Marching in Memory for Combat Stress July 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

The grave of Richard Colborne at Dainville. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ July 2015

28th May1918

Richard Colborne, E Social 1900. Chaplain (4th Class), 1st Bn, London Regt

Killed in an unknown engagement near Arras whilst bringing in wounded men

At school, Richard Colborne was an Exhibitioner who won the History and Literature Prizes, was Second Prefect and played for the Football XI. After school, he won an Exhibition to Worcester College, Oxford, and then trained for the priesthood. His first curacy was at Great Gaddesdon , Herts. Then, in 1916, he took up the post of Curate-in-Charge at St John’s Merton. He was called up in 1917.

He was second Prefect, a member of the Football XI, and won the Senior Quarter by sheer pluck (and incidentally the Sports’ Cup). On leaving, he went up to Worcester College, and later took work at a Preparatory School at Hemel Hampstead.

He was ordained deacon in 1912 and priest in 1913, and worked at Romford, and later at Merton, where he was most popular and greatly esteemed by his parishioners. He was wounded on Jan. 4, and killed in action on May 28 while assisting in bringing in the wounded. His chief described him as “one of the finest chaplains” he had ever had. He was Secretary of the Radleian Society during 1916-7, and brought out the last Year Book. He leaves very many friends who mourn his death.

Addenda. 2.4.1919 The Radleian. Memorial. A handsome new reading desk has been placed in St. John’s Church, Romford, to commemorate the memory of Rev. R A P . Colborne, T/C.F., who died of wounds last year

As Secretary of the Radleian Society, he was responsible for scouring the newspapers, writing to families and compiling all the information about Radleians serving during WW1. His meticulous work forms the basis of the War Memorial and of all the records in this Commemoration.

Aged 32

Rev Richard Colborne, Chaplain to the Forces

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

27th May1918

Ralph Bell, C Social 1905. Captain, 98th Sqn, Royal Air Force

Killed in action in an unknown engagement

The death of Ralph Bell was one of the very few missed by the Radleian Society recorders during WW1. Consequently, he is not named on Radley’s war memorial.

The last entry for him in the Radley Register published in 1923 simply stated that he left the school in 1907. This entry was reprinted in 1962. In the 1980s, the Radleian Society was planning an updated version of the Register and so conducted extensive research into those ORs with whom they had lost contact over the years. A handwritten note in the Archivist’s annotated copy of the 1962 register updated the information on Ralph Bell:

‘Went to Canada; 1st W Ontario Regt, and 98th Sqn RFC; Captain; married. Died on active service in France 27th May 1918’.

Aged 27

AND

George Coote, A Social 1910, Lt, 50th Bn, Machine Gun Corps

Killed in action 2nd Battle of the Aisne

He was a School Prefect who played for the Cricket XI.

He obtained a commission In the Royal West Kents in December, 1914. and later on was transferred to the M.G.C. In July 1917, he was wounded and came back to England. He returned to France in April, 1918, and was killed in action May 27th, 1918. The news of his death will be a great grief to many Old Radleians. He was of a retiring nature, but his was a character,- like that of his great friend, Rupert ffolkes, – of which the very simplicity commanded admiration.

His best friend, Rupert ffolkes, was killed on 30th December 1917. Richard Coote, George’s older brother, was killed in action at the Battle of Hulluch on 13th October 1915. Their eldest brother, Peter, was badly wounded in 1917.

He is recorded on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne

Aged 22

Captain Ralph Bell remembered on the Arras Flying Memorial. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ July 2015

Lt George Coote

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

10th April 1918

George Bloomfield, D Social 1913. Private, 1/6th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers

Missing, presumed killed in action, Battle of the Lys

His family were based in Djenan-es-Saouda, El Biar, Algiers. He left Radley in 1917 and went straight into the ranks serving in France. There is no obituary in The Radleian

Aged 19

Private George Bloomfield, Northumberland Fusiliers

George Bloomfield’s name on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ July 2015

Private George Bloomfield, Northumberland Fusiliers

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

6th April 1918

Herbert Oldfield, D Social 1908. Major, 8th Canadian Infantry Bn, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Died of wounds received in an unknown engagement

He was born in Winnipeg, Ontario.

On leaving in 1911, he went out to British Columbia, and entered the Merchants’ Bank of Canada. When he was killed in action on April 6th, he was Major in the 8th Canadian Infantry, and had seen 3 1/2 years service. Since his death he has been mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig.

Aged 24

The grave of Major Oldfield at Duisans. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ July 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

24th March 1918

Donald MacIver, B Social 1899, Lt, 3rd Bn, South Lancashire Regt

Killed in action, Second Battle of the Somme

He left school before 1902 and became a farmer. He enlisted with the Liverpool Scottish on 6th August 1914 and went to the Front immediately. He was wounded in 1914, but returned and served in France until 1918.

His name is recorded on the Pozières Memorial

Aged 33

Donald MacIver, B Social 1902

Donald Maciver’s name on the Pozieres Memorial. Photographed by Nick Bennet & Charlie Barber for ‘Marching in Memory’ July 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Second Battle of the Somme 21st March 1918 Reginald Hodgson John Moore, MC Horace Stevens Photographs of the Pozieres and Arras Memorials by Nick Bennett & Charlie Barber for ‘Marching in Memory’ July 2015

Reginald Hodgson, D Social 1893, Captain, 82nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action, Second Battle of the Somme At school he was a Junior Scholar, a Prefect and won the English Literature Prize. He represented the School at boxing and went on to receive a half-blue for both boxing and fencing for Oxford University. After school he studied at University College, Oxford, became a barrister at the Inner Temple and an underwriter at Lloyd’s. He was the youngest son of Henry John Hodgson, Master of the Supreme Court of Judicature, and of Mrs. Hodgson, of Keble Road, Oxford. He had his commission early in the war, and was Lieutenant in December, 1914; he was gazetted Captain in February, 1916. Aged 38 AND	Captain Reginald Hodgson The name of Reginald Hodgson on the Pozieres Memorial.
John Moore, MC, F Social 1907, Major, Cheshire Regt, attached 71st Cpy, Machine Gun Corps, Killed in action, Second Battle of the Somme Cheshire Regiment, attached Machine Gun Corps (killed in action on March 21), was son of the late Captain G. H. Moore, Camden Hill, Cranbrook, Kent, and of Mrs. Moore, of Filsham House, St. Leonards-on·Sea. He was twenty-four years of age; he had promotion in the Cheshires in November, 1915, and, transferring to the Machine Gun Corps, became acting Captain in June, 1917. He was at Radley, 1907-1909, and had been mentioned twice in despatches.. Aged 24 AND	The name of John Moore, MC, on the Arras Memorial.
Horace Stevens, College Staff, Lance-Corporal, 2nd/4th Bn, Ox & Bucks LI Killed in action, Second Battle of the Somme	The name of Horace Stevens on the Pozieres Memorial.

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

10th November 1917

Gilbert Vawdrey, C Social 1911. 2nd Lt, 2nd Bn, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action, Passchendaele

He was a Prefect and a member of Radley’s first Rugby XV. In 1916, he went to Sandhurst.

He obtained his commission in the Welsh Regiment in August of the same year, and went to the front in September, 1916, where he has been ever since. A senior officer writes : – “At the time he was killed he was carrying a most important message, and was on his way to headquarters. During the whole day he had been doing most gallant and useful work.“

Aged 20

AND

John Boswell, E Social 1904. Gunner, E Company, Tank Corps. Killed in action near Gaza, Palestine

He served as a career officer with the Royal Bucks Hussars Yeomanry from 1909-1911. In 1911 he went to Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) as a planter. He re-joined his regiment in 1915. He suffered from a stammer which may have caused him to resign his commission. He applied to join the newly formed Tank Corps, and served with E Corps under Allenby in Palestine.

He married Alfreda Hurley in 1916.

Aged 28