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 March 1917. Reginald Henderson, D Social 1896. Sgt, East African Mounted Rifles. Died of wounds received in action in TanzaniaAt school, he played for the Cricket and Soccer 1st Xis. After school, he was a farmer in British East Africa (now Kenya). At the outbreak of war he was a trooper in the Thika Horse, but transferred into the 27th Mountain Battery R.A., in which he was a sergeant, and died in Nairobi on March 28th, 1917, of injuries received while on service in German East Africa (now Tanzania) in 1916.

RG Henderson, Radley College Cricket XI 1901

RG Henderson, Radley College Cricket XI 1901

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

22nd February 1917. Frederick Raikes, D Social, 1885. 2nd Lt, South Wales Borderers (attd Machine Gun Corps). Killed in action, 2nd Battle of Kut-al-Amara, Mesopotamia Campaign

Frederick Raikes was one of the oldest volunteers to join up.  He was married, with five children, and working as a solicitor when the War began.  At school he was a Junior Scholar and winner of the Heathcote Scholarship for Mathematics. He studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

There was something really  heroic and yet typically English in F. M. Raikes’s offering his life for his country at an age when he might have stayed at home.  “He had high  ideals  and a love  of the  beautiful in  form  and character, in nature and art and literature.”  Again,” he joyed  all  physical effort which taxed  his resourcefulness and  endurance – if it  involved  hardship so  much the better.”  ‘I should like to find myself in a tight corner,’ he said on one occasion.  One of his friends  writes, ‘Never was anyone so full of the spirit of right living and right enjoyment as he.’  Radley has a right to be proud of such a son.

His eldest son was a boy at the school when he was killed.  His death precipitated action on the War Memorial Scholarships Fund and his son was the first boy to receive aid from it.  His nephew, John Raikes, considered Radley’s most promising mathematician, died on the Somme in 1916.

Aged 45
2nd Lt Frederick Raikes, South Wales Borderers. kia Kut-al-Amara

2nd Lt Frederick Raikes, South Wales Borderers. kia Kut-al-Amara

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1
Humfrey Cole's grave at Varennes Military Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' July 2015

Humfrey Cole’s grave at Varennes Military Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ July 2015

Today we remember …

12th February 1917. Humfrey Cole, A Social 1910. 2nd Lt, Yorkshire Regiment

Died of wounds received in an unknown engagement in France.

He went straight into the army from school, gazetted to the London Regiment in September 1915.

Aged 20

2nd Lt Humfrey Cole, Yorkshire Regt

2nd Lt Humfrey Cole, Yorkshire Regt

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

6th February 1917. John Crichton, A Social 1897. Major, Hampshire Regt, attached Royal Engineers, Inland Water Transport. Died of pneumonia during the Mesopotamia Campaign

At school he was a Prefect and played for the Soccer XI. After school, he took up marine engineering as a career, having served his apprenticeship at Thornycroft’s. He took the degree of A.M.I.C.E. at King’s College, London. He then served his time as engineer on board the Royal Mail Company’s ships for three years, which enabled him to qualify for a chief engineer’s certificate. He joined the Hampshire Regiment at the inception of the Territorial movement, and on the outbreak of war proceeded with his battalion to India, where he served as major of his battalion till the summer of 1916, when he was specially sent by the Indian Government to the front to carry out important marine constructional work.

More men died of pneumonia during the Mesopotamia Campaign than were killed in action. He is buried in Basra.

Aged 34

Major John Crichton, Hampshire Regt

Major John Crichton, Hampshire Regt

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

 

3rd February 1917.  John Partington. B Social 1898. Captain, 4th Bn, Devonshire Regt.. Killed in action, Second Battle of Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq)

‘He went up to Pembroke College, Cambridge, with an exhibition in 1903, and took honours in the Classical Tripos in 1907. At the outbreak of war he was Classical Master at St. Edward’s School, Oxford, and received his commission in the Devons in October, 1914. He was promoted temporary captain in December, 1914, and went out at that time with his battalion to India. During 1915 he was sent to Australia on special service, returning to India in the autumn of that year.  In October, 1916, he was transferred to another front, and fell in action on February 3.’

Aged 32

John Partington as a new boy, B Social, 1898

John Partington as a new boy, B Social, 1898

 

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

19th December 1916

Guy Boddington. F Social, 1906. Captain, 6th Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt. Missing.

Guy Boddington was last seen alive on 19th December, 1916. In March 1917, The Radleian magazine reported him as ‘wounded and probably a prisoner of war in German hands.’ He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial alongside all those others who have no known grave.

Before the War, he worked as a woollen merchant.

Aged 25

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1
Detail of Charles Henderson's memorial window in Radley College Chapel. Photographed by Roger Shaw

Detail of Charles Henderson’s memorial window in Radley College Chapel. Photographed by Roger Shaw

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

17th November 1916. Charles Henderson, MC, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. E Social, 1900. Captain, 71st Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action at Martinpuich.

From Radley he passed fourth into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and was gazetted to the Royal Field Artillery in 1906. He was killed by a shell which landed on the mess dug out of his battery.

At the time of his death he had passed his balloon course, and was an interpreter in French. During his last week’s leave he obtained the Royal Aero Club’s certificate as a pilot. He served in the battles of the Aisne and Marne with the R.F.A., and joined the Royal Horse Artillery during Ypres, 1914. He was present at the battles of La Bassee, Vermelles, Loos, Hulluch, and Hohenzollern, and was awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honour for commanding his battery during the last three battles. His name was sent up three times for the Military Cross.

His Brigadier-General wrote: He had a great future in front of him. His ability alone was far above the average, and his energy and power of getting work out of his men were extraordinary. I can honestly say that no officer in France served his King and country with greater zeal, ability, and courage, and I only wish that we all possessed in the same marked degree all those qualities which go to make a first-class soldier. His services up to the time of his death had only been rewarded by the Legion of Honour, and I much regret that such a magnificent soldier had not received further recognition.

He is commemorated by a stained glass window in Radley College Chapel.

Aged 29

The British Archives of Falconry own his hawking diary, started in 1903 when he was a boy at Radley.
The grave of Charles Henderson at Flatiron Copse Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Charles Henderson at Flatiron Copse Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Charles Henderson, MC, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Captain, 71st Battery, Royal Field Artillery. kia Battle of the Somme

Charles Henderson, MC, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Captain, 71st Battery, Royal Field Artillery. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

15th November 1916. Edwin Charrington. D Social, 1905. Captain, 13th Bn, Essex Regt. Killed in action at Beaumont Hamel.

After leaving school, Edwin Charrington started work for Union Insurance Society of Canton, in London, with the view of going out to China later. But after two years’ service he relinquished his position, and on the outbreak of the War obtained a commission in the Essex Regiment. He left for the Front on 14th February, 1915, returning to Britain at the end of May, badly wounded and disfigured. After a few months’ leave, he rejoined his regiment, and on 31st May, 1916 he again left for the Front.

His Colonel wrote: I had the greatest regard for him and a high opinion of his capabilities as an officer. He was beloved by all who knew him, and a most gallant officer and loyal friend, and he will be keenly missed by all ranks.

He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Aged 25

Edwin Charrington. Captain, 13th BN, Essex Regt. kia at Beaumont Hamel

Edwin Charrington. Captain, 13th Bn, Essex Regt. kia at Beaumont Hamel

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Vivian Fanning at Munich Trench Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Vivian Fanning at Munich Trench Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

14th November, 1916. Vivian Fanning. G Social, 1911. Capt., 2nd Bn, Ox & Bucks LI. Killed in action at Beaumont Hamel.

After school, he went to Sandhurst to train for a military career. He received his commission in June 1915 and was promoted to Captain in June 1916. He went to the Front in August 1916. His colonel wrote to his father:

His captain had been killed, and he was commanding his company, which he did right well. I offer you the deepest sympathy of all his brother officers. We feel we have lost one of the best of comrades, and the men do too.

At his death, Vivian was the younger of two brothers. His father later married again and had a third son, Peter, born five years after Vivian’s death. Peter was killed in World War 2. A joint memorial to the brothers is outside Radley College Chapel.

Aged 19

Vivian Fanning. Captain, 2nd Bn, Ox & Bucks LI. kia at Beaumont Hamel

Vivian Fanning. Captain, 2nd Bn, Ox & Bucks LI. kia at Beaumont Hamel