1st Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

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

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

The grave of Vere Loxley at Knightsbridge Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

13th November 1916. Vere Loxley. A Social, 1895. Major, 1st Bn, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Killed in action at Beaumont Hamel.

Vere Loxley was a career soldier who trained at Sandhurst in 1900, then left Sandhurst one year early to join the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He was promoted to Captain in 1911 and was serving as Major when he was killed in the Royal Naval Division’s attack on Beaumont Hamel. He took part in the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915. He was mentioned in despatches.

Aged 35

His younger brother, Reginald, also a Radleian, also served at Gallipoli. Reginald was serving in the Royal Air Force when he died of pneumonia in 1918.

Vere Loxley. Major, 1st Bn, Royal Marine LI. kia Beaumont Hamel

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The shield of Geoffrey Adams, still hangs in Radlege College Dining Hall

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme1st November, 1916. Geoffrey Adams. Senior Prefect. F & C Socials, 1909. 2nd Lt, 4th Bn, Suffolk Regt. Killed in action at Lesboeufs.

The death of Geoffrey Adams on All Saints Day, 1916, traditionally the school’s most important festival, was greeted with profound grief. He was the second of five Senior Prefects to fall in the War, and the first who had been known to all the boys and Dons currently at the school. He was an outstanding Classical scholar, who had just won the 2nd Classical Demyship to Magdalen College, Oxford, which he never took up. He began his career at Radley as a Junior Scholar, and ended it as winner of the Richards Gold Medal, and the Greek and History Prizes. He was Captain of Cricket for two years and played for the Fives and Rackets teams. He took a leading role in the Literary and Debating Societies. After his death the Warden, Gordon Selwyn, oversaw publication of a book of his poetry.

His father, Arthur Adams, became Chair of the War Memorial Committee, speaking for all those parents whose sons had no known grave: ‘Mr A Adams spoke in favour of the larger expenditure on a visible War Memorial. Other parents who had subscribed felt as he did. He wanted a Memorial which the boys would in their hearts connect with the idea of self-sacrifice and resort to for inspiration in difficulties, and he appealed to all members to endeavour to make the memorial welcome to and venerated by the school.’

Geoffrey is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His shield still hangs in Hall. Aged 20

His story from Magdalen College

Geoffrey Adams. 2nd Lt, 9th Bn, Suffolk Regt. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of William Marshall at Beulencourt. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

12th October, 1916. William Marshall. A Social, 1910. 2nd Lt, 7th Bn, Suffolk Regt. Killed in action at Gueudecourt.

William Marshall was a member of Radley’s first Rugby XV in 1914. After school, he went to Sandhurst, intending to follow a military career. He was slightly wounded in September 1916 and had not been back at the Front for long before he was killed at Gueudecourt.

Aged 19