This gave the distinguished descendant a subtle personal change of status, whilst preserving the heritage of the older title.

John Prendergast Smyth had already been created Baron Kiltarton of Gort, in the County of Galway, also in the Peerage of Ireland, in 1810.

On the death of John Prendergast-Smyth in the following year, the Gort viscountcy, plus the barony, passed to the Vereker family according to the special remainder.

[1] It was Lord Gort who commanded the BEF in 1939 and his leadership during the disastrous withdrawal from France preserved his reputation at an unhappy time for the nation.

He then had another tough appointment, as Governor of Malta in its darkest days, before becoming High Commissioner of British Mandate for Palestine and the Transjordan, itself hardly a rest-cure at this time.

His promotion to Field Marshal and the creation of the new Viscountcy at the end of the war was an indicator of his standing as a soldier and imperial administrator.

On his death in 1975, the titles passed to his first cousin once removed downwards, becoming the eighth Viscount: Colin Vereker was the grandson of Hon.