Flanders & France (Western Front)

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Maurice Knatchbull-Hugessen at Fricourt. Photograhed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Maurice Knatchbull-Hugessen at Fricourt. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

First Battle of the Somme

25th September 1915

Maurice Knatchbull-Hugessen, MC. A Social, 1901. Lt, 2nd Bn, Grenadier Guards. Killed in action at Contelmaison.

Maurice Knatchbull-Hugessen was Head of A Social. After school, he went to Balliol College, Oxford and then out to South Africa where he worked as a mining engineer from 1910-1914. He joined the Royal Fusiliers as a private in 1914, then gained a commission in the Grenadier Guards in 1915. He was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Military Cross.

Aged 28

Ian Ross-Taylor. C Social, 1908. 2nd Lt, 7th Bn, Bedfordshire Regt. Killed in action at Morval.

Ian Ross-Taylor was born in Bombay, India (now Mumbai). He left school in 1911 and joined the Foreign Staff of the Bank of India, Australia and China. He was wounded early in 1915 and after months of convalescence, he returned to the Front in June. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Aged 22

Maurice Knatchbull-Hugessen, MC. Lt, 2nd Bn, Grenadier Guards. kia Battle of the Somme

Ian Ross-Taylor. 2nd Lt, 7th Bn, Bedfordshire Regt. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Arthur Clarke in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

9th September 1916. Arthur Clarke. E Social, 1905. 2nd Lt, 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt. Killed in action at High Wood.

Arthur Clarke’s story exemplifies the horror and confusion of the 1st Battle of the Somme. He was reported wounded but missing in October, 1916. By June, 1917 this had been amended to ‘believed to have been killed on 9th September 1916.’ His body was recovered and is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.

After school, he went to Christ Church, Oxford. When the War broke out he was in Switzerland, unable to return to England until early in September, 1914. When he did get back he immediately enlisted in the North Somerset Yeomanry. He went to the Western Front in October, 1914, and took part in the first battle of Ypres. In February, 1915, he was given a commission and after three months’ training in England rejoined his regiment at the front. He was wounded on 25th September, 1915, in the Battle of Loos, and, after six months’ sick leave, rejoined his regiment. He was slightly wounded on June 27th, 1916, but was able to return to duty after a few weeks in hospital.

He was Mentioned in Dispatches twice.

Aged 25

Arthur Clarke, 2nd Lt, 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Mesopotamia Campaign

23rd August 1916. John Robinson, MC. A Social, 1899. Captain & Adjutant, 7th Bn, North Staffordshire Regt.. Died of wounds received in the Battle of El Hannah, Mesopotamia (now Iraq).

John Robinson was one of the most distinguished Radleians to die in the War. At school he played for the Cricket and Football XIs and was Head of A Social. After school, he went to Merton College, Oxford, where he graduated with honours in history. He played Hockey for Oxford University for four years, became an international player and went on to win Gold for Great Britain at the 1908 Olympics.

After leaving university he became a schoolmaster. He enlisted in an OTC immediately War was declared, receiving his commission in September 1914. He served in the Gallipoli Campaign. He was Mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the Military Cross in February, 1916. The same month he was sent to Mesopotamia. He was wounded in the spine in April and died from the injury in August 1916.

His shield still hangs in Hall.

Aged 31

John Robinson, Captain & Adjutant, 7th Bn, North Staffordshire Regt. Died of wounds in Mesopotamia

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

18th August 1916. Aubrey Patch. C Social, 1899. 2nd Lt, 3rd Bn, Royal Lancaster Regt. Killed in action.

After school he went to study at Ontario Agricultural College, Toronto. When war broke out he immediately returned to England from Canada to enlist, and served in the ranks for about a year. He received his commission in October 1915. He was killed while leading his platoon against a German trench.

Aged 30

Aubrey Patch, 2nd Lt, 3rd Bn, Royal Lancaster Regt. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

27th July 1916. Edwin (Edward) Mattingley. College Staff. Private, 1st Bn, Royal Berkshire Regt. Missing in action.

Edwin Mattingley was born in Radley village in 1893. He came to work for the College as a gardener’s boy at the age of 15. By 1914, he was employed as a footman. He enlisted on 11th August, 1914. He took part in the Battles of Festubert and Loos in 1915, and was granted his first seven days leave on 18th May 1916.

At 2am on the morning of 27th July, 1916, his battalion moved into its forward trenches at Delville Wood. At 5.10am the British Artillery began to bombard the German positions at Longueval Village. The Berkshires advanced 270 yards and began to dig in. German forces began to shell the British troops with high explosives and sniper fire. Outnumbered and short of ammunition the British troops had to scavenge the captured trenches for munitions. The new line held against counter attacks and German shelling began to decline by 17.00 hours, all quiet by 21.30. Sometime during this action, Edwin was lost. On his service sheet, the officer recorded: ‘missing after action 27th July 1916.’ After the War returning comrades said that he had last been seen returning into no-man’s land to rescue a wounded comrade.

Edwin was described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, 128 lbs in weight with hazel eyes, light brown hair and a 36 inch chest. He was aged 25 when he died, so this is a good description of the average British tommy. Two of his brothers also served. Both survived. (Information from ‘Gone for a soldier’ by MBJ Mawhinney, for Radley History Club)

Edwin Mattingley, c1916. Copyright Radley History Club

Edwin Mattingley, Private, 1st bn, Royal Berkshire Regt. Missing in action, Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Lesley Douglas-Hamilton at Peronne Road Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

24th July 1916. Lesley Douglas-Hamilton. A Social, 1896. Major, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action.

He was a career soldier whose original commission was in the Cameron Highlanders in September, 1901. He was promoted to Captain in 1905. He served in the last year of the 2nd South African War and elsewhere in the colonies. He was awarded the Queen’s Medal with five clasps.

As a serving soldier, when the War began he was transferred from his original regiment and given a commission as a Major with the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Aged 35