Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The name of Lionel Johnston on the Le Touret Memorial. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

JL Johnstone. Prefects 1904

On 12th May 1915 John Leslie Johnston, B Social 1899. Lt, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, was recorded as missing, presumed killed in action in an unknown engagement in the 2nd Battle of Ypres. He was one of the most distinguished scholars of his time at Radley. He won the Richards Gold Medal, the James, Heathcote and Gibbs Scholarships. He went on to become Fellow and Dean of Magdalen College, Oxford. His friend, Edwyn Bevan, published a biography of him in 1920.‘He vanished in May 1915 and it is very likely that he was executed by the Germans soon after being shot in the abdomen.’ Letter from Dr Simon Harris, Regimental Historian, 2014

His story from Magdalen College

Lt JL Johnstone, Ox & Bucks LI. Missing in action, 12 May 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Montague Clarke at Ruisseau Farm Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

11th May 1915. Montagu Clarke, B Social, 1907. Killed in action near Ypres. Aged 21. Monty Clarke left Radley in 1911 to attend Sandhurst. In 1912 he received his Commission in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. It is unusual to find a civilian photo in the War Memorial Albums, particularly for a young career soldier.

Lt MCC Clarke, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. kia 11 May 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Cyril Holland at St Vaast Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

9th May 1915. Today we remember two Radleians who fell on the Western Front.Cyril Holland (born Cyril Wilde), E Social 1898. Captain, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge, probably at Festubert. His brother, Vyvyan, believed that Cyril endeavoured to compensate for his father (Oscar’s) disgrace by his own courage in battle. Cyril and Vyvyan Wilde were sent to different schools after their father’s imprisonment in Reading Gaol, and their names changed to ‘Holland’ to conceal their identities. The name of Cyril’s father was omitted from the Radley Register until 1947. We do not know whether his school friends or teachers knew the tragic story of Cyril Wilde’s family

Cyril Holland (nee Wilde) in the Prefects’ group photo 1902

Lt Robert Woodward, South Wales Borderers. kia 9 May 1915

Robert Woodward, A Social 1891. Lt, South Wales Borderers. He is recorded in Radley Register as ‘killed in action at Richebourg l’Avoué in an unknown engagement’. This was originally thought to be during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, but recent research by his family has identified it as Aubers Ridge. He studied Natural Sciences at Oxford, then became a barrister, member of the Inner Temple in 1904.

The battle in which he (and I see poor Cyril Holland) died coincided in time with Second Ypres but was not part of that German assault. Instead it was part of British effort to help the French further south and it is properly called The Battle of Aubers Ridge. Robert’s records reveal he was promoted Captain just before his death and that he led A Company, 1st Battalion SWB. They took terrible casualties in a battle which, measuring losses against men engaged, was the worst yet for a British offensive. (Information from Alan Weir, family member, 18 October 2016)

Believed to be the grave of Robert Woodward at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner,Cuinchy. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015. The family added the inscription “He set his face stedfastly” (See Luke, Chapter 9, Verse 51).