Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

From August 2014 until 2019, each man named on the War Memorial at Radley College will be remembered by name in Chapel on the centenary of his death. The database of all those who fell in WW1 and WW2 can be accessed at http://www.radleyarchives.co.uk/

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

28th April 1917

Charles MacDowell, D Social 1912. Captain, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).  Died of wounds received in the Battle of Arras.

He joined the Black Watch as a second lieutenant on the declaration of war. He served two years at the front with his battalion, was wounded twice, before being mortally wounded on April 8, while commanding his company. He was promoted captain shortly after his 18th birthday. His colonel writes : – “I cannot say how splendidly he has done, although so young. As keen as possible, after he was wounded his whole thoughts were for the men of his company and never once for himself.“

Aged 19
Captain Charles MacDowell, Black Watch. Died of wounds received in the Battle of Arras, 28th April 1917

Captain Charles MacDowell, Black Watch. Died of wounds received in the Battle of Arras, 28th April 1917

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Lewis Sheppard at Varennes. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

The grave of Lewis Sheppard at Varennes. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Today we remember …

21st April 1917

Lewis Sheppard. B Social 1910. Royal Flying Corps.  Killed in a flying accident

Lewis Sheppard left Radley in 1914 to join up as a 2nd Lt in the Somerset Light Infantry. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916.

He was a boy of more than average ability. A great talker and with many interests, he has left his mark, though he was not here long enough to become distinguished. He joined the Flying Corps and was killed on April 21 by an accident on his way back to the advanced base in Flanders.

Aged 21
2nd Lt Lewis Sheppard, RFC

2nd Lt Lewis Sheppard, RFC

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Captain Hunt's grave at Warlincourt Halte Cemetery. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Captain Hunt’s grave at Warlincourt Halte Cemetery. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Today we remember …

12th April 1917

Claude Hunt, G Social 1901. Captain, Royal Field Artillery.  Died of wounds received in an unknown engagement

After school, he worked on the Stock Exchange.  He emigrated to Canada in 1912.  He is listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a Staff Captain, attached to XVIII Corps HQ, but this is not confirmed.  He was Mentioned in Despatches. He married in 1916.

Aged 30
Captain Claude Hunt, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds, 12th April 1917

Captain Claude Hunt, Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds, 12th April 1917

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

11th April 1917

Rupert Castle-Smith, B Social 1906. Private, 15th Bn, Australian Imperial Force.  Believed to have been killed in action, Battle of Arras

He was reported missing on 11th April 1917, but not confirmed killed until December 1917.  He left school after just one year and went out to Australia soon after.

Aged 26

(CWGC lists him as Rupert Castlesmith)

Rupert Castle-Smith, B Social Football XI, 1906

Rupert Castle-Smith, B Social Football XI, 1906

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

4th April 1917

John Egerton-Leigh, G Social 1890. Captain, 10th Bn, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Killed in action at Metz-en-Couture, during the German Retreat to the Hindenberg Line

He was a career soldier from 1897, serving in the Second South African War until 1902. He then went out to Canada as a farmer until the outbreak of WW1 in 1914.

He went to France in July 1915, and served on the Ypres Salient February to July, 1916, being wounded at Ypres. He afterwards served on the Somme, was at the taking of Guillemont, and was again wounded there, being mentioned in despatches January 4th, 1917. After he was wounded at Ypres he carried in his sergeant, who was also wounded. Finding him too heavy he came in for assistance. and went out again himself in spite of a very nasty rifle fire, and brought him in. He died leading his Company into action. After being wounded once he persevered until a bullet killed him outright. He was buried close to where he fell, just south of Metz-en-Couture and some ten miles from Cambrai.

Aged 41
Capt John Egerton-Leigh. kia 4 April 1917

Capt John Egerton-Leigh. kia 4 April 1917

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

3rd April 1917

John O’Beirne, G Social 1907. Lt, 25th Sqn, Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action on photographic reconnaissance

After school, he trained as a mining engineer. He had just finished his three years’ training at the School of Mining, Camborne, when war broke out. He joined the Special Reserve of Officers in September, 1915, and went to the front but was invalided home after the first battle of Ypres. Later he went to Sandhurst and received a commission in the regiment, joined the R.F.C., and went to the front in May, 1916.

Aged 23

His brother, Arthur, G Social 1901, was killed in July 1917
John O'Beirne, Lt, RFC. kia April 1917

John O’Beirne, Lt, RFC. kia April 1917

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

2nd April 1917

Maurice Fenwick, H Social 1909. 2nd Lt, 8th Bn, Devonshire Regt. Killed in action near Ecoust during the German Retreat to the Hindenberg Line

During the Somme fighting he displayed conspicuous bravery in rendering aid to the wounded under heavy fire.    In front of Ecoust in March, 1917, his reconnoitring work was of great service; he found a road to the village which had not been wired and on April 2nd guided his company along it being himself the first man to enter the village.    After a further advance he found himself in command of his company which he rallied with great gallantry.    He was directing the fire of the machine gun, standing in an exposed position, when he was shot through the head. He was buried in the village of Noreuil.

Aged 24

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

March/April 2017

An unknown soldier

W. Rogers is listed on the Servants’ Memorial on War Memorial Arch.

He served as a Private with the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry. He was lost in action somewhere in France, sometime between March and April 1917.

He is listed on the Thiepval Memorial.

Thiepval Memorial. CWGC photo

Thiepval Memorial. CWGC photo