Sandhurst

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

31st October 1918

Thomas Irwin, H Social 1910. Lt. 2nd Bn, Sherwood Foresters. Died of wounds received in the Second Battle of Cambrai

At school he played for the Cricket XI and the Racquets Pair. ‘It was in the latter that he made his mark and was conspicuous at Queen’s Club for his cool and clever game. On leaving he enlisted as a private  in the P.S.B.,but later entered Sandhurst, and took a commission in the Sherwood Foresters. He was very badly wounded in 1916, being shot through the lung. He went out again to France this year, and died of wounds on Oct. 31 (received on Oct. 8).’

He died in England and is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery.

Aged 22

Lt Thomas Irwin

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

27th September 1918

Arthur Bruce-Freeman, D Social 1910. Lt, 2nd Bn, Royal Scots Fusiliers. Killed during the Advance across Flanders

He was a member of a military family whose father also served in the 3rd Hussars.  He went straight to Sandhurst on leaving school in 1914.  He served on the Western Front throughout WW1

was known at Radley always with the initials of T. B. On leaving, he entered Sandhurst, and passed into the 3rd Hussars.In April last he was transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers, and was wounded a month later. He went out again on Sept. 12, and was killed on the 27th.

Aged 22

AND

Lt Arthur Bruce-Freeman, Royal Scots Fusiliers

James Carter, Don. Captain, 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards. Killed in action, Battle of Canal du Nord

After a distinguished career at Eton and Cambridge, where he rowed in the fine eight of 1903, J. S. Carter came to Radley as a master. and was here for five years, leaving at the end of the Summer term, 1909. He took up work at Warren Hill, and, just before the war, had taken a private school at Cromer in partnership with Mr. Hales. After the latter’s death, Mr. Carter carried on till Easter 1917, when he decided that he too would go out to the front, for he had always been a keen Territorial. He took a commission in the Grenadier Guards, and went to France early this year. In August he was made Acting Captain, and was killed on Sept. 27th.

I should think it is quite true to say that Jim never had an enemy: for he was one of those genial large-hearted giants, with whom it was impossible to feel anger, and who was popular with everyone.

Naturally when he was here he associated himself with the river, and he coached the crew of 1909: but his interests were wide and varied. He had stayed some months in Athens, and he took a keen interest in archaeology, while he was more than an enthusiastic entomologist. Many a night have I been out” sugaring” with him, and he was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who was keen on that subject. He was a first class skater, and competed two or three times for the “Open Bowl” at Davos, while at Leuzerheide he was deservedly the most popular man in the place. It was only this time last year that he came down to Radley to sing in a concert, and perform in the “Radley Quartette,” which for five years enjoyed some popularity while he was here.

It is hard to realize that poor old Jim is gone too, like, Sammy Hales and Lance Vidal. Truly Radley has had some cruel losses, but the loss of these three leaves a sorrow that will never fade away. In his last letter, only three weeks’ ago, he wrote, ” I would not miss this for anything. The men are simply splendid, and it is a real privilege to be with them. Keep the home fires burning and some day I shall be sitting by your fireside, with a pipe, boring you stiff with what we did in the great war.” And now he has joined all those other heroes, but he still lives enshrined. in the hearts of many devoted and sorrowing friends.

Aged 37

AND

JS Carter, from Radley College Common Room photo, 1906

Alfred Morris, F Social 1909. Lt, 1st Bn, Grenadier Guards. Killed in action, Battle of Canal du Nord

He left school in 1912 and went straight to Sandhurst. He served initially with the Royal Fusiliers from 1914, then joined the Grenadier Guards.

Aged 23

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

20th August 1918

Ernest Wood, D Social 1911. Lt, 1st Bn, North Staffordshire Regt. Killed in action in an unknown engagement

At school he played for the Cricket XI. He went to Sandhurst after leaving school.

He passed out, of Sandhurst in July, 1915, and went to the front a year later and was present at the actions on the Somme. He was wounded in June, 1917, but returning to France in April last was kilIed on July 20th.

He is buried at Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais. The town of Bully-des-Mines in France invited Radley College to participate in their Centenary Commemorations for WW1.  They honoured the men buried there with a major exhibition from 22-29 April 2016, which featured Ernest Wood’s story.

Aged 21

Lt Ernest Wood, kia 20 August 1918

Radley College Cricket XI 1914

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

10th August 1918

Henry Utterson, DSO. E Social 1892. Lt-Col, 15th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action, Battle of Amiens

After leaving Radley he went to Sandhurst, serving with the Dorsetshire Regt. In the South African War 1899-1902 he fought at the Relief of Ladysmith and at Spion Kop

He served through the South African War (Queen’s Medal, 5 clasps, and King’s Medal, 2 clasps) and with the West African Frontier Force, 1904-1907. He served in Mesopotamia, 1914-1915,where he gained the D.S.O. and was 3 times mentioned in dispatches. He was invalided to England after being wounded at Ctesiphon. From 1917 onwards he commanded a battalion of the Lancaster Fusiliers on another front.

Citation for the DSO DISTINCTIONS. D.S,O. Major Henry Kelso Utterson, 2nd Bn. Dorsetshire Regt., for conspicuous gallantry and ability. He led his men with marked coolness and skill when assaulting a strong redoubt. He behaved very gallantly in several engagements, during one of whIch he took command of his battalion, when all the senior officers had been killed or wounded, and led a successful charge resulting in the capture of the enemy’s trenches.

He married Beatrice Hill in 1916

Aged 40

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

26th  April 1918

Henry Savory, D Social 1910. 2nd Lt, 3rd Bn Worcestershire Regt

Died of wounds received in the Second Battle of Kemmel

At school he was a prefect.  After school he went to Jesus College, Cambridge, then trained at Sandhurst.

He died of wounds received in action in the Mount Kemmel battle on the 26th April, the same day that he was wounded. Educated at Remenham, Hindhead, and at Radley, he matriculated at Jesus College, Camb., in 1914, but owing to the outbreak of war, after undergoing a somewhat serious operation, entered Sandhurst in 1915. Unfortunately the physical disability recurred, and debarred from military service he took up the engineering course at Jesus. In May, 1917, he was however classed B I, and joining the Cambridge O.T.C. was given a commission (Durham L.l.) in September, and sent to the 108th T.R.B. at Aldershot, finally going to France in January, 1918, with a battalion of the Suffolks. On the 21st March, at the opening of the German attack, he was with the 5th Entrenching Battalion, and after days marching and countermarching with his platoon, was attached to the 3rd Worcesters, with whom he was in action on the 26th April. The Commanding Officer writes “all regret his loss as he would have made a valuable officer.

He was an only child.

Aged 21

2nd Lt Henry Savory

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

30th December 1917

William ffolkes, D Social 1912. 2nd Lt, King’s Royal Rifle Corps.  Killed in action in an unknown engagement

He was a Prefect and member of the Cricket1st XI.

There is no one who knew him to whom the news of Rupert ffolkes‘ death did not come as a very great grief. Some of us hardly knew he had left Sandhurst, and the appearance of his name in the Casualty Lists seemed almost incredible. It is always difficult in these times to realise that one who has been talking and laughing with us a few weeks, perhaps a few days before, has been killed, but with him it is harder than with almost any one else. It seems but as yesterday that he was batting for the School, or taking his part in Chapel Procession, and we always looked upon him as being so very young.

He had his own ideals, – very simple and very pure they were, – and them he followed with the quiet answering devotion of a Sir Galahad. Religion was a very real thing. It was the highest thing in daily life. Self was a thing that never had a place in his religion, and perhaps that was the reason why one was always sure of sympathy from him in times of trouble. He could always feel and show that he felt for the worries and anxieties of others. And then we come back to the realisation that he is gone.

Aged 19

2nd Lt William ffolkes, KRRC. kia December 1917

2nd Lt William ffolkes, KRRC. kia December 1917

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

Stephen Hiddingh's name on the Arras Memorial.  Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

Stephen Hiddingh’s name on the Arras Memorial. Photographed for Marching in Memory, July 2015

3rd May 1917

Stephen van der Poel Hiddingh, A Social 1911. Lieutenant, 4th Bn, Royal Fusiliers.  Killed in action, Battle of Arras

Stephen Hiddingh was brought up in Cape Town, South Africa.  He spent just one year at Radley before going to school in Neuchatel, Switzerland and then to Sandhurst in 1914.

He was in the fighting at Delville Wood last year, and came home invalided in August. He returned to the front in February, and was recommended for the D.S.O. “for marked gallantry and initiative” in April. His Colonel writes: ‘He led his company with the greatest gallantry; he was first wounded in the arm, but still continued on when I understand he was killed by machine gun fire.’ He was one of the very best officers in the battalion, and had already been recommended for special recognition and the D.S.O.

He was one of the bravest men I have ever met. … His company were devoted to him, and would have followed him anywhere.“

Aged 20

Lt Stephen van der Poel Hiddingh, Royal Fusiliers. kia Battle of Arras, 3 May 1917

Lt Stephen van der Poel Hiddingh, Royal Fusiliers. kia Battle of Arras, 3 May 1917

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

3rd April 1917

John O’Beirne, G Social 1907. Lt, 25th Sqn, Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action on photographic reconnaissance

After school, he trained as a mining engineer. He had just finished his three years’ training at the School of Mining, Camborne, when war broke out. He joined the Special Reserve of Officers in September, 1915, and went to the front but was invalided home after the first battle of Ypres. Later he went to Sandhurst and received a commission in the regiment, joined the R.F.C., and went to the front in May, 1916.

Aged 23

His brother, Arthur, G Social 1901, was killed in July 1917

John O'Beirne, Lt, RFC.  kia April 1917

John O’Beirne, Lt, RFC. kia April 1917

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Vivian Fanning at Munich Trench Cemetery.  Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Vivian Fanning at Munich Trench Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

14th November, 1916. Vivian Fanning. G Social, 1911. Capt., 2nd Bn, Ox & Bucks LI. Killed in action at Beaumont Hamel.

After school, he went to Sandhurst to train for a military career. He received his commission in June 1915 and was promoted to Captain in June 1916. He went to the Front in August 1916. His colonel wrote to his father:

His captain had been killed, and he was commanding his company, which he did right well. I offer you the deepest sympathy of all his brother officers. We feel we have lost one of the best of comrades, and the men do too.

At his death, Vivian was the younger of two brothers. His father later married again and had a third son, Peter, born five years after Vivian’s death. Peter was killed in World War 2. A joint memorial to the brothers is outside Radley College Chapel.

Aged 19

Vivian Fanning.  Captain, 2nd Bn, Ox & Bucks LI.  kia at Beaumont Hamel

Vivian Fanning. Captain, 2nd Bn, Ox & Bucks LI. kia at Beaumont Hamel

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Vere Loxley at Knightsbridge Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Vere Loxley at Knightsbridge Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

13th November 1916. Vere Loxley. A Social, 1895. Major, 1st Bn, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Killed in action at Beaumont Hamel.

Vere Loxley was a career soldier who trained at Sandhurst in 1900, then left Sandhurst one year early to join the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He was promoted to Captain in 1911 and was serving as Major when he was killed in the Royal Naval Division’s attack on Beaumont Hamel. He took part in the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915. He was mentioned in despatches.

Aged 35

His younger brother, Reginald, also a Radleian, also served at Gallipoli. Reginald was serving in the Royal Air Force when he died of pneumonia in 1918.

Vere Loxley. Major, 1st Bn, Royal Marine LI. kia Beaumont Hamel

Vere Loxley. Major, 1st Bn, Royal Marine LI. kia Beaumont Hamel