B Social

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

6th June 1917

Humphrey Arden, A Social 1906. 2nd Lt, 156th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.  Died of wounds received near Messines

He was a Junior Scholar, Prefect and rowed at stroke for the 1st VIII, competing at Henley twice. He went up to Queens’ College, Cambridge and rowed for the College and the University.  After a short time teaching at Eagle House Prep School, he was preparing to study for the priesthood at Cuddesdon when he joined up.

The Royal Garrison Artillery developed from fortress-based artillery located on British coasts. From 1914 when the army possessed very little heavy artillery it grew into a very large component of the British forces. It was armed with heavy, large calibre guns and howitzers that were positioned some way behind the front line and had immense destructive power.

After his death, his father gave the money for two War Memorial Scholarships in his memory. He is also remembered at his prep school in Oxford, where his story features on their WW1 memorial website.

Aged 25

AND

William Gourlay, B Social 1910. Captain, 5th Bn, Cameron Highlanders.  Died of wounds received in an unknown engagement

He was wounded on May 1st and succumbed to his injuries on June 6th. W.N. Gourlay rose to the position of House Prefect and filled the post with quiet dignity and force of character. Outside his own small circle of friends, among whom he was much loved and respected, he will possibly be chiefly remembered for his introduction of bagpipes to Radley.

Aged 21

2nd Lt Humphrey Arden, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 6th June 1917

2nd Lt Humphrey Arden, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 6th June 1917

Calvary at Yoxall to the memory of Humphrey Arden. Photo by Shirley Fisher

Calvary at Yoxall to the memory of Humphrey Arden. Photo by Shirley Fisher

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

29th April, 1917

Barham Middleton, B Social 1899. Lance-Corporal, 22nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers.  Killed in action, Battle of Arras.

After school, he studied at the Agricultural Department at Reading University, then worked as a dairy farmer in Surrey. He signed up and served in the ranks of the Universities and Public Schools Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in 1914.  He was killed in the Battle of Arras but has no grave, so is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Aged 35

Barham Middleton's name on the Arras Memorial. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Barham Middleton’s name on the Arras Memorial. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Lewis Sheppard at Varennes. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

The grave of Lewis Sheppard at Varennes. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Today we remember …

21st April 1917

Lewis Sheppard. B Social 1910. Royal Flying Corps.  Killed in a flying accident

Lewis Sheppard left Radley in 1914 to join up as a 2nd Lt in the Somerset Light Infantry. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916.

He was a boy of more than average ability. A great talker and with many interests, he has left his mark, though he was not here long enough to become distinguished. He joined the Flying Corps and was killed on April 21 by an accident on his way back to the advanced base in Flanders.

Aged 21

2nd Lt Lewis Sheppard, RFC

2nd Lt Lewis Sheppard, RFC

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

11th April 1917

Rupert Castle-Smith, B Social 1906. Private, 15th Bn, Australian Imperial Force.  Believed to have been killed in action, Battle of Arras

He was reported missing on 11th April 1917, but not confirmed killed until December 1917.  He left school after just one year and went out to Australia soon after.

Aged 26

(CWGC lists him as Rupert Castlesmith)

Rupert Castle-Smith, B Social Football XI, 1906

Rupert Castle-Smith, B Social Football XI, 1906

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

The grave of Lionel Bostock at Albert Communal Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2016

The grave of Lionel Bostock at Albert Communal Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2016

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

20th September 1916. Lionel Bostock. B Social, 1900. 2nd Corporal, 3rd Division Signal Company. Canadian Engineers, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Killed in action.

Lionel Bostock’s family was originally from Chichester where ‘he was very well known and had many friends.’ When the War broke out, he was in British Columbia and enlisted in the British Columbia Horse. He was in the 3rd Canadian Division.

He was in the trenches near Ypres throughout the winter of 1915. A letter from the Chaplain of the 3rd Canadian Division says:

The poor boy was instantly killed on the 20th. The Germans were shelling the town heavily, and one shell exploded in the midst of a number of our boys, killing Corporal Bostock instantly.

Aged 28

Lionel Bostock, 2nd Corporal, 3rd Div Signal Company, Canadian Expeditionary Force. kia Battle of the Somme

Lionel Bostock, 2nd Corporal, 3rd Div Signal Company, Canadian Expeditionary Force. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Charles Hind at Cabaret Rouge Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Charles Hind at Cabaret Rouge Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

30th May 1916.  Charles Hind,  B Social, 1907.  Lt, 2nd Bn, South Staffordshire Regt.  Killed in action in an unknown engagement in France.
At Radley he was Head of B Social and Captain of Cricket.  After leaving school he planned to become a doctor. As a medical student he had almost completed two years’ study at Pembroke College, Cambridge, when the war began. He took a commission in the South Staffords, and throughout 1915 he had commanded a brigade grenade company in France. He was mentioned in despatches. 

Aged 22

Charles Hind, Lt, 2nd Bn South Staffordshire Regt.  kia 19 May 1916

Charles Hind, Lt, 2nd Bn South Staffordshire Regt. kia 19 May 1916

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Albert Lane-Joynt, Guards Cemetery.  Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Albert Lane-Joynt, Guards Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

26th February 1916.  Albert Lane-Joynt, B Social 1909.  Lt, Machine Gun Corps.  Killed by a sniper in France.  Albert Lane-Joynt played for the Cricket XI in 1913, and joined Surrey CC after leaving school. He is commemorated on the War Memorial at Kennington Oval.  He was a cricket aficionado who wrote magazine articles, and immediately on leaving school produced his first issue of the Public Schools Cricket Year Book.

 

A history of Radley cricket, by AW Lane-Joynt, 1914: … ‘the three best cricket Xl’s turned out by Radley were those of 1867, 1888, and 1913. … The 1913 side had the estimable advantage of a really good captain in O. A. Reid. He was a fine hard-hitting consistent bat and scored 101 (not out) in 80 minutes against Bradfield. His wicket-keeping was better than ever and when he bowled he was certainly the best bowler on the side. Both he and R. C. Keller had averages of 40; with the latter he bore the brunt of the season’s work. Keller is a really fine player with a beautiful cut, and should be heard of in the future.  Reid was asked to play in the Public Schools Trial match at Lords… and was eventually chosen as first change bowler for the Public Schools XI.  Expert opinion unanimously placed our team high among the school sides of 1913, and there could be no more fitting place to end this brief resume of Radley Cricket.’

[OA Reid won the VC in Mesopotamia in 1917. He died at Johannesburg in 1920. RC Keller served in France 1915-1917, was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, was shot down and ended WW1 as a POW. ]

 

Aged 20

Lt Albert Lane-Joynt, Machine Gun Corps.  kia 26 February 1916

Lt Albert Lane-Joynt, Machine Gun Corps. kia 26 February 1916

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The name of Arthur Hill on the Loos Memorial.  Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The name of Arthur Hill on the Loos Memorial. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

25th September 1915

Battle of Loos

 

Arthur Hill, B Social 1906. 2nd Lt, 1st Bn, Middlesex Regt.  Killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Loos.

‘His colonel writes that he was killed instantly while leading his platoon in the most gallant manner. He was an exceptionally fine athlete; in the cricket and football teams, and ‘Victor Ludorum’ for two years. With all his successes he was one of the most modest of boys, unassuming and simple-minded, the best type of English schoolboy.’

Aged 24

Arthur Hill, 2nd Lt, 1Bn, Middlesex Regt.  Missing 25 September 1915

Arthur Hill, 2nd Lt, 1Bn, Middlesex Regt. Missing 25 September 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Darell Jeffreys at Chester Farm Cemetery.  Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Darell Jeffreys at Chester Farm Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

11th July 1915. Darell Jeffreys, B Social 1896. Captain, 1st Bn, Devonshire Regt.  Killed in action in an unknown engagement in Flanders.  He was a career soldier who had served in the Second South African War.  At Radley, he coxed the VIII.  Aged 33

Darell Jeffreys, Captain, 1st Bn Devonshire Regt.  kia 11 July 1915

Darell Jeffreys, Captain, 1st Bn Devonshire Regt. kia 11 July 1915