Today we remember …
| Mesopotamia Campaign
17th September 1916. John Bankes-Price. D Social, 1909. Flt-Lt, Royal Naval Air Service. Killed in action at El Arish, Mesopotamia (now Iraq). John Bankes-Price was the son of the British Consul in Chicago. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915. He is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial. Aged 21 |
Today we remember …
| 13th September 1916
Richard Brodie-James. G Social, 1908. Lt, 9th Bn, East Lancashire Regt.Killed in action in Greece. Richard Brodie-James was killed near Macukovo in Greece. His name is recorded on the Doiran Memorial. He was Mentioned in Despatches. The letter from his colonel to his parents says: Your son was as gallant, cool, and capable an officer as I have met in my 32 years’ soldiering. . . . He is a loss to the regiment and the Army, for his quickness and ability were much above the average. We were all proud of him, and the men speak of him enthusiastically. In the list of recommendations for recognition which I have just sent in your son’s name stands first. Living or dead he deserves the tribute – and more. Aged 23 & Henry Skinner. A Social, 1910. Private, 1/4th Bn, London Scottish. Died of wounds, Battle of the Somme. Henry Skinner was one of very few Radleians who enlisted as a Private. He went from Radley to Abingdon School and from there to Jesus College, Cambridge, where his grandfather was a fellow. Aged 21 |
 Richard Brodie-James, Lt, 9th Bn, East Lancashire Regt. kia in Greece  Henry Skinner, Private, 1/14th Bn, London Scottish. Died of wounds, Battle of the Somme |
The grave of Arthur Clarke in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015
| 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 |
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 |
 Lesley Douglas-Hamilton, Major, Lancashire Fusiliers. kia Battle of the Somme |
Today we remember …
| Battle of the Somme
23rd July 1916. Reginald Settle. F Social, 1906. 2nd Lt, 15th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action over Hébuterne. At Radley, he played for the Soccer XI. He joined the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) as a private in November, 1914, and after passing a special examination was sent to France the same week that he enlisted. He was promoted sergeant in the ASC and is shown in that uniform in the War Memorial Album photo opposite. In June, 1916 he obtained a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. The Imperial War Museum’s ‘Lives of the First World War’ features his story: Despite being in charge of General Haig’s motor transport Reg wanted to see more action. In the summer of 1916 he had broken up with his girlfriend. He applied to join the Royal Flying Corps. He was killed in a small plane with an open cockpit while flying over German lines. He was sitting directly behind the pilot who heard a single shot but thought it had missed them. The plane flew normally but when the plane landed the pilot found Reginald dead was a rifle wound. He wrote to tell Reginald’s parents about the circumstances of their son’s death. Aged 25 |
 Reginald Settle, 2nd Lt, 15th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. kia Battle of the Somme |
Today we remember …
| Battle of the Somme
22nd July 1916. Edmund Badcock. C Social, 1907. Lt, 1st Bn, Northamptonshire Regt. Killed in action near Contelmaison. After leaving school he won a History Exhibition to Worcester College, Oxford. He, and his brother, Arthur (who was studying medicine at St John’s College , Cambridge) both joined the Northamptonshire Regiment via their University OTCs in September 1914. Edmund was sent to France a year later, in September 1915. He was brigade pioneer for some time on construction, repair and general engineering duties, and then became second in command of his company. Arthur was killed on 14th October, 1915 in the Battle of Loos, aged 21. Edmund has no known grave and is among those listed on the Thiepval Memorial. Aged 23 |
 Edmund Badcock, Lt, 1st Bn, Northamtonshire Regt. kia near Contelmaison, Battle of the Somme |
The grave of John Mowbray at Peronne Road Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015
Today we remember …
| Battle of the Somme
21st July 1915. John Mowbray, DSO. H & D Socials, 1889. Major, 41st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action. At Radley, he rowed in the First VIII. After leaving school he trained as a civil engineer. He then changed career to become a soldier. He received a commission in the Royal Field Artillery in July, 1900, and joined a battery in India. He was afterwards transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery, with which he remained until entering the Staff College, Quetta, in 1907. On passing out he was appointed to the General Staff at Simla, where he remained until 1913. He went to France as staff captain in August, 1914, and became brigade major on a divisional staff three months later. He resigned in the spring of 1916 in order to take command of a field battery. He was promoted captain in August, 1911, and major in December, 1914. For his services in France he was twice Mentioned in Dispatches and received the DSO. Aged 41 |
 John Mowbray, Major, 41st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. kia Battle of the Somme |
The grave of Charles Wright at Serre Road Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ in aid of Combat Stress, July 2015
Today we remember …
| Battle of the Somme
14th July 1915. Charles Wright. G Social, 1904. Captain, 7th Bn, Leicestershire Regt. Killed in action at Bazentin-le-Petit. On leaving school he went to Hertford College, Oxford, where he entered as an exhibitioner in October, 1909. He achieved a third class in the Final Honour School of Modern History in 1913. He rowed in the Hertford Eight for three years, and in his third year was Captain of Boats and President of the College. After leaving Oxford he went to teach at Earleywood School, Ascot. War was declared on 4th August 1914. Charles had already joined the Inns of Court OTC on 3rd August. He obtained a commission in the Leicestershire Regiment on 24th September, 1914, and was gazetted captain in August of 1915. Aged 25 |
 Charles Wright, Captain, 7th Bn, Leicestershire Regt. kia Bazentin-le-Petit, Battle of the Somme |
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 |
The grave of Alfred de Lafontaine at Carnoy Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015
Today we remember …
First Battle of the Somme
8th July 1916. Alfred Cart de Lafontaine, MC. C Social 1903. Captain, East Yorkshire Regt., 76th Infantry Brigade (attached Headquarters Staff). Killed in action at Montaubon, Battle of the Somme.
Citation for the Military Cross: For conspicuous gallantry and coolness during the attack on Hooge on 9th August, 1915, when he reorganized portions of several companies and led them back to their original positions under heavy shell fire.
He was a career soldier who joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on leaving school. He became a staff brigade captain early in 1916 and was twice Mentioned in Despatches.
A silver ‘loving’ cup engraved with the College arms was given to Radley in his memory by his uncle in 1920.
He married Evelyn Palmes in 1913.
Aged 27
Alfred Cart de Lafontaine, MC. Captain, East Yorkshire Regt. kia 8th July 1916, Battle of the Somme
Radley College Archives 