Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

13th September 1916

Richard Brodie-James. G Social, 1908. Lt, 9th Bn, East Lancashire Regt.Killed in action in Greece.

Richard Brodie-James was killed near Macukovo in Greece. His name is recorded on the Doiran Memorial. He was Mentioned in Despatches. The letter from his colonel to his parents says:

Your son was as gallant, cool, and capable an officer as I have met in my 32 years’ soldiering. . . . He is a loss to the regiment and the Army, for his quickness and ability were much above the average. We were all proud of him, and the men speak of him enthusiastically. In the list of recommendations for recognition which I have just sent in your son’s name stands first. Living or dead he deserves the tribute – and more.

Aged 23

Henry Skinner. A Social, 1910. Private, 1/4th Bn, London Scottish. Died of wounds, Battle of the Somme.

Henry Skinner was one of very few Radleians who enlisted as a Private.

He went from Radley to Abingdon School and from there to Jesus College, Cambridge, where his grandfather was a fellow.

Aged 21

Richard Brodie-James, Lt, 9th Bn, East Lancashire Regt. kia in Greece

Henry Skinner, Private, 1/14th Bn, London Scottish. Died of wounds, Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Arthur Clarke in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

9th September 1916. Arthur Clarke. E Social, 1905. 2nd Lt, 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt. Killed in action at High Wood.

Arthur Clarke’s story exemplifies the horror and confusion of the 1st Battle of the Somme. He was reported wounded but missing in October, 1916. By June, 1917 this had been amended to ‘believed to have been killed on 9th September 1916.’ His body was recovered and is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.

After school, he went to Christ Church, Oxford. When the War broke out he was in Switzerland, unable to return to England until early in September, 1914. When he did get back he immediately enlisted in the North Somerset Yeomanry. He went to the Western Front in October, 1914, and took part in the first battle of Ypres. In February, 1915, he was given a commission and after three months’ training in England rejoined his regiment at the front. He was wounded on 25th September, 1915, in the Battle of Loos, and, after six months’ sick leave, rejoined his regiment. He was slightly wounded on June 27th, 1916, but was able to return to duty after a few weeks in hospital.

He was Mentioned in Dispatches twice.

Aged 25

Arthur Clarke, 2nd Lt, 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Mesopotamia Campaign

23rd August 1916. John Robinson, MC. A Social, 1899. Captain & Adjutant, 7th Bn, North Staffordshire Regt.. Died of wounds received in the Battle of El Hannah, Mesopotamia (now Iraq).

John Robinson was one of the most distinguished Radleians to die in the War. At school he played for the Cricket and Football XIs and was Head of A Social. After school, he went to Merton College, Oxford, where he graduated with honours in history. He played Hockey for Oxford University for four years, became an international player and went on to win Gold for Great Britain at the 1908 Olympics.

After leaving university he became a schoolmaster. He enlisted in an OTC immediately War was declared, receiving his commission in September 1914. He served in the Gallipoli Campaign. He was Mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the Military Cross in February, 1916. The same month he was sent to Mesopotamia. He was wounded in the spine in April and died from the injury in August 1916.

His shield still hangs in Hall.

Aged 31

John Robinson, Captain & Adjutant, 7th Bn, North Staffordshire Regt. Died of wounds in Mesopotamia

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

18th August 1916. Aubrey Patch. C Social, 1899. 2nd Lt, 3rd Bn, Royal Lancaster Regt. Killed in action.

After school he went to study at Ontario Agricultural College, Toronto. When war broke out he immediately returned to England from Canada to enlist, and served in the ranks for about a year. He received his commission in October 1915. He was killed while leading his platoon against a German trench.

Aged 30

Aubrey Patch, 2nd Lt, 3rd Bn, Royal Lancaster Regt. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

27th July 1916. Edwin (Edward) Mattingley. College Staff. Private, 1st Bn, Royal Berkshire Regt. Missing in action.

Edwin Mattingley was born in Radley village in 1893. He came to work for the College as a gardener’s boy at the age of 15. By 1914, he was employed as a footman. He enlisted on 11th August, 1914. He took part in the Battles of Festubert and Loos in 1915, and was granted his first seven days leave on 18th May 1916.

At 2am on the morning of 27th July, 1916, his battalion moved into its forward trenches at Delville Wood. At 5.10am the British Artillery began to bombard the German positions at Longueval Village. The Berkshires advanced 270 yards and began to dig in. German forces began to shell the British troops with high explosives and sniper fire. Outnumbered and short of ammunition the British troops had to scavenge the captured trenches for munitions. The new line held against counter attacks and German shelling began to decline by 17.00 hours, all quiet by 21.30. Sometime during this action, Edwin was lost. On his service sheet, the officer recorded: ‘missing after action 27th July 1916.’ After the War returning comrades said that he had last been seen returning into no-man’s land to rescue a wounded comrade.

Edwin was described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, 128 lbs in weight with hazel eyes, light brown hair and a 36 inch chest. He was aged 25 when he died, so this is a good description of the average British tommy. Two of his brothers also served. Both survived. (Information from ‘Gone for a soldier’ by MBJ Mawhinney, for Radley History Club)