anything in the Journals about how the cup came to be given to the Club?

Yes, of course. Edit it if you like so that it makes sense in that context. The final comment is a link to an online photo - I agree that it's not very clear that it's a hyperlink, as the colour of the text is so similar.

Wow! I know we are very lucky to have a librarian in our midst. We can always rely upon Ness to research for us and you have come up trumps yet again. Have just read the article that Maggie uncovered which adds yet another slant. Well done everyone.