The extremely modest means of Viscount Byng of Vimy, famed War hero and now Commissioner of Police at Scotland Yard (TIME, July 16), were augmented last week when some £750,000 ($3,650,000) was left to Viscountess Byng by her late, eccentric, oleaginous Greek uncle, M. Pandeli Ralli.
So poor was Baron Byng when he was created Viscount (1926) that he sensationally refused to pay the "peerage patent fee" of £1,000 customarily demanded for "registering" a patent of nobility. After a delay of 18 months the fee was waived and Baron became Viscount without charge....
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