C Social

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

13th July 1916. Gilbert Whittet. C Social, 1910. 2nd Lt, 7th Bn, Royal West Surrey Regt. Killed in action at Trônes Wood.

At Radley he rowed for the First VIII and was a prefect. His best friend, James Freeman, was killed three months earlier. Gilbert’s parents celebrated the lives of both boys in a shared stained glass window in Chapel.

‘There is a place in the hearts of many of us for the quiet courteous unselfish boy who was killed in action on July 13th. When he left us, so short a time ago, he had risen to a position of authority in the School and had gained the affection of many, the respect of all. … the very true and very remarkable friendship which existed between him and Hutton Freeman, whom he followed so closely into the Land of Shadows. There are few of us, who knew them, who were not impressed by the lasting and unbroken sympathy between the two. Whittet and Freeman – it seems impossible to mention one name without thinking of the other. If they had done nothing else, they would have done something to show us what that most beautiful thing a ‘School-boy Friendship’ can mean in its best and truest sense.’

FROM THE COLONEL’S LETTER: I had got to know him even better than most of the Subalterns, as he was my signalling officer for some time. I personally feel his loss more than I can express in words. He always showed himself to possess all the qualities which only the very best can hope to attain, and was a most excellent officer besides being a most delightful companion. He fell gallantly leading his men in an assault across the open on a wood that is already notorious.

Aged 20

Gilbert Whittet, 2nd Lt, 7th Bn, Royal West Surrey Regt. kia Trones Wood, Battle of the Somme

Detail from the Whittet & Freeman memorial window, Radley College chapel

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Claud Heygate at Gordon Dump Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

First Battle of the Somme

2nd July 1916. Claud Heygate, C Social, 1900. Capt, 10th Bn, Yorkshire Light Infantry. Killed in action at Fricourt, Battle of the Somme.

Claude Heygate went to Sandhurst in 1904 and received his commission in the 1st Yorkshire L.I. in August, 1906.

‘At the outbreak of the war he was at the depot of the regiment, and went out with a draft from Hull in August, 1914. He was present at the battles of Marne, the Aisne, and the first battle of Ypres, when he was wounded at Lorgues. He returned to the front last month.’

Aged 30

&

Lawrence Westmore, D Social, 1908. 2nd Lt, 1st Bn, Hampshire Regt. Killed in action at Beaumont Hamel, Battle of the Somme.

Lawrence Westmore was one of the best scholars of his year at school. He was a Junior Scholar who won The Richards Gold Medal, The James & Heathcote Scholarships, the Historical Essay Prize, the Worsley Prize and the Morgan Verse Prize. He left school in 1913 to take up a place at Wadham College, Oxford, for which he won an Exhibition. He achieved 1st Class in Classical Mods in 1915.

Aged 21

Claud Heygate, Captain, 10th bn Yorkshire LI. kia 2 July 1916

Lawrence Westmore, 2nd Lt, 1st bn, Hampshire Regt. kia 2 July 1916

The grave of Lawrence Westmore at Colincamps Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

First Day of the First Battle of the Somme

1st July 1916. Maurice Kennard, MC, C Social, 1896. Lt-Col commanding 18th Bn, West Yorkshire Regt. Killed in action, Battle of the Somme. He was a career soldier who joined the 6th Dragoon Guards from the Militia in 1902. After holding the adjutancy of the regiment for a period from April 1910, he became Captain in 1913. While serving with the 6th Dragoon Guards in the early days of the war, he was wounded, and was mentioned in dispatches as early as October 19, 1914. Subsequently in November, 1915 he was appointed temporary major and second in command of the 13th York and Lancaster Regiment, and was afterwards transferred to the command which he was holding at the time of his death.

The history of the Regiment records: Less than a hundred yards in front of Dunmow trench they came under a heavy cross fire from machine guns firing from their right, probably from the Quadrilateral Redoubt and south of the Serre Road. Almost everyone dropped flat on their stomachs to escape this murderous scythe, except their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel M.N. Kennard. Standing calm and erect amid the crack and whine of bullets and carrying only a walking stick he called out ‘come on boys, up you get’, turned and began to walk at an easy gait towards the enemy. The Battalion rose to their feet and followed him. As they came out of the dead ground in which their assembly trenches were dug they were additionally engaged by a rapid fire from the front. Casualties were heavy, particularly amongst the officers and including Lieutenant-Colonel Kennard, who was killed by a shell which burst close by him. Everard Wyrell. The West Yorkshire Regiment in the War 1914-1918

At school he was the Captain of the Soccer Team, and represented the school at Fives and Boxing. He won ‘Sword v Sword’ (Officers) at the Naval and Military Tournament, 1913-14

Aged 32

Maurice Kennard, Lt-Col cmdg 18th Bn West Yorkshire Regt. kia 1 July 1916

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of James Freeman at Lijssenthoek. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

24th April 1916. James Freeman, C Social, 1910. 2nd Lt, 29th Sqn, Royal Flying Corps Killed in a flying accident over Flanders. He survived a serious crash shortly before in which his plane broke up in mid-air. The photo opposite was taken soon after: ‘I have before me, as I write, a photograph taken just after by one of his greatest friends. There he stands, with the pleasant trustful smile on his face that many of us knew so well.’ from his obituary in The Radleian.
At school, James Freeman rowed for the 1st VIII, was a keen member of the Corps, and nowadays would be most often found in the Design Centre: ‘devoted to the carpenter’s shop. Thrust away in a corner by the stables one may still see – causam lacrymis! – that wonderful motor car which he constructed with such delight…’ His closest friend was Gilbert Whittet, also of C Social and a member of the VIII, who was to die on the Somme just three months later. Gilbert Whittet’s parents generously included James jointly with Gilbert in a stained glass window put up in Chapel in 1917. The window depicts four figures, St Michael, St George, King Alfred, and King Arthur, and portraits of the two young men.This is a window of tears. … But it is also a Window of Pride – just Pride – Radley is proud to-day that two young lives have shown the stuff which Radley can produce – proud that two boys have shown what a clean tender true friendship can be. They walked in this House of God as friends and in that nearer Presence they are friends still … Remember that Military Service with all its glamour is only on the same footing as your service here. The one great principle is duty. They had to be trained and equipped, to go through drudgery, self-denial, and learning and labour; they did their duty and won their reward…

Like Michael fight for God against the powers of evil. Like St George learn habits of courtesy towards your fellow men. Like King Arthur and his Knights practice perfect chivalry to all women. Like King Alfred learn to be a ruler for good – of yourselves first, and then of Society round you. …

Bishop Hook, speaking at the unveiling of the memorial window to Freeman and Whittet in 1917.

Aged 19

James Freeman, 2nd Lt, 29th Sqn, RFC. killed 24 April 1916

The Freeman & Whittet memorial window in Radley College Chapel

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

28th June 1915. Augustus Fitzclarence, C Social 1893. Captain, 2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action at Gallipoli. He was a superb all-round sportsman. At Radley, he was Captain of Boats and competed at Henley, and in the Soccer XI:‘He was a fine athlete – a good boxer and long-distance runner. In latter years he went in for fencing and sabre play, competing at the Royal Naval and Military Tournament and winning the second prize in the epee in 1913 and second prize in the sabre v. sabre in 1914. In 1912 he was one of the representatives of this country at the Olympic Games.’He was a career soldier who fought in the Second South African War in 1900. Aged 35