Lieutenant

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1
The name of Lionel Johnston on the Le Touret Memorial. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

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

Today we remember …

JL Johnstone. Prefects 1904

JL Johnstone. Prefects 1904

 On 12th May 1915 John Leslie Johnston, B Social 1899. Lt, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, was recorded as missing, presumed killed in action in an unknown engagement in the 2nd Battle of Ypres. He was one of the most distinguished scholars of his time at Radley. He won the Richards Gold Medal, the James, Heathcote and Gibbs Scholarships. He went on to become Fellow and Dean of Magdalen College, Oxford. His friend, Edwyn Bevan, published a biography of him in 1920.‘He vanished in May 1915 and it is very likely that he was executed by the Germans soon after being shot in the abdomen.’ Letter from Dr Simon Harris, Regimental Historian, 2014

His story from Magdalen College

Lt JL Johnstone, Ox & Bucks LI. Missing in action, 12 May 1915

Lt JL Johnstone, Ox & Bucks LI. Missing in action, 12 May 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Montague Clarke at Ruisseau Farm Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

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

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

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

Cyril Holland (nee Wilde) in the Prefects’ group photo 1902

Lt Robert Woodward, South Wales Borderers. kia 9 May 1915

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).

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

Today we remember …

On 4th May 1915, William Schreiber, G Social 1900, died of wounds received in the Second Battle of Ypres. He was a Lieutenant with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, serving in the mechanical transport division of the Canadian Army Service Corps stationed at the 1st Canadian Ammunition Park. He came from a military family: both his father and grandfather held the rank of colonel. He left Radley in 1902 and emigrated to Canada before 1910. He was married twice: first to Marie in 1910, and then to Gabrielle in 1914. We knew nothing more about his life until a researcher sent this note in 2013:
‘It is the case that my grandfather and two others – including William Eric Brymer Schreiber – set up Britain’s first motor car agency selling Ford cars in the early 1900s.’ – information supplied by Robin Thornton, 1st June 2013So he was probably using his skills and interest in cars to serve the war effort.

Lt WE Schreiber, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Died of wounds on 4th May 1915

Lt WE Schreiber, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Died of wounds on 4th May 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Arthur Lonsdale at Rue Petillon Cemetery. Phptographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Arthur Lonsdale at Rue Petillon Cemetery. Phptographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

13th March 1915.  Arthur Lonsdale, F Social 1905.  Lt, 2nd Bn, Royal Scots Fusiliers.  Died of wounds received on 10th March in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.

At Radley he was Captain of Rackets and Fives. Before the War he had planned to enter the priesthood.

Aged 23

Arthur Lonsdale, Lt, 2nd Bn, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Died of wounds, 13 March 1915

Arthur Lonsdale, Lt, 2nd Bn, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Died of wounds, 13 March 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Leonard Hardy at Gorre Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Leonard Hardy at Gorre Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

11th February 1915.  Leonard Hardy, G Social 1909.  Lt, 2nd Bn, Worcestershire Regt. Killed in action in an unknown engagement in France.

Leonard Hardy was the first Old Radleian to fall who had been a boy at the school when the Warden, E Gordon Selwyn, took up his post in 1913. The Warden spoke about him in Chapel: ‘The first thing which strikes me, I think, as I recall him, was that he was one whom you could always absolutely trust… pray also for this School, that God may send us many like him.’

Leonard Hardy, Lt, 2nd Bn, Worcestershire Regt. kia 11 February 1915

Leonard Hardy, Lt, 2nd Bn, Worcestershire Regt. kia 11 February 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

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

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

30 October 1914. Today we remember two Radleians who fell in the First Battle of Ypres:  Spencer Railston and Roger Schunck.

Spencer Railston, G Social 1902. Lt, 4th Irish Dragoon Guards

Railston ‘lost his life in a gallant attempt to bring in a wounded peasant woman, who in very heavy village fighting had got between the British and the German lines. Lieut. Railston left his cover to do this, and was immediately killed by many bullets from a Maxim battery.’

‘He was at home on leave from India when war was declared, and got attached to the 4th Dragoon Guards. He received his commission in 1907. and his step in 1909.    He was one of the many good all-round sportsmen who have given their lives for their country-a very fine horseman, a good polo player, and big game shot, and at one time champion light-weight boxer of India.’ (Radleian obituary)

Spencer Railston, Lt, 4th Bn, Irish Dragoon Guards. kia 1st Battle of Ypres, 30 October 1914

Spencer Railston, Lt, 4th Bn, Irish Dragoon Guards. kia 1st Battle of Ypres, 30 October 1914

Roger Schunck, 2nd Lt, Royal West Surrey Regt. kia 1st Battle of Ypres, 30 October 1914

Roger Schunck, 2nd Lt, Royal West Surrey Regt. kia 1st Battle of Ypres, 30 October 1914

 Roger Schunck, G Social 1898. 2nd Lt, Royal West Surrey Regt. Killed in action near Gheluvelt. At school he played for the Soccer XI.  After school he became a merchant with his family’s firm in Manchester
The grave of Roger Schunck in Ypres Town Cemetery. Photgraphed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Roger Schunck in Ypres Town Cemetery. Photgraphed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

19th September 1914. Herbert Gilmour, F Social, 1898. Lt, 3rd Bn, Worcestershire Regt. Killed in action at the Battle of the Aisne. He was a career soldier who served in the Second South African War, 1901-02. He joined the Worcestershires in 1903.

Herbert Gilmour, Lt, 3rd bn, Worcestershire Regt. kia Battle of the Aisne, 19 September 1914

Herbert Gilmour, Lt, 3rd bn, Worcestershire Regt. kia Battle of the Aisne, 19 September 1914