1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

In 1628 a branch of the Scottish family of Montgomery settled at Killaghtee, near Dunkineely, County Donegal, and from them was descended,

SAMUEL MONTGOMERY (1726-1803), a prosperous Londonderry merchant who in 1773 acquired a thousand acres of land on the north bank of Lough Foyle in County Donegal, and thereon built New Park, which has belonged to the family ever since.

New Park, County Donegal (image: BBC website)

Mr Montgomery, High Sheriff of Londonderry City, 1754, married, in 1745, Anne Porter, and had issue (with a daughter), a son,

THE REV SAMUEL LAW MONTGOMERY (1769-1832), of New Park, Rector of Lower Moville, County Donegal, 1812, Rector of Leckpatrick, County Tyrone, 1830, who married Susan Maria, daughter of James McClintock, of Trinta, County Donegal, and had issue,

Samuel (Rev) (1805-74), Rector of Ballynascreen;
ROBERT, of whom we treat;
James;
Charlotte; Anne; Mary Susan; Frances Mary.

The younger son,

SIR ROBERT MONTGOMERY GCSI KCB (1809-87), of New Park, Moville, County Donegal, wedded firstly, in 1834, Frances Mary, daughter of the Rev T T Thomason, and had issue,

Mary Susan (1838-60), m Lt-Col James Crofton (see MOHILL CASTLE).

He espoused secondly, in 1845, Ellen Jane Lambert, and had further issue,

HENRY HUTCHINSON, his heir.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his only son,

THE RT REV DR HENRY HUTCHINSON MONTGOMERY KCMG (1847-1932), of New Park, Bishop of Tasmania, 1889-1901, who married, in 1881, Maud, third daughter of the Very Rev Dr Frederick William Farrar, Dean of Canterbury, and had issue,

Harold Robert (1884-1958), CMG;
Donald Stanley;
BERNARD LAW, of whom hereafter;
Desmond (1896-1909);
Colin Roger (Rev) (1901-59);
Brian Frederick (1903-89), MBE, Lieutenant-Colonel;
Sybil Frances; Una; Maud Winifred.

The third son,

FIELD MARSHAL THE RT HON SIR BERNARD LAW MONTGOMERY KG GCB DSO PC DL (1887-1976), was elevated to the peerage, in 1946, in the dignity of VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN, of Hindhead, Surrey.

He wedded, in 1927, Elizabeth Adah Noel, daughter of Robert Thompson Hobart, and had issue, an only child,

DAVID BERNARD, 2nd Viscount (1928-2020), CMG CBE, who married firstly, in 1953, Mary Raymond, daughter of Sir Charles Connell, and had issue,

HENRY DAVID, his successor;

Arabella Clare.

His lordship wedded secondly, in 1970, Tessa, daughter of Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Arthur Montague Browning GCVO etc.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

HENRY DAVID, 3rd and present Viscount (1954-), who married, in 1980, Caroline Jane, daughter of George Richard Odey, and has issue,

Alexa Maud;

Flora Veronica;

Phœbe Matilda.

Former seat ~ Isington Mill, Alton, Hampshire.

1st Earl Alexander of Tunis

JAMES, 4th Earl of Caledon (1846-98), KP, DL, of Caledon Castle, County Tyrone, wedded, in 1884, the Lady Elizabeth Graham-Toler, daughter of Hector, 3rd Earl of Norbury, and had issue,

Eric James Desmond, his successor;
Herbrand Charles, father of the 6th Earl;
HAROLD RUPERT LEOFRIC GEORGE, of whom we treat;
William Sigismund Patrick.

The third son,

THE HON HAROLD RUPERT LEOFRIC GEORGE ALEXANDER (1891-1969), FIELD MARSHAL THE RT HON THE EARL ALEXANDER OF TUNIS, KG, GCB, OM, GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC, TD, PC

• Brigade Commander in India, 1934
• ADC to His Majesty, 1936-7
• Major-General, 1937
• General, 1942
• Field Marshal, 1944
• Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, Canada, 1946-52
• Colonel, Irish Guards, 1947
• Governor of Harrow School, 1952

Field Marshal Alexander was elevated to the peerage, in 1946, in the dignity of Viscount Alexander of Tunis, of Errigal, County Donegal.

His lordship was created, in 1952, Baron Rideau, of Ottawa, and of Castle Derg, County Tyrone, and EARL ALEXANDER OF TUNIS.

He married, in 1931, the Lady Margaret Diana Bingham, daughter of George Charles, 5th Earl of Lucan, and had issue,

SHANE WILLIAM DESMOND, Lord Rideau, his successor;

Brian James;

Rose Maureen; Susan Mary (adopted).

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

SHANE WILLIAM DESMOND (1935-), 2nd Earl, who wedded firstly, in 1971, Hilary, daughter of John van Geest; and secondly (following a divorce), in 1981, Davina Mary, daughter of James, 4th Baron Terrington, by which lady he has issue,

Rose Margaret; Lucy Caroline.

The heir presumptive to the titles is the 2nd Earl's younger brother, the Hon Brian James Alexander CMG (born 1939).

Former residences ~ 12 Wilton Street, London; Caledon, County Tyrone; The Vale, Windsor Forest, Berkshire.

Templer of Loughgall

ROBERT BARON TEMPLER (1830-86), of Cloveneden, Loughgall, County Armagh, a barrister at Middle Temple, Land Agent for the Cope Estate, married, in 1860, Geraldine, youngest daughter of Captain Francis Manley Shawe, leaving issue, his second son,

WALTER FRANCIS TEMPLER CBE DL (1865-1942), of the Manor House, Loughgall, Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Army Pay Department, 1888-1921, who wedded, in 1895, Mabel Eileen (Little Castle Dillon, near Armagh), third daughter of Major Robert Johnston, Highland Light Infantry, and Army Pay Department, and had issue, 

Little Castle Dillon (Buildings of County Armagh)

FIELD-MARSHAL SIR GERALD WALTER ROBERT TEMPLER KG GCB GCMG KBE DSO, of Little Castle Dillon, County Armagh, and 12 Wilton Street, London.

Sir Gerald is pictured, above, wearing the robe of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB).

In his right hand he holds his field-marshal's baton.

Loughgall Manor

The Northern Ireland Horticulture & Plant Breeding station is set in the former Cope Estate, surrounded by mature woodlands and overlooking the Lough Gall.

The estate was established in the late 17th century by Sir Anthony Cope, of Hanwell, Oxfordshire, and became the Cope family home for 350 years.

Templer crest (Image: College of Arms)

In 1947 the estate was purchased from Sir Gerald Templer, a descendant of the original owner, by the (then) Ministry of Agriculture.

First published in February, 2013.

Field Marshal Sir John Dill

DAVID DILL, son of John Dill, of Tullynadall, County Donegal, born in 1640, married, in 1665, Catherine Sheridan, and had issue,

Joseph;
FRANCIS, of whom hereafter;
Samuel;
David.

The second son,

FRANCIS DILL, of Aughadreena, County Donegal, born in 1675, wedded, in 1720, Rebecca Anderson, and had issue (with three daughters),

JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Marcus.

The elder son,

JOHN DILL (1726-1804), of Springfield, County Donegal, espoused, in 1764, Susan, daughter of Richard McClure, of Convoy, and had issue,

Francis;
Richard (Rev); 
Samuel (Rev); grandfather of SIR SAMUEL DILL;
JOHN, of whom we treat;
Moses;
Marcus;
Margery; Mary.

The fourth son,

JOHN DILL, of Oak Bank, Ramelton, County Donegal, born in 1774, married Anna Scott, and had issue,

Alexander;
JOHN, of whom we treat;
Anna; Susanna.

The younger son,

THE REV JOHN DILL (1802-41), Presbyterian Minister of Carnmoney, County Antrim, wedded, in 1828, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of his uncle, the Rev Samuel Dill, and had issue,

John Alexander Scott;
Samuel Richard;
JOHN, of whom hereafter;
Hessy Nesbitt.

The Rev J Dill's third son,

JOHN DILL (1841-94), of Lurgan, County Armagh, and afterwards of 6, College Gardens, Belfast, a Manager in the Ulster Bank, married, in 1876, Jane, daughter of John Waite Greer, and had issue,

JOHN GREER;
Nicholina Frances.

4-7, College Gardens, Belfast, 1896 (Image: Northern Ireland Historical Photographical Society)

6, College Gardens was demolished in the 1970s and the Queen's University Common Room (now Deane's at Queen's restaurant) now occupies the site.

College Gardens, Belfast, 2021 (Image: Timothy Ferres)

Mr John Dill's only son,

FIELD MARSHAL SIR JOHN GREER DILL GCB CMG DSO (1881-1944), Chief of the Imperial General Staff, 1940-41, wedded firstly, in 1907, Ada Maude, daughter of Colonel William Albert Le Mottée, and had issue, an only child,

JOHN de GUERIN.

He married secondly, in 1941, Nancy Isabelle Cecil, daughter of Henry Charrington.

Sir John's only son,

COLONEL JOHN de GUERIN DILL MBE (1916-71), Royal Horse Artillery, wedded, in 1942, Heather Avice Fenton, daughter of Harold Arthur Falkner, and had issue,

John Peregrine, b 1946;
Felicia Rosanne; Priscilla Avice Bettina.

First published in February, 2017.