Denis Bingham

The second son of the 5th Baron Clanmorris, Lieutenant-Colonel Denis Bingham, the former commanding officer of the 15th/19th Hussars, was an all-round horseman. In addition to his polo skills which saw him win a bronze medal at the 1924 Olympics, he was a top amateur jockey in India and on one occasion he rode the winner of the Indian Grand National. One of his horses, Ponorogo, won the Liverpool November Handicap Hurdle at Aintree in 1931.

Bingham was educated at Harrow and Sandhurst, joined the 15th Hussars in 1900, and served in India until 1909 when he saw service in South Africa before returning to England in 1912. He served during World War I and obtained the D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order). After the war he served in Ireland and then in Egypt until his retirement from the then amalgamated 15th/19th Hussars in 1926.

Bingham won the Regimental Polo Tournament in India and England three times with the Hussars and played for many top teams of the day including the Hurlingham and Roehampton clubs. He played for Ireland against England in 1913. He continued playing until shortly before his death and in 1937, at the age of 56, when he still had a 4-goal handicap.