career serviceman

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

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

Today we remember …

14th May 1915. Today we remember two Radleians who fell, one in France, the other the first Australian Radleian to fall at Gallipoli. John Wheen, E Social 1894. Captain, 1st Bn, Liverpool Regt. Missing, presumed killed in action, Battle of Festubert (part of the 2nd Battle of Ypres). He served in the Second South African War in 1900 and was invalided home wounded. He was wounded in France in 1914‘previously reported wounded and missing, is now officially presumed to have been killed on May 14-16, 1915.’

John Wheen, Capt 1st Bn Liverpool Regt. Missing, presumed kia, 14 May 1915

Augustus Maryon-Wilson, Trooper, 2nd Australian Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force. kia Gallipoli, 14 May 1915

Augustus Maryon-Wilson, A Social 1894. Trooper, 2nd Australian Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force. Killed in action, 14-15 May, at Gallipoli. Originally from Essex, he emigrated to Australia and became a farmer

The grave of A Maryon-Wilson at Shrapnel Valley. Photo David Bennett, 18 May 2015

Shrapnel Valley Cemetery is close to ANZAC Cove. Grave of A Maryon-Wilson in foreground. Photo David Bennett, 18 May 2015

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).

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of John Bill at Cabaret Rouge. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

28th March 1915. John Bill, C Social 1895. Captain, 1st Bn, South Wales Borderers. Died of wounds received near Neuve Eglise on 28th March.

He was a career soldier who had served in the Second South African War in 1900, and subsequently with the West African Frontier Force.

Aged 33

John Bill, Captain, 1st Bn, South Wales Borderers. Died of wounds, 28 March 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

4th February 1915. Richard Fitzgibbon, F Social 1904. Lt, 128th Pioneers, Indian Army. Died of wounds received in the Defence of the Suez Canal.

Mentioned in despatches. Record of a citation: Major General Sir A. Wilson’s recommendations: 128th Pioneers. Lieutenant R. A. Fitzgibbon behaved with conspicuous gallantry. When severely wounded he ran a considerable distance under fire to the 5th Egyptian Battery. He has since died of his wounds.

He twice coxed the Radley VIII at Henley Regatta.

Aged 25

Richard Fitzgibbon, Lt, 128th Pioneers, Indian Army. Died of wounds 4 February 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

16th December 1914. Hugh Brooksbank, G Social 1907. 2nd Lt, 2nd Bn, Yorkshire Regt. He went to Sandhurst. Died in London of wounds received on 3rd November in the First Battle of Ypres. Aged 21. Twice mentioned in despatches.