1917

1917

Timeline World

School

February 1917 15 March 1917 Germans increase U-boat campaign Ernest Howard Davey dies at only 16 Youngest OB loss March 1917 April 1917 Abdication of Tsar Nicholas II Piano playing restricted to daylight hours Music Society dismayed 6 April 1917 June 1917 USA declares war on Germany Brigadier-General F.W. Lumsden Awarded Victoria Cross

July 1917 Battle of Passchendaele

July 1917 Headmaster Cyril Norwood leaves Establishment of Garlick Prize for English Verse

October 1917 Boys collect 1 ton, 2 cwt. of horse chestnuts for Ministery of Munitions

December 1917 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Russia sign armistice with Germany

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To Mothers, Sisters, Sweethearts, Wives Fond mothers! stay the anguish of your weeping For sons belov’d who for their country died; Their gallant souls rest safe in God’s kind keeping, Their deeds heroic stir an Empire’s pride.

For truth and freedom they have fought and striven, With Christ as Lord Whom men have crucified; God gave His Son as you your sons have given,

By His sweet pity shall your tears be dried.

Sisters who cherish, loyal and unforgetting, The merry comradeship od childhood’s days, The laughing boys who spoiled you with their petting Have won in death the victor’s wreath of bays.

Would you prefer them living yet, but craven, Faring immune down easy primrose ways, Or nobly dead, their chivalries engraven In shining words in God’s great scroll of praise?

Sweetheart, who hid with smiles your tears at leaving, Cov’ring your heart-break with a gay disguise, Remember in your darkest hour of grieving ‘Twas you were mirror’d in your lover’s eyes; Your woman’s courage, pure and consecrated, Spurred on your faithful knight to high emprise; Though you on earth may never now be mated, Your soul and his shall mingle in the skies.

Long wife, how sharp the pangs of your enduring, How agonised your sacrifice of pain; Your bitter wound seem past mere earthly curing, Yet storm brings calm, and sunshine follows rain.

If babe be yours, its dawning strength and beauty Shall colour life with hope and joy again; If child you lack, in patient, selfless duty, Your heart shall solace seek, nor seek in vain.

G. Duncan Grey, O.B. School Chronicle December 1914

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Contents School Life 193 Agricultural Work 195 School Events 196 Edward Hyde Openshaw 197 School Societies 198 The Victoria Cross 199

Frederick William Lumsden 201 Officer Training Corps 204 Conkers 206 War News 211 Teachers 213 Scouts 214 Deceased 218

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School Life “Still amidst the din of the war the Chronicle, worn to a shadow of its former sleek self, again appears. Economic conditions, or as certain contemporaries would prefer to state, patriotic considerations necessitate a considerable reduction in the size of our magazine... While talking of this economy it may not be out of place to extend a word of apology to those contributors whose articles have suffered at the hand of the blue pencil, wielded censor-like by the editor in effecting it.”

School Chronicle April 1917 This lack of content in the Chronicles means that only the bare essentials of School life can be gleaned from them.

Life in the School remained very much under the influence of the War. Summer camps were cancelled so that the boys could spend their holidays working on the land. Even the School sports weren’t safe, as the boys were forced to travel to the grounds at Golden Hill to play cricket, as the Tyndall’s Park ground had become too damaged over the Winter months through usage by the Military Authorities. The Rugby team remained small although apparently “far more uniform in size and weight than it has been for some time”.

The fives team faced an altogether different challenge - a shortage of ball manufacturers: “Certain stray enthusiasts have been observed playing with shapeless lumps, of some material or other, which might, once upon a time have passed for fives-balls; others, again, have sacrificed the pleasures of the tuck-shop and have helped to swell the riches of local dealers by purchasing inferior material at a price treble that of the ball formerly bought at School.”

Yet the School continued to flourish, gaining 10 scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge in the previous twelve months, doubling their previous record. The number of boys in the School remained at a high 592, and a record number of 25 pupils were enrolled for the Prep School. In response to this latter increase in size, all in Upper II, with one exception, had to pass into the Senior School one term earlier than usual.

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The end of the War almost seemed in sight as the lighting restrictions were lifted slightly and thoughts seemed to be turning to life after the War. The Headmaster reported that “he looked to a prosperous future for the School in meeting the needs of a great business community under the very changed conditions which would follow the war”.

Slightly controversial questions had also been asked regarding the School’s choice of languages: “Some O.B.’s have been asking whether we have dropped German as a result of the war: others want to know if Classics will exist after the war. The answer to the first is in the negative, as the jargon of politicians has it: that to the second is in the affirmative. The average German sentence is not a thing a beauty: but for a branch of real knowledge German is indispensable. In days to come it is to be hoped that every boy in the School will do at least one year of German, whatever his speciality may be. Who is the kind of person who protests against Classics, particularly Greek, as of “no used in later life”? It is usually the kind of person who, if challenged, could not frame one correct sentence in any modern language, could not solve a quadratic equation inside a week, could not tell you how to France was governed in 1848 or the value of the rouble, could not identify a simple gas or carve a bread-trencher.”

Towards the end of the year the O.B.s Society began to discuss the idea of a war memorial: “As to the question of a war memorial, his [Barton’s] mind was open: but he suggested the provision of a suitable place for meetings which could not be held in the large hall. They required a room in size and equipment which would serve as a library and reading-room in general use, and round it a dado of brass, with the names of those who had served their country inscribed on it. He would not like a memorial entirely ornamental, but one which would be part of the higher life of the School for years to come, and at the same time a reminder to everyone of the part the School had played in this great struggle (hear, hear).”

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Agricultural Work Towards the end of March the Headmaster was asked by the Bristol University Volunteer Officers’ Training Corps to allow boys to help in work on the land. An appeal was made to the boys and 45 volunteered. Work was begun on March 27th and continued on the following Thursday, but snow prevented further efforts during the Easter Term. Fifty boys volunteered for holiday work, and contingents were sent three times a week to various allotments and market gardens in the neighbourhood.

Good useful work was done.

With the Summer Term, the bat proved mightier than the spade, and only 37 boys embraced the instruments of agriculture. These, however, with few exceptions, have worked every Thursday afternoon during the term. Their work has been much appreciated, and each can console himself for many a weary backache with the thought that he has helped to seal the Kaiser’s doom. ‘Tis better to have digged and ached than never to have digged at all.

At the time of writing a scheme is on foot for the Summer holidays. All boys over a certain age may be asked to undertake definite work, and it is earnestly hoped that there will be a liberal response to the appeal. The need is great, and the Bristol Secretary of the Agricultural Department of the National Service League hopes to make use of 200 boys from the School.

Breathes there a man with soul so dead Who has not once this season said,

“I think, my dear, I’ll go to bed, That radish we grew sits as heavy as lead.”

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School Events Prize Giving Prize Giving took place on Friday, October 26th. The prizes were distributed by the Lord Mayor of Bristol (Dr. J. Barclay Baron). This year, the speeches place little emphasis on the War, instead the speakers are far more concerned with the impending changes to education. Mr. Fisher’s Education Bill (passed in 1918) had apparently renewed the controversy regarding classic and modern education. During his speech the Headmaster revealed that “while recognising the validity of many of the modernist arguments, he declared himself a confirmed classicist”. Much to his dismay, the Lord Mayor then replied by saying that “he would remain of the opinion that the study of zoology, biology, physiology, was preferable and of more worth than that of dead languages”. Luckily “the impending wrath of the Classicists was averted by a timely request for a holiday for the School, - a request which the Headmaster, with evident pain and grief, felt himself morally compelled to grant”.

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Edward Hyde Openshaw Edward Hyde Openshaw was the son of Rev. Thomas Openshaw, who taught at Bristol Grammar School for a number of years. Edward Hyde Openshaw attended the Shool from 1878 to 1884. He served with the Somerset Light Infantry as a LieutenantColonel. Unfortunately, he passed away on the 23rd July 1917. He is buried in Basra War Cemetery, Iraq. “has died in hospital in India. Dr. Openshaw had a medical practice at Cheddar, and was an officer in the Somerset Volunteers and subsequently in the Territorials, where he rose to the rank of hon. Lieut-Colonel. He went to India with his regiment in October 1914. Dr Openshaw was well known as a Freemason and an ardent supporter of Rugby football.” - December 1917 “The Lodge deeply regrets to record the death of one of their founders, Lieut.-Col. E.H. Openshaw, who died in India, having led his Battalion in Mesopotamia.” - December 1917

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School Societies Musical Whilst the Scientific Society had simply been able to replace practical meetings with lectures, the restrictions placed on the Musical Society were not so easily dealt with.

“The Society has almost ceased to regard itself as a School society; we cannot do without a piano, and when the School piano cannot be used after dark (Defence of the Realm!) it befalleth us to meet where and how we can.” Yet the members were able to find a silver lining to this situation: “meetings in private houses are well adapted to the welcome of outside and feminine talent, so that on the whole the Society considers itself very much the gainer, all things considered!”

Scientific Society The Scientific Society made no secret of their dissatisfaction regarding the lighting restrictions reporting that “the members of the Scientific Society would be among the first to welcome the relaxation of the stringent lighting restrictions. They would rush in a body to the labs, the first evening possible, there to celebrate the joyous event with all manner of explosions and smells”. Luckily the longer days of the summer term enabled them to do just that, as the practical meetings were temporarily resumed.

“Over thirty members of the upper school have attended – some with great regularity, and much useful work has been done. Some of the experiments carried out have been of a somewhat sensational character, particularly on one occasion, when unsuspicious persons on the School field were startled by several loud explosions, and were observed to gaze skyward, apparently expecting a fleet of hostile air-craft.”

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The Victoria Cross In 1854, Britain found itself fighting in the Crimean War against Russia. During the Crimean War was the first time reports and despatches had been regularly sent. These described many acts of gallantry and valour of the British servicemen. However, at the time there was no official system for recognising this, and the existing awards were greatly restricted. For example, only officers of field rank were eligible for the Order of the Bath. Many other European countries, such as France and The Netherlands, had awards that did not discriminate against class or rank. Therefore, Queen Victoria instructed the War Office to strike a new medal that would also meet this criteria, this became the Victoria Cross. The aim was to create a simple medal, which would be highly sought after and prized by those in military service. In the original medal warrant it states that the Victoria Cross would only be given to soldiers who had performed a significant act of valour or devotion, while serving in the presence of the enemy.

Since its introduction, the VC has been awarded 1,357 times to 1,354 individual recipients, all of whom are male. Only 14 medals, ten to members of the British Army, and four to the Australian Army, have been awarded since the Second World War. This low number is due to the increase of remote fighting, which has reduced the number of opportunities to carry out acts of bravery ‘in the face of the enemy’. A single company of jewellers, Hancocks of London, has been responsible for the production of every VC awarded since its inception.

Throughout the course of the First World War 628 VCs were awarded, the greatest number won in a single conflict. Of these, a quarter were awarded posthumously.

Recommendations are usually issued by an officer at regimental level, and should be supported by at least three witness, although this has sometimes been waived in exceptional circumstances. The recommendation is then communicated through the military hierarchy, up to the Secretary of State for Defence, who then presents it to the monach. A recommendation requires the signature of the monach, before it can be awarded.

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Victoria Cross awards, as with all other military medals, are announced in the London Gazette. The only exception to this is the award which was given to the American Unknown Soldier in 1921.

The medal itself is usually present to the recipient, or their next of kin, during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace.

The medal is a bronze cross pattée, showing the crown of Saint Edward.

Around this is a lion, and the inscription ‘FOR VALOUR’. Originally this was set to be ‘FOR THE BRAVE’, but was changed by the opinion of Queen Victoria who thought it implied that “not all men in battle were brave”. The date of the act, which earned the cross, is engraved onto a circular panel on the reverse of the cross.

The cross is hung from a bar of laurel leaves by a seriffed “V”. The recipient’s name, rank, number, and unit is engraved onto the back of the bar. This is then hung from the distinctive crimson ribbon.

The Victoria Cross

http://www.bootneck.co.uk/images/Victoria-Cross.jpg

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Brigadier-General Frederick William Lumsden Over the course of the War, two O.B.s were awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest military decoration awarded for valour “in the face of the enemy”. The first of these was Brigadier-General Frederick William Lumsden.

The report on Lumsden reproduced below, originally appeared in the December 1917 School Chronicle, following the announcement of his Victoria Cross.

“Brigadier-General F.W. Lumsden, V.C., D.S.O., has had a distinguished career in the present war, having risen to his present rank from that of major in the course of three years. He was a boarder in Mr Browne’s house with his two brothers, and left in 1888 to pass into Sandhurst. A considerable part of his military life has been spent in the Malay Straits. In the earlier portion of the present war he held a battery command, was then brigade major of a Canadian corps, and finally occupied several important Staff positions, followed by the command of a battalion, and (since last April) of a brigade. He has had the remarkable distinction of being gazetted, in the course of the last twelve months, first for being awarded the D.S.O., then for two successive bars to the same, and finally the Victoria Cross.

The particulars of his D.S.O. decoration are not forthcoming, but the following are the official descriptions of the exploits that earned for him the two bars and the coveted Cross: (1) May 12th, bar to the D.S.O. ‘He made a reconnaissance of the enemy’s position, moving over open ground under very heavy fire and bringing back most valuable information. He rendered invaluable services throughout the operation.’

(2) May 12th, second bar to the D.S.O. ‘When in charge of a strong reconnaissance party he carried out the task allotted to him with conspicuous success, and skillfully withdrew his party at a critical time. His conduct, rapid decision, and good judgement save many casualties.’

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Brigadier-General F.W. Lumsden, V.C. School Chronicle July 1918

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(3) June 9th, V.C. ‘For most conspicuous bravery, determination, and devotion to duty.

Six enemy field guns having been captured, it was necessary to leave them in dug-in positions, 300 yards in advance of the position held by our troops. The enemy kept the captured guns under heavy fire. Major Lumsden undertook the duty of bringing the captured guns to our own lines. In order to effect this he personally led four artillery teams and a party of infantry through the hostile barrage. As one of the teams sustained casualties, he left the remaining teams in a covered position, and through very heavy rifle, machine-gun and shrapnel fire led the infantry to the guns.

By force of example and inspiring energy he succeeded in sending back two teams with guns, going through the barrage with the teams of the third gun. He then returned to the guns to await further teams, and these he succeeded in attaching to two of the three remaining guns despite rifle-fire, which had become intense at short range, and removed the guns to safety. By this time the enemy, in considerable strength, had driven through the Infantry covering major points and blown up the breech of the remaining gun. Major Lumsden then returned, drove off the enemy, attached the gun to a team, and got it away.’ ”

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Officer Training Corps Up until this time, Norwood had been Captain of the OTC, however he ceased to serve with the contingent from January 17th, 1917. He was replaced by H.A.M. Parker who was promoted to temporary Captain. Throughout the year the numbers remained around 200, and by an “Order from the War Officer all Cadets over 18 years of age are required to spend at least 10 hours a week on military subjects only”. Thus the members of the OTC devoted much time to Squad, Section, Platoon, and Company Drill, Musketry Instruction, Physical Exercises, Map Reading and Tactical Schemes.

The main focus of the OTC training was musketry with “each Cadet being instructed in the very important aiming and trigger-pressing drill before being sent on to the range”. They were also given lectures “in the indication and recognition of targets”.

“Affairs in the military world to-day are in such a state of flux that a reliable anticipation of future events is a sheer impossibility; moreover, almost daily Commanding Officers are overwhelmed with fresh orders and instructions with the result that, though the Authorities evidently believe that in the multitude of memoranda there is wisdom, a staff of clerks is a necessity, even to the C.O. of an Officers’ Training Corps, to deal with all the correspondence which is showered upon him. Notwithstanding the unusual difficulties, the work of the Corps goes on uninterruptedly and satisfactory progress can be recorded in every branch of the training.

Many of the fresh N.C.O.’s – and there are many of them owing to the fact that the Senior Cadets are leaving almost week by week to join some Officer Cadet unit or other – are entering upon their duties with enthusiasm and every prospect of success, and the discipline and morale of the Corps have in no way been impaired.

It is most gratifying to be assured by old members of the Corps who have returned either from the front or from special courses of training that the standard attained by the Bristol grammar School O.T.C. is far higher than that reached by the average Public School.

November 8th was a notable day, being the occasion of H.M. The King’s visit to Bristol, when the Corps was on duty at the Investiture. We paraded first at 10.00 a.m.

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for a rehearsal of the proceedings, and at 1.15 the band played us to the Downs via Whiteladies Road. We were allotted an excellent position on the left of Clifton O.T.C. opposite the Royal Pavilion. The wind was keen, and those who were not in No. 1 Platoon had the advantage of the shelter it afforded to compensate for a somewhat interrupted view.�

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Conkers School Chronicle December 1917: In response to the request from the Minister of Munitions that the boys of the School should collect horse chestnuts, more often known as “conkers”, this School has sent the splendid total of 1 ton, 2 cwt., of which 5 cwt. was collected by one boy – Fursier.

This small and simple report from the Chronicle incurred a number of questions: why were conkers so important? How much had the School collected in imperial weight units? And finally, who was Fursier?

The answer to the first question was discovered in an article entitled ‘Did conkers help to win the First World War?’, written by Saul David for the BBC History Magazine in November 2011. The reason why conkers were so important can be summed up in one word – acetone. Acetone is a vital component of cordite, the smokeless propellant for shells and bullets. Prior to the First World War, acetone for munitions was derived from the dry distillation of wood, the vast majority of which was imported from the US. The start of War saw the need for a domestic supply, a need which became more urgent in the Spring of 1915, when the British Army suffered from a shortage of shells. As a result of this crisis, the Ministry of Munitions was created, led by future Prime Minister, David Lloyd George. It was Lloyd George who consulted the chemist, Chaim Weizmann of Manchester University, who developed a process of making large quantities of acetone from a variety of starchy foodstuffs such as grain, maize, and rice. By 1917, these foodstuffs were in high demand in order to feed the population, and so Weizmann was forced to find a substitute starch source, his solution was conkers.

In the Autumn of 1917, school children and boy scouts were encouraged to collect conkers for the War effort. The reasoning behind this was initially kept from the public, for fear that the German’s would find out about the new extraction method. However, what they were told was that they would receive 7s 6d for every hundred weight they handed in, around £22 today, and apparently this information was sufficient to spur on

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the collection. The nationwide effort was so successful that there were more conkers collected than trains to transport them, resulting in piles of them left to rot at railway stations. All in all, a total of 3,000 tons (around 3 million kg or 1/2 million stone) of conkers were transported to the Synthetic Products Company at King’s Lynn.

Unfortunately, the production of acetone from conkers was not as successful as originally hoped, partly due to teething problems which delayed manufacture until April 1918, and partly due to the discovery that the horse chestnuts did not produce the yield required. As a result, production was ended after just three months. Interestingly, Weizmann went on to become the first president of Israel after its establishment in 1948.

Looking back at the School’s figures, as a whole we collected 1 ton, 2 cwt., this roughly converts to 1120 kg (175 stone) collected in total which is around 139,750 conkers (the average weight of a single conker being around 8 grams). Fursier apparently collected 5 cwt. of this by himself, this converts to 254 kg (40 stone), amounting to around 31,750 conkers. This is quite the heroic effort; unfortunately consultation of the School registers reveal that he later defected to Clifton College.

Source: http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/D3/1D25333AC2F061839296DC5BEBF6BD.jpg

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Printed in The Times, 18th August 1917

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1

Printed in The Times, 25th August 1917

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War News A Letter from Oxford Sir, On the rare occasions on which we indulge in lucid thought, we inevitably discover what a little there is we have to think about. While you are in the full swing of affairs, the war has left us becalmed in a backwater. True, khaki is much in evidence and the streets are thronged with cadets. But out worlds are apart: between them and us is a great gulf fixed, and we are left, a remnant for a great tradition.

Think in this batter’d Univeristy, Whose empty Portals once were bright and gay How O.B. after O.B. with his Pomp Abode he destined Hour and went his way.

Here now Cadet and Aviator keep The Rooms where O.B.s gloried and drank deep: And Oxford, ancient, fair – a Martial Host Tramp o’er her floors, but cannot break her sleep.

Yours truly, OXON.

These verses are an attractive and topical parody of verses from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, well known at that date in the translation by Edward FitzGerald.

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A Letter from Cambridge Dear Sir, There may still be spots in rural England where pre-war conditions are not greatly changed; where the buxom milkmaid merely extends her sphere of activities; where the village inn attracts the local worthies – there to discuss crops and fields and beasts. Such peaceful retreats may yet exist, but we, of the Town among the Fens, know them not.

Cambridge is now a centre of military activity. Khaki figures throng the streets and the colleges are transformed into training schools for the various Cadet Battalions. The steady tramp of companies of the white-banded heroes is often heard, and occasionally the martial music of a fife and drum band. More often tuneful whistling has to suffice, and one frequently hears the air of a popular ditty which surmises as to the state of one’s feelings on being left on a deserted globe with one companion of the opposite sex. This is a great favourite, only rivalled by another lay of a very doleful nature. These melodies are also rendered in piercing blasts by wakeful errand boys at nine in the morning or thereabouts. Thus tired undergraduates are rudely awakened from their well-earned slumbers!

Yours obediently, CANTAB.

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Teachers Owing to the paper shortage, and also perhaps to lack of information, the Chronicles throughout 1917 offer little news regarding the teachers who were in active service.

The few sentences reproduced below are all we can gather across three editions of the Chronicle.

“Mr Burkitt and Mr Turner are both flourishing at Salonika, but have not yet met there.”

“Mr. Chicoteau enjoyed eleven days leave at the end of February, and his uniform was once more the admiration of the School.” In the July edition we are told that he is at one of the English head-quarters as interpreter.

In the April Chronicle, Mr. Caudwell is said to be ill with trench fever, but apparently “no two accounts of the details agree”.

Mr Oakford is still at Lucknow, and apparently “finds it impossible to escape from his occupation of clerking”.

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Scouts School Chronicle April 1917 “At the end of last term all the troop was engaged in delivering and collecting envelopes appealing for funds for the destitute Belgians in Belgium and there was a magnificent result; the amount of the subscriptions collected being the highest but one and reaching £23 [around £1,400]. The Secretary of the Bristol Committee was so pleased the she entrusted some more work to us.”

School Chronicle July 1917 “At the beginning of the term we helped in the organisation of a most interesting event. Decorations were being distributed to some of our hero-soldiers, and the display of troops, the crowd, and the fine weather made the scene most impressive.

As we are reporting an event referring to the war, we may just mention that the Troop possesses now two 100 days and fifteen 28 days war service badges, which is most praiseworthy if the little time which is at the boys’ disposal is considered; no excuse for that purpose from games or work being accepted.

The 100 Days War Service Badge

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Regular work has been in progress on the allotment at Horfield, but it has not been possible to spend much time there. However, every half-holiday some scouts are there, tendering their kind services to a promising crop. We all hope our expectations will not be deceived, and are looking forward to Scout’s potatoes, cabbages, etc.

During the month of August the Troop will camp at Christian Malford, near Chippenham, where the scouts have been asked to help in the harvesting. The country around there is beautiful, and many opportunities will be given the boys to show how useful they can be in this time of serious crisis.”

School Chronicle December 1917 “On Thursday, November 8th, the Troop paraded at 9.30 a.m. to take part in the lining of the route on the occasion of the Royal visit. This provided an excellent opportunity for the Scouts to see the King and Queen, and at the same time to make themselves very useful. 66 Scouts were on parade, and all very thoroughly enjoyed the morning.

The allotment proved on the whole very successful, and several cwts. of potatoes and turnips, and considerable quantities of other vegetables have been produced.

Financially it paid its way, and the Scouts who devoted so much time and energy to the work are to be heartily congratulated.”

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Scouts Camp 1917 At the end of the first week of the

pulling f lax under a burning sun, but

holidays a party of our Scouts went

we can assure them that pulling up

with M. Guerra and Mr. Beames into

beans tangled with dripping weeds

camp at Christian Malford on the

on heavy clay that soon makes your

upper waters of the Avon. The object of

feet double their natural size is even

the Camp was to assist Mr. Bodman,

more thrilling. The fun was made even

of Christian Malford, in getting in his

more fast and furious by having to

hay and corn, but the weather was

dodge the heavy showers; it is quite

not propitious. No sooner had the

easy to run for shelter with a load of

pioneers pitched the camp of six tents

clay on each foot, especially when you

in a field by the farm than it rained on

are a small boy out of the Prep!

end for 48 hours. Fortunately, the field stood well above the river and dried

In spite of the rain we had quite a

quickly, so that even after the heaviest

good time. We played cricket and

rain the ground was dry again in quite

rounders and made extensive tunnels

a short time. The trenches dug round

in the straw rick. The river overf lowed

the tents kept the inside dry, and

its banks and made a series of bathing

instead of the rule “Wipe your feet on

pools to suit all ages and sizes. As the

the mat, dear, when you come in,” the

shades of evening fell we had sing-

order was “Take off your shoes and

songs in the barn, when we discovered

wipe feet on the towel”. Every day it

quite a lot of musical talent. Mr. and

rained more or less and every night

Mrs. Bodman were most kind and

more or less as well. Hay-making

sent us all sorts of good things. There

was quite out of the question and the

was one delightful apple tree whose

only work the weather allowed us to

fruit went no further than the Scouts’

do was pulling up horse-beans. We

Camp. As a change from the beans

know how the f lax pickers enjoyed

we spent on dry or comparatively

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dry evening in putting up corn into

went home by train. No sooner had we

stacks. We had a fine afternoon for our

all got to our respective destinations

athletic sports. The camp was made

than it rained again harder than ever,

gay with boughs and berries and we

if such a thing were possible.

had a number of visitors including a large party of wounded men from the hospital at Chippenham. They joined in the sports and we had plenty of fun, especially in the blind-fold race.

After tea we had a concert in the barn during the usual showers of rain, which kindly cleared off to let the visitors go home. Among the other delights of the camp were expeditions in search of nuts and fishing. There is a photo which we have heard is going round the School showing one of our valiant fishermen with his rod in one hand and a long string of fish in the other.

Bicycle rides were not infrequent, one of the most interesting being to the Camp on the Downs where several aeroplanes were seen performing and a gang of German prisoners mending the roads. All good things come to an end, and the camp broke up at last, some riding off East and some West, while the rest packed up the tents and

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Deceased Richard Poyntz Cockle

7th March 1897 to 24th January 1917.

“Left the School in 1914, died on Jan. 24th, in Connaught Hospital, Aldershot. He had never been a strong boy, though he was always willing to do his very best, and he should hardly have been passed for service. His anxiety to do his duty in the R.F.A. must have hastened his death.�

Cockle is buried in Canford Cemetry, one of only 9 O.B.s to be buried in Britain.

Canford Cemetery, Bristol

Photographed by Nicola Pearce, 2013

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Ernest Howard Davy

15th July 1900 to 15th March 1917.

“Left the School in 1915, and became a Cadet in the Merchant Service. On his first voyage, in the S.S. Rangatira, the vessel ran ashore on Robben Island in Table Bay (where there is a settlement of lepers and lunatics), and became a total wreck. He was then appointed to the S.S. Kia Ora, and while returning from New Zealand via the Panama Canal he was shot in the head during an attack by a submarine on March 15th. He was in his seventeenth year.�

Although stated as being in his seventeenth year, Davy was in fact only 16 when he died, making him the youngest OB that was lost. Because the Merchant Service was not a military establishment, there is no memorial to those lost, thus Davy is not remembered anywhere. Robben Island later housed a prison in which Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years.

S S Rangatira, 1909

http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz

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Frederick Percy Mayer

15th March 1877 to 30th April 1917.

“Had served in the Boer War, and had travelled widely in Africa. He was manager of one of Lever Bros. palm oil estates on the Gold Coast, and joined the Gold Coast Regiment. He died at Coomassie on May 1st of malaria fever. By his fine character and industry he had earned the respect and admiration of all those with whom he came in contact.”

Harry Wadlow

26th February 1895 to 1th May 1917.

“Had been a prominent figure in the School when he left in 1914. He had reached the Sixth Form, and had gained his colours in cricket, football, and hockey. He first joined the A.S.C. as 2ns Lieut., and was invalided home from the Dardanelles in 1915. He served in France in 1916, and was promoted Captain. After joining the R.F.C. he was accidentally killed while flying near Dartford, Kent, on May 1st.”

Wadlow is buried in Frenchay Churchyard.

Frenchay, St. John The Baptist, Church Photographed by Elizabeth Pearce, 2014

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John Arthur Helton Daniell

16th November 1874 to 1st July 1917.

“Left the School in 1891, and became a solicitor, with first-class honours in the examination, in 1901. For some time he directed the free Legal Dispensary at the Broad Plain Settlement. He was formerly in the Artillery branch of the Volunteers, and after being rejected for service in the present war, finally entered the R.G.A. as Instructor. He insisted on going to France to share the common danger, though over military age, and was killed on July 1st.”

Daniell was 41 when he died.

Harold Donisthorne Tapp

29th May 1896 to 25th July 1917.

“Received a commission in the R.E. and was attached to the R.F.C. On July 25th he died from wounds received when brought down behind the German lines. He was seen in combat with an enemy formation, and was doing well, until another formation strengthened the enemy forces. The information of his death was dropped over our line by a German airman, and confirmed by the Red Cross International Committee of Geneva.”

Kenneth Gregor McMillan

23th November 1897 to 16th August 1917.

“Was killed by an almost direct hit from a shell while defending a difficult position. He had only just reached the front for the first time with a commission in the R.F.A. His elder brother Norman is a prisoner in Germany, and the parents wish this sad news to be kept from him.”

[Norman survived the war.]

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Photographed by Nicola Pearce, 2013

Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial

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Frank Leslie Hall

30th May 1897 to 27th April 1917.

“F.L. Hall will be well remembered by many in the School as well as by Old Bristolians.

He gained his commission from the University O.T.C. in October, 1914, when only 17 years and five months old. Whilst training in England he served for several months on the Brigade Staff as A.D.C. to the Brigadier, and in December, 1915, passed through the Staff College course at Camberley, obtaining the highest result. He went to France with his battalion in March, 1916, and was severely wounded on July 1st of that year.

Rejoining the forces at the front, he was wounded a second time in taking a village on the Somme on March 31st last. He returned to France at the end of July, serving with his original battalion of the Gloucesters, and was killed leading his men into action on the 27th August last. Keenly interested in his military work he was rapidly promoted, and was 19 years of age when he was gazetted temporary captain. With his fellow officers and with the men whom he commanded, he was singularly popular, his charm of manner and attractive personality making him a general favourite. There was proof of this when on leaving the Scottish Rifles the N.C.O.’s and men made him a present as a ‘small token of respect’.”

Wesley Cope Holdsworth

2th September 1897 to 6th October 1917.

“Has been reported missing, and is feared to be drowned. He was a brother of B.G. and J.A. Holdsworth, and was acting as Surgeon-Probationer on a Mine-sweeper which was sunk.”

Both W.C. Holdsworth and J.A. Holdsworth died during the war, making them one of 7 pairs of brothers to die.

Photographed by Anne Bradley, 2013

Portsmouth Naval Memorial

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Cockle, Richard Poyntz. Attended the School between 1911 and 1914. Served in the Army. Died 24 January 1917, aged 19. Buried in Canford Cemetery, Britain.

Deacon, Alfred Stanley. Attended the School between 1904 and 1911. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 28 February 1917, aged 24. Buried in Assevillers New British Cemetery, France.

Robertson, Eustace James. Attended the School between 1906 and 1909. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 2 March 1917, aged 26. Buried in Amara War Cemetery, Iraq.

Davy, Ernest Howard. Attended the School from 1908. Served in the Navy as a Cadet.

Died 15 March 1917, aged 16.

Neems, Reginald Norman. Attended the School between 1904 and 1913. Served in the Army. Died 20 March 1917, aged 23. Buried in Eclusier Communal Cemetery, France.

Lambert, Harry Redcliffe. Attended the School between 1905 and 1909. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 21 March 1917, aged 23. Buried in Assevillers New British Cemetery, France.

Jones, John Ellington. Attended the School between 1903 and 1904. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 9 April 1917, aged 29. Buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, France.

McGuire, Reginald Arthur. Attended the School between 1898 and 1906. Served in the Army as a NCO. Died 12 April 1917, aged 28. Buried in Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece.

King, Leonard. Attended the School between 1901 and 1904. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 18 April 1917, aged 27. Buried in Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France.

Parkinson, Leslie Gerard. Attended the School between 1899 and 1902. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 24 April 1917, aged 28. Buried in Ste. Emilie Valley Cemetery, France.

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Vowles, Stephen Foster. Attended the School between 1907 and 1914. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 28 April 1917, aged 19. Remembered on the Arras Memorial, France.

Mayer, Frederick Percy. Attended the School between 1889 and 1894. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 30 April 1917, aged 40. Buried in Kumasi European Cemetery, Africa.

Wadlow, Harry. Attended the School between 1905 and 1914. Served in the RAF as an Officer. Died 1 May 1917, aged 22. Buried in Frenchay (St. John The Baptist) Churchyard, Britain.

Leonard, Morton. Attended the School between 1891 and 1894. Served in the Army.

Died 5 May 1917, aged 37. Remembered on the Arras Memorial, France.

Purnell, Stanley George Hardy. Attended the School between 1906 and 1909. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 5 June 1917, aged 26. Remembered on the Arras Memorial, France.

Daniell, John Arthur Helton. Attended the School between 1885 and 1891. Served in the Army as a NCO. Died 1 July 1917, aged 41. Buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Openshaw, Edward Hyde. Attended the School between 1878 and 1884. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 23 July 1917, aged 49. Buried in Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.

Tapp, Harold Donisthorne. Attended the School between 1908 and 1913. Served in the RAF as an Officer. Died 25 July 1917, aged 21. Buried in Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium.

Gover, Charles Leonard. Attended the School between 1900 and 1903. Served in the Army. Died 28 July 1917, aged 29. Buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Edgar, Bernard Roy. Attended the School between 1907 and 1913. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 31 July 1917, aged 20. Buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium.

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Wall, George Stanley. Attended the School between 1907 and 1910. Served in the Army. Died 11 August 1917, aged 25. Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Coole, Herbert Edward. Attended the School between 1899 and 1902. Served in the Army. Died 12 August 1917, aged 31. Remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Evans, Henry Robert Noel. Attended the School between 1911 and 1914. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 16 August 1917, aged 20. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Kinsey, Albert Thornley. Attended the School between 1910 and 1916. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 16 August 1917, aged 19. Buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Belgium.

McMillan, Kenneth Gregor. Attended the School between 1912 and 1913. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 16 August 1917, aged 19. Buried in Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium.

Richardson, John Lowick. Attended the School between 1906 and 1912. Served in the RAF as an Officer. Died 21 August 1917, aged 23. Buried in Arras Road Cemetery, France.

Bickle, Allan Edward. Attended the School between 1899 and 1904. Served in the Army. Died 27 August 1917, aged 28. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Hall, Frank Leslie. Attended the School between 1911 and 1914. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 27 August 1917, aged 20. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Davis, Francis Madresfield. Attended the School between January to July, 1891 Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 20 September 1917, aged 37. Remebered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Croall, John James. Attended the School between 1905 and 1912. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 4 October 1917, aged 24. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

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Holdsworth, Wesley Cope. Attended the School between 1905 and 1907. Served in the Navy as an Officer. Died 6 October 1917, aged 20. Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Britain.

Mager, Frederick Samuel. Attended the School between 1905 and 1914. Served in the Army as a NCO. Died 9 October 1917, aged 21. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Edmonds, Clifford Leslie. Attended the School between 1908 and 1912. Served in the Army as a NCO. Died 10 October 1917, aged 21. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Black, Norman. Attended the School between 1905 and 1909. Served in the RAF as an Officer. Died 12 October 1917, aged 19. Buried in Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery, Belgium.

Jupe, Charles Eric. Attended the School between 1902 and 1905. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 26 October 1917, aged 27. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Bell, Harold Stormont. Attended the School between 1901 and 1905. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 2 December 1917, aged 28. Remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, France.

Grant, Stuart. Attended the School between 1901 and 1904. Served in the Army as an Officer. Died 3 December 1917, aged 29. Remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, France.

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Photographed by Nicola Pearce, 2013

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Photographed by Nicola Pearce, 2013