Wood’s diary – excerpts

1856. February 24th. Sunday

Shaky finances
As to the position of the College. At first Sewell alone responsible, though others were ready to back him. When Singleton left, Sewell managed to pay off all current expenses and the College was making more than its yearly expenditure. Heathcote was started clear on the understanding that he should be responsible himself for the current expenses of his term of office, Sewell remaining responsible for the old debt (about £11,500) and Heathcote paying over to him the surplus after expenses were cleared.[Heathcote left and Sewell] enters into office. The debt had been about £16,000 altogether. He pays off the current expenses though not really himself liable for them. The first two or three terms receipts below expenditure, afterwards matters mend. It now makes about £10,000 and spend £8,000. Of this £1,000 each year goes to Mr. Bowyer for the lease, the other £1,000 towards the discharge of the original debt. So if we continue to flourish and the Warden’s life is spared, all will be very well.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

William Wood, DD, Sub-Warden 1855-66 & Warden 1866-70 of Radley College

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

30th November 1917

W Hermon, College Staff. Lance-Corporal, 5th Bn, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Killed in action in the Battle of Cambrai.

The story of Radley’s ‘Servants Memorial‘ can be read as No. 15 in 100 Radley Objects.

Wood’s diary – excerpts

1857. 18th November. Wednesday

Oxford results

Fine but cold. Rode in to Oxford to see Class List. Poor Melhuish only a third! Most unfortunate for him and us. How I do wish we could gain some honours.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

William Wood, DD, Sub-Warden 1855-66 & Warden 1866-70 of Radley College

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

10th November 1917

Gilbert Vawdrey, C Social 1911. 2nd Lt, 2nd Bn, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action, Passchendaele

He was a Prefect and a member of Radley’s first Rugby XV. In 1916, he went to Sandhurst.

He obtained his commission in the Welsh Regiment in August of the same year, and went to the front in September, 1916, where he has been ever since. A senior officer writes : – “At the time he was killed he was carrying a most important message, and was on his way to headquarters. During the whole day he had been doing most gallant and useful work.“

Aged 20

AND

John Boswell, E Social 1904. Gunner, E Company, Tank Corps. Killed in action near Gaza, Palestine

He served as a career officer with the Royal Bucks Hussars Yeomanry from 1909-1911. In 1911 he went to Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) as a planter. He re-joined his regiment in 1915. He suffered from a stammer which may have caused him to resign his commission. He applied to join the newly formed Tank Corps, and served with E Corps under Allenby in Palestine.

He married Alfreda Hurley in 1916.

Aged 28

2nd Lt Gilbert Vawdrey, Welsh Regt. kia Passchendaele

Gilbert Vawdrey, member of Radley’s earliest Rugby XV, 1914

The grave of Gilbert Vawdrey ar Duhallow. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

The grave of Frederick Haden at Monchy-le-Preux. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Battle of Passchendaele / 3rd Battle of Ypres

4th November 1917

Frederick Haden, H Social 1913. 2nd Lt, 11th Trench Mortar Battery. Killed in action, Passchendaele

Last year he passed the entrance examination at Trinity College, Cambridge, and the “Little Go,” but had not gone into residence. He went to the front on June 8, and after a short time with his battalion was attached to the T.M. Battery. His Captain expresses “the deepest sympathy and sorrow felt by the officers N.C.O.’s, and men of the battery, with whom he was a great favourite, and also the share in your loss, in that we have lost a most capable and efficient officer.”

The C.F. writes: “I had known him since his earliest days in this division, and known him for a quiet, charming boy a faithful Churchman, and quite fearless. Humanly speaking, we can ill-afford boys like that; they carry in them the promise of a tremendous manhood.”

Aged 19

AND

2nd Lt Frederick Haden. kia Passchendaele

George Wilson, MC, F Social 1903. Major, 282nd Bde, Royal Field Artillery. Died of gas poisoning, Passchendaele

After school, he joined the London Stock Exchange. He married in 1912. He joined up as a Territorial in August 1914, eventually going out to the Western Front in October 1915. He was mentioned in despatches and promoted to the rank of acting Major.

He was one of four brothers. His eldest brother (who also won the Military Cross) was killed in action in May 1916; his youngest brother died of wounds in November 1916. His only surviving brother was serving at the Front with the Royal Field Artillery when George died of gas poisoning.

Aged 27

Major George Wilson, Royal Field Artillery. Died of gas poisoning, Passchendaele

George Wilson’s grave at Gwalia. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Wood’s diary – excerpts

1855. November 3rd. Saturday

Naughty prefects
The Warden gave permission to Spyers [Senior Prefect] and Thynne [Prefect] to dine in Oxford with Risley [former Senior Prefect]. We were all very much annoyed and surprised, especially after what had been said the other day against allowing boys to go to Undergraduates’ rooms. West and I sat up in Common Room till 11 o’clock for them and then found they had arrived at 10¼ in the phaeton and climbed into the Dormitory through the window without reporting themselves.

William Wood’s Diary 1855-1861, ed. by Mark Spurrell, is available from Oxfordshire Record Society. These excerpts are presented to give a flavour of life at Radley in the 1850s

William Wood, DD, Sub-Warden 1855-66 & Warden 1866-70 of Radley College