April 1940

THE PETERITE Vol. XXXII

APRIL, 1940

No. 294

EDITORIAL. The past Easter Term has been at once rich in, and devoid of, incident. The familiar events, or many of them, were missing. However, other happenings which, if not so usual, are equally memorable, have compensated a little for their loss.

Past chroniclers of the Easter Term have been wont to bemoan the weather, sometimes justifiably, sometimes with no more right than that claimed by every Englishman to abuse his native climate. We have read tales of allenveloping snow, of driving sleet, of drenching rain, of biting frost. Full many an editor in the recent past has lifted his voice to the heavens in protest against the unheard-of weather with which Dame Nature has seen fit to present us ; but we must go back more than forty years—to the winter of 1895, with Queen Victoria upon the throne, the streets still gas-lit, wireless unheard of, undreamed of— before we can find the history of such a winter as the one just experienced. The Great Frost came just before School began. The weather was dry, but the cold was such that to venture into the open with the ears uncovered was to place them in immediate and pressing danger of being nipped off. Pipes froze underground. The earth was like iron.

The River Ouse was frozen across, so that the braver—or perhaps the more foolhardy—dared to skate upon its surface. Boaters could stand above the spots where they were wont to catch crabs. All sport was, of course, impossible. Even the boaters, who have, in the past, been compared to ducks, could do nothing when their native and erstwhile liquid element had been converted into an unyielding solid. The Hockeyites might as well have played on concrete as on the fields.

Then Nature relented a little—or rather changed her mood. The frost lessened, but the snow came, covering everything, and rendering games even more impossible than before. The river, though no longer safe for pedestrian or skate traffic, was still icebound, holding up boating.

So, until the thaw, organised games of the usual type were impossible. However, there was no lack of exercise.

Far from it! Such a winter is rare in York, where milder

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CONTENTS. Editorial Old Peterite News Valete and Salvete School Officers The Chapel and Music The Library ...

House Notes ...

The Debating Society The Scientific Society Famous Old Peterites—IV The School in War, 1914-18 " The Beverleys," by Leslie Burgess ...

Black Diamonds The Countryside During the Cold Spell ...

Goldmining English and German Education, as seen by an Austrian In Appreciation—Of those who go down to the Sea in Ships ...

Thoughts on Parade The War in the Air ...

S.S. Holmpark Pre-War Tientsin ...

Notes and Items O.T.C. News and Shooting Senior School Scouts Hockey, 1940 ...

Rowing Squash Cricket Fixtures, 1940 The Junior School Correspondence Contemporaries Examination for Scholarships and Exhibitions, 1940 ...

Editorial Notices

Page 1 3 8 10 10 10 12 14 17 19 20 24 25 28 29 31 33 <DO 37 42 49 50 51 52 3°0 60 60 63 63 67 69 70 71

A GALLANT PETERITE THE LATE FLYING OFFICER J. R. HOLLINGTON.

It was with deep regret that we announced the death of John Hollington in the last " Peterite." It occurred during a raid over Germany, in which he was taking part, last December.

The School was sad to hear of his death, but proud to know he had given his life for his country. When we learned, last term, that Hollington had been mentioned in despatches

Photo]

J. R. HOLLINGTON.

(Speed

for gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations, we were more than proud. His bravery will set a shining example to many of us.

J. R. Hollington, during his short period at the School, in Temple House, from 1933 to 1935, made many friends.

He played for the 2nd XV in 1934, and for the 1st XV in 1935, when he gained his School Rugby Football colours.

During 1935 Hollington became a House Monitor.

Soon after he left, Hollington joined the R.A.F., where he remained until his sad but glorious death.

weather usually prevails during the winter months, and so members of the School determined to enjoy it to the full.

Those of us who skate brought out our rusty skates, polished them, and set off for the nearest stretch of water, there to spend many a long and enjoyable hour in a sport which, as remarked one of Mr. Pickwick's lady friends at Dingley Dell, is only to be described as " swanlike." Be this as it may, skating is a very healthy and enjoyable pastime, all the more enjoyable for the comparatively short time that we may enjoy it, and offered an almost completely adequate substitute for hockey. Many people even took their hockey sticks with them, and played a rather primitive but extraordinarily energetic type of ice-hockey.

An alternative for the more gentle sport was snowballing, in which boys indulged largely. Large-scale snowfights were organised, and the combatants, changed into games clothes, were kept too busy to notice that it was cold.

Altogether, the cold weather offered an enjoyable change from usual Easter Term games, but the novelty wore off after a time; skating and snow-balling began to fall, and we were all glad, at the thaw which came at halfterm, to get back to hockey and boating, which were soon in full swing.

Sundry very slight epidemics made themselves a nuisance in the latter part of the term. There was no case of serious illness, but colds and influenza kept a good many of us off for one or two days, and so, to give everyone a good convalescence, the term was slightly curtailed, ending on March 21st, instead of April 2nd. This has necessitated the abandonment of the Mile, Standards, and the Athletic Sports for this year. Owing to the weather, the Cross Country also was cancelled. A corresponding length of time has been added to the beginning of the Summer Term, so that the work of the School should gain from the readjustment.

At the beginning of the term it was our pleasure to welcome Mr. A. F. Halliday, from Keble College, Oxford, who spent his term of training with us.

On January 27th the School had its first, and, so far, unique experience of an air raid warning. At 9-30 a.m., during the first period, the work of the School was rudely interrupted by the discordant wailing of the sirens (no longer, alas, is their song a mystery), a sound described by the authorities as a " warbling note." Work was immediately abandoned, and all members of the School retired in perfect order to their appointed places of refuge. Some unfortunate members of Temple House had ploughed their 2

way through the drifted snow to the trenches before they were recalled, somewhat damp, to be lodged in less arctic quarters. The School had had sufficient practice to be able to retire to the air raid shelters quickly and quietly. There was, of course, as we realised at the time, no danger of any aircraft penetrating to us, for the warnings meant only that enemy aircraft had been sighted off the East Coast, some fifty miles or more distant, but the " air raid " offered an interesting test of the efficiency of the " A.R.P." organisation of the School. Everyone was in the shelters in a few minutes, and was soon comfortably settled.

Until 10-30 a.m., when the " all-clear " signal sounded, members of the School amused themselves by playing cards, reading, playing gramophone records (some of the " swing " discs being more than somewhat reminiscent of the air raid sirens), and other occupations.

At 10-30 the School emerged from its underground retreat, and, after a very short interval, School began again as usual. It was later learned that the raiders had been no nearer than Newcastle, and had never actually crossed the coast, anyhow! However, the " raid " offered a very realistic practice.

During the last war also, we read in the editorial of 1915, the School was once subjected to the indignity of taking refuge in the School cellars. The editor of the time was filled with righteous indignation at the audacity of the German Zeppelins.

This " raid " was one of the many events which go to make the Easter Term, 1940, a very memorable one. We are not likely to have this experience often, if ever, again, for we are lucky in being situated in an area where the danger of air raids is almost negligible, and so do not have, like other less fortunate schools, to suffer the horrors of war in the form of evacuation.

This term most members of the School have indulged in a little voluntary gardening, for, in accordance with the Government plea, we have turned a few of our " waste " plots into vegetable gardens. The work is proceeding well, and is affording considerable healthy enjoyment to all concerned. It will be continued during next term.

OLD PETERITE NEWS. Mr. Basil Radford, O.P. (School House), the well-known film actor, has been working on a film entitled " Gestapo," which deals with the nefarious activities of the Nazis. Mr. Radford has also been sharing the lead in a radio serial play entitled " Crooks' Tour."

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J. S. McKay (Temple) has obtained a commission from the ranks through an O.C.T.U. J. A. Dent (Rise) and R. Ogley (School House) have had an interview and hope to gain commissions.

A. L. Hicks, who left the School in 1929 to go to the R.M.A., and subsequently joined the Royal Engineers, is now a Captain and serving as Adjutant.

C. E. H. Medhurst, recently Air-Attaché to the Embassy at Rome, has been appointed Air Commodore and Air Adviser to the War Council.

T. Bridges (Rise) is now with the Army Dental Corps.

G. E. L. Graham (School House) scored three out of the four goals scored by Oxford against Cambridge in this year's Hockey match at Cambridge, which resulted in a draw, 4-4.

Captain C. L. Troop, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, has been appointed temporarily to the rank of Squadron Leader with effect from March 1st.

K. Lockwood (Temple) is now with the East Yorkshire Regiment.

B. J. Eastwood (School House) is with the R.A.S.C. H. G. Crawshaw, who holds a commission in the R.A.S.C., has been appointed to the Accountancy Branch of the Oil Control.

G. W. Scatchard (Rise) is a Corporal in the R.A.S.C. Mr. C. Paley Scott, K.C. (School House), has been appointed Chairman of the North Eastern Region Advisory Committee for Aliens.

R. H. Stoughton (Rise) is Professor of Horticulture at the University of Reading.

Mr. Frank Pick, Vice-Chairman of the London Transport Board, has resigned his post owing to ill-health. Mr. Pick recently organised the evacuation of London school children.

W. H. Huffam, O.P., son of L. W. Huffam, O.P., has joined the R.A.A.F. in Australia.

Major J. P. Huffam, V.C., son-in-law of L. W. Huffam, is with the B.E.F. Colonel W. T. C. Huffam, M.C., O.B.E., who was at St. Olave's School, is with the B.E.F. O.P. news from Cambridge :J. T. Brockbank (St. John's) still plays Squash whenever he can, and is to be congratulated on his College colours.

He was afflicted with deafness for a week after having German measles and now complains that everybody shouts at him.

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J. M. Rucklidge (Emmanuel) has moved into College and is no longer inaccessible. He plays Squash regularly and has also been awarded his colours.

C. Houghton (Selwyn) has not been seen out this term, but one hears that he is actively opposing all other political movements in his capacity as Secretary of the Conservative Club. He hopes to be able to produce the Cambridge Old Peterite tie next term.

LETTER FROM LEEDS UNIVERSITY 0.P.s.

This term, on the whole, has been most uneventful.

The war curtailed social and athletic activities to a great extent, and the abnormal weather conditions made the usual outdoor sports, until the very end of tern, practically impossible. Exercise, consequently, took the form of skating, tobogganing, and, in the gym, fencing proved to be a popular diversion.

This term has seen the Annual General Meeting of the Union, which sat for six hours debating such things as the lack of " blacking-out in the Union," " A demand that the Senate should have less control of the affairs of the Union," and lastly a demand for the installation of a bar in the Union, which if installed, as it is almost certain to be, will disturb the present tranquil atmosphere to the detriment of the Union. The only bright spark of the whole meeting was when a firework mysteriously exploded in the gallery.

The University, like most other educational institutions, has suffered attacks from German Measles, some of its members still being casualties.

There have been few other important activities. The University was paid an informal visit by the Chancellor, His Grace the Duke of Devonshire.

The impracticability of outdoor sports gave rise to a series of Table Tennis, Snooker and Billiards Championships, in the latter of which C. J. Lynch was very successful.

The inactivity of University life as a whole, this term, has made it impossible to give any glowing accounts of the activities of individual O.P.s.

C. J. Lynch (Eng.) has divided his time between studies and his secretaryship of the Boating Club, and has also been seen entertaining ladies in the Union, a faculty in which he appears to be gifted.

G. Shepherd (Eng.) is still a keen boater, rowing for his faculty, and has also put in some good shooting on the range.

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S. Corner (Eng.) has once again found his engineering exams, rather difficult, and is considering taking up forestry, apparently he has found something in common with trees.

G. Briggs (Med.) has been working hard for exams. and has found little time for other activities.

Lax (Eng.) has been unable, due to the weather, to find an outlet for his genius as a Hockey player, and consequently most of his time has been devoted to engineering.

G. R. Brown (Med.) once again appears to have been hibernating, but has obviously been working hard. We congratulate him on having passed his 1st year M.B. exams.

W. Boyes (Med.) has been working hard for exams.

R. Warin (Med.). Nothing has been heard of him this term, but he must nearly be a fully qualified doctor.

E. Dickinson (Agri.) in common with most farmers has just cursed the weather, working for exams. in between.

ENGAGEMENTS.

The engagement is announced between Reginald D'Arcy Hunter, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Austin Hunter, Chestnut Avenue, York, and Shenagh Martin, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Darling, " Longstone," Stockton Lane, York.

The engagement is announced between Richard Maxwell Deas, Royal Artillery, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Charlton Deas, of Humbledon View, Sunderland, and Renee Mary Blanc, of 14 Comiston Drive, Edinburgh, elder daughter of Mr. F. E. Blanc, F.R.I.A.S., and the late Mrs. Blanc.

The engagement is announced between Flight Lieut.

Stephen Dodds, R.A.F., only son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Dodds, of Stockton Lane, York, and Florence Margaret, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Walter, of La Maison de Haut, St. Sampson's, Guernsey.

MARRIAGES.

ALDERSON—CROSS.---On December 23rd, 1939, at St. John's Church, Newcastle, Miss Margaret Edith Cross, of the Margaret Cross School of Dancing, Newcastle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Cross, of Newcastle, and Surgeon Lieutenant Basil Roxby Alderson, Royal Navy, son of Dr. and Mrs. Wilfred E. Alderson, of Highbury, Newcastle.

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DALTON—BEARNE.—On January 6th, 1940, at St. David's Church, Exeter, Capt. E. Llewelyn Dalton, R.A., to Jean Marion Bearne.

BEACHELL—BYASS.—On March 23rd, 1940, at St. Andrew's Church, Middleton-on-the-Wolds, Francis Moore Beachell, son of Mr. Henry Beachell, Holme Wold, Dalton Holme, to Freda Byass, daughter of Mr. Digby Byass and Mrs. Byass, of Eastfield, Lund, Driffield.

OGLEY—FORSTER.—On April 5th, at Conisborough Parish Church, Reginald Ogley, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ogley, to Sarah Isabella Forster, only daughter of Mrs. A. M. Forster and of the late Dr. James Forster.

The Rev. F. H. Barnby officiated, assisted by Canon H. T. Eddershaw, Vicar of Conisborough, and also a former master of the School, and Mr. Norman W. D. Yardley was the best man.

BIRTH. KIRK. On April 16th, to Olive, wife of David Kirk, a daughter.

OBITUARY. We regret to record the death, on January 19th, of John Patrick de Burgh, only son of Councillor and Mrs. Harold C. de Burgh, of York.

Mr. de Burgh, who was 23 years old, was an articled solicitor, and had just completed his statutory law course at Leeds University.

Mr. de Burgh volunteered for the Army as an officer cadet at the outbreak of war. He had just completed his preliminary course in the West Yorkshire Training Unit and was about to go to Aldershot for his final training as an officer cadet. He had been ill for a short time.

Mr. de Burgh was admitted a Freeman of York last year.

We regret to record the death of the Rev. P. E. Lord, one of the original founders of the Old Peterite Club, and the first Editor of " The Peterite." The Rev. P. E. Lord died on February 9th, 1940. He was a Foundation Scholar 7

of St. Peter's from 1877-86 and a scholar of Clare College, Cambridge, where he took a Classical Tripos. He also captained the College Cricket XI in 1888. As a schoolmaster he was at Heversham Grammar School and later at St. Peter's under the Rev. G. T. Handford from 1891-98. He then spent a year at the Leeds Clergy School and was ordained by the Archbishop of York. Subsequently he was at Sheffield, King's Norton and Sutton Coldfield until, in 1913, he became Vicar of Acock's Green. He married Winifred E. M. Hingston, who was for many years Medical Superintendent of the North Riding Mental Hospital, York, and is the sister of the late E. M. Hingston, 0.P., whose death was recorded in the last issue.

After his retirement the Rev. P. E. Lord and Mrs. Lord lived at Cheltenham, where he was Secretary of the Croquet Club and Secretary and Treasurer of the Cheltenham Rural Deanery S.P.G. We regret to record the death, on April 13th, 1940, at 24 Clifton, York, of John Wilfrid Proctor, second son of the late Alfred Proctor.

Soon after leaving School, in the last war, Mr. Proctor was seriously wounded while serving as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. Subsequently he was a solicitor in his father's office, but continued ill-health forced him to retire a few years ago. He was an enthusiastic member of the O.P. Club and Secretary of the 0.P. Dinner Club at York, and was a generous subscriber to several School activities.

VALETE AND SALVETE. VALETE. CLIFTON RISE. C. M. Robson. 1935-40. Upper VI. School Monitor. Played for 2nd XV, 1936-37. 2nd .XV Colours, 1937-38. Played for 1st XV, 1937-38-39-40. 1st XV Cap, 1938-39-40.

Played for Rest of England Public Schools v. Home Counties, and North of England Public Schools v. South.

Rowed for 3rd IV, 1937. 2nd IV Colours, 1937. Rowed for 1st IV, 1938-39. 1st IV Colours, 1938-39. Rowed for 1st VIII, 1937-38-39. Captain of Boats, 1940.

Played for Squash Team, 1940. Member of Debating Society Committee. Member of Games Committee.

Hon. Secretary of " The Curtain." Editor of " The Peterite." Certificate " A." L/Cpl. in O.T.C. 8

T. F. Cameron. 1934-39. Upper VIth Modern. School Monitor. Played for 2nd XV, 1936-37-38. 2nd XV Colours, 1936-37. Played for 1st XV, 1936-37-38-39-40.

1st XV Colours, 1937-38-39-40. 1st XV Cap, 1937-38.

Played for Yorkshire Public Schools XV, 1937-38.

Played for 1st XI Hockey, 1937-38-39. 1st XI Colours, 1938-39. 1st XI Cap, 1938-39. Captain of Hockey, 1939.

Played for 2nd XI, 1936-37. 2nd XI Colours, 1937.

Played for 1st XI, 1937-38-39. 1st XI Colours, 1938-39.

1st XI Cap, 1938. Played for Squash Team, 1937-38-39.

Squash Colours, 1938-39. Hon. Sec. of Squash, 1939-40.

Played for Tennis Team, 1939. Hon. Sec. of " The Curtain." Member of the Games Committee. Hon. Sec. of Games Committee. Editor of " The Peterite."

Certificate " A." L/Cpl. in O.T.C. .

SCHOOL HOUSE. J. I. Sleight. 1935-40. Form Vb. House Monitor. Played for 2nd XV, 1938. Played for 1st XV, 1939. 1st XV Colours. Played for Hockey XI, 1938-39. Played for 2nd XI, 1938. 2nd XI Colours. Played for 1st XI, 1939.

School Boxing Team, 1938. Captain of House Boxing.

Member of Games Committee. Certificate " A." Cadet in O.T.C. J. E. A. Ward. 1939-40. Va. Played for 1st XV, 1939.

Cadet in O.T.C.

TEMPLE HOUSE. N. A. C. Chudleigh. Vb. Rugby Football Colours, 1939.

School Certificate. Cadet in O.T.C.

SALVETE.

CLIFTON RISE. D. M. Hart (St. Olave's) .

SCHOOL HOUSE. R. B. Goodman.

TEMPLE HOUSE. E. Sheriff.

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SCHOOL OFFICERS. EASTER TERM, 1940.

R. C. LYNCH (Head of School, Head of Temple House).

Monitors : J. H. BUTLER (Head of Clifton Rise).

P. R. G. GRAHAM (Head of School House).

H. A. MILBURN. C. M. ROBSON. Captain of Boats—C. M. ROBSON. Captain of Hockey—R. C. LYNCH. Captain of Squash—P. R. G. GRAHAM. Secretary of Athletics—J. B. SHILLITOE. Captain of Shooting—R. EARLE. C.S.M. in 0.T.C.—J. H. BUTLER. Editors of " The Peterite " : G. W. VERO. C. M. ROBSON. F. F. STEELE. G. LONG. G. D. JEFFERSON.

CHAPEL AND MUSIC.

This year the Confirmation Service was postponed from the Easter Term to the Summer owing to the Archbishop of York being indisposed at the first date.

At the beginning of the term " Evensong " was abandoned owing to the black-out, but it was continued later in the term when the light made it permissible. Owing to the infrequency of evening services the only visiting preacher during the term was Chancellor Harrison.

MUSIC. It was hoped this term to begin the School Orchestra, but the number of absentees made it impossible. Many boys wish to play clarionets, saxophones, etc., but there is no keenness shown yet towards the violin and other string instruments. Mrs. Baird hopes that next term there will be a considerable growth of enthusiasm in this direction.

LIBRARY. Librarian: H. A. WRENN, Esq. Assistant Librarians : E. J. HILLYARD, G. LONG, J. B. SHILLITOE, F. F. STEELE, J. H. MOTUM, H. L. TAYLOR, G. D. JEFFERSON. The main item of note this term has been the inclusion of several books on hobbies in the Library. There are books 10

on Aircraft, Railways, Ships, Photography, Stamp Collecting, etc. There has been a considerable demand, and few have spent much time on the Library shelves. Several fiction books have been added, a full list being appended.

During the course of the term the English Literature section of the Library has been re-catalogued. The new system of numbering will be issued next term. The system of shelf numbering is gradually becoming clearer with the growth- in the number of books that have been treated with the electric stylus. When this is completed, the finding of books in the Library will be much simpler.

Suggestions for additions to the Library are still welcome, but it should be realised that only books with a lasting value and a reasonably universal attraction can be purchased.

The following is a list of new books that have been added to the Library :— J. A. Brendon.

A Dictionary of British History.

014 H. V. Morton.

In the Steps of the Master.

260 R. G. Binding.

415.6 Wir Fordern Nach Reims.

Hans Hartmann.

415.5 Das Kantschlagebuch.

Roberts.

Heat and Thermodynamics.

540 J. A. Thompson.

550.01 Biology for Everyman, i.

Presented by Dr. R. A. Dench.

J. A. Thompson.

550.02 Biology for Everyman, ii.

Presented by Dr. R. A. Dench.

L. D. Stamp.

Asia.

G. S. Dickson.

Railways.

703 Beal.

703.1 The Craft of Modelling Railways.

Coble and Payne.

704.1 Famous Aircraft.

St. J. Sprigg.

704.2 British Airways.

Burgess.

704.3 Warships To-day.

Cary.

704.4 Great Liners of the World.

T. C. Bridges.

704.5 Great Canals.

Masters.

Deep Sea Diving.

711 Chesmore.

Behind the Microphone.

712 Armstrong.

Key to Stamp Collecting.

713 Hall.

Wood and What we Make of it.

714 Horth.

101 Things for a Boy to Make.

715 Sir Robert Claremont 720.21 How to Look at Pictures.

Witt.

Ian Strang.

720.22 The Student's Book of Etching.

Herbert Sutcliffe.

784.3 Batting.

Len Harvey.

Modern Boxing.

792 William Francis.

Swimming.

793 The Collected Poems of John Masefield.

814 The Collected Poems of Keats.

814 11 .

Dramatic Works of Sheridan.

847 Davies.

941.61 The Early Stuarts.

Clark.

941.62 The Later Stuarts.

Ensor.

942.2 England, 1870-1914.

Brontë.

F. Wuthering Heights.

The Rover.

Conrad.

F. Conrad.

F. Secret Agent.

Almayer's Folly.

Conrad.

F. The Citadel.

Cronin.

F. Defoe.

F. Robinson Crusoe.

MaSon. F. The Four Feathers.

Sapper.

F. Bulldog Drummond.

F. A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur.

Athletics and Training.

Guy Butler.

791 Samuel Pepys' Diary.

825 820 Erewhon.

Samuel Butler.

570.01 Plant Ecology.

Hilda Drabble.

537.2 Electrical Inventions.

A. M. Low. F The Nine Tailors.

Sayers.

Twain.

HOUSE NOTES. SCHOOL HOUSE. Owing to the weather and the curtailment of term, these notes are necessarily brief. In those games which did not, however, suffer from one or other of the above, we are proud to record that all members of the House showed their customary keenness, and the results fully justified their efforts.

The House Hockey 1st XI are to be congratulated on their very fine exhibition in winning the Inter-House Hockey Cup, in which we feel that Burton's magnificent yellow boots can have played no small part. The House First Boat acquitted itself admirably in the final against the Rise, and we must congratulate Motum on a really fine piece of stroking. The experts declare that the margin of defeat would have been a margin of victory in another twenty yards.

Congratulations to Vero and Caley on receiving their House colours for Hockey, and Motum, Miller and Webber their House Boating colours. The following are to congratulated on playing. for the School at Hockey: Milburn, Garnham, Sleight, Caley, Buckler and Clephan.

CLIFTON RISE. As usual, the Rise have had a very successful term (excuse our self-complacency, but we're feeling pleased with 12

ourselves). We've won the Junior House Hockey and the Boating cups look as though they are fixtures on the mantelpiece. What pleases us is that so far this year we've won all the junior events ; this shows that we have the material to supply winning House teams for several years to come.

From the general let us pass to the particular, as the bishop said to the actress ; or did he—he seems to have said so many things.

Congratulations to C. M. Robson on being appointed Captain of Boats, F. F. Steele on his appointment as Hon. Secretary of Hockey, and J. B. Shillitoe on being made Hon. Secretary of Athletics.

Congratulations to J. H. Butler on being appointed Head of House, C. M. Robson on being appointed a School Monitor, and H. L. Taylor, J. B. Shillitoe and F. F. Steele on being appointed House Monitors.

The Rise has been well represented in the 1st XI: F. F. Steele, D. Cole, J. H. Butler, J. R. Frost, P. M. Steele and C. A. F. Cookson all played in one or other of the matches.

We were going to produce another concert, but this will have to be postponed as term broke up so early.

Yard Hockey was again the favourite recreation of the Rise, but it has deteriorated slightly because it does, at times, resemble Hockey.

Finally, we should like to congratulate School House on their magnificent finishing spurt in the final of the Boating Cup, and on defeating us in the Hockey semi-final.

TEMPLE HOUSE. The Easter Term is usually an eventful one, and the one that is past has been no exception, albeit that most of the usual events could not take place.

Early in the term the House was disappointed at the abandonment of the Cross Countr y, as we were all prepared to do our best to retain the Cross Country Plate. However, we hope that next year, given more clement weather, we may win this event again.

R. G. Langstaff and J. WIN-. Inglis have been regular members of the Shooting Eight throughout the term, and we congratulate them on being members of so successful a Shooting team. The latter is also to be congratulated on his School Shooting colours.

The only other School award in Temple House this term was to H. C. Belchamber, whom we congratulate on the award of his Hockey cap.

E. P. Bulmer is to be congratulated on his appointment as a House Monitor.

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Temple was defeated in the semi-final of the Junior House Hockey, and also in the senior match. However, the teams were very young, and their enthusiasm and determination promise well for future years.

We wish to congratulate R. C. Lynch on his appointment to be Captain of Hockey.

In the semi-final of the First Division Boating, Temple lost to School House by two lengths. We wish to congratulate School House on their magnificent but unsuccessful attempt against the Rise in the final of this event.

Owing to the curtailment of the term, Standards and the Athletic Sports had to be abandoned. This was a dis appointment, as all members of the House had been training hard, and we had hoped to retain the Sports Shield.

However, the term has been by no means an unsuccessful one, and we hope that all members of Temple House will return after the holidays to pursue the many activities of the Summer Term with renewed vigour.

THE DEBATING SOCIETY. President : THE HEADMASTER. Chairman : L. C. LE TOCQ, Esq. Committee : J. H. BUTLER, C. M. ROBSON, H. A. MILBURN, G. D. JEFFERSON. The first meeting of the Society this term was held on Saturday, January 27th, 1940. To open the meeting, G. D. Jefferson asked if the votes of censure which had been passed on the Committee at various times could be raised, but his request was not granted.

The Chairman called upon A. A. Short to propose the motion that " It is desirable that periods of cold weather should continue." Short's first point was that snow-fights relieved the monotonous routine of school life, as he knew from personal experience. As regards the war, Short stated that the cold weather froze the Danube and thus prevented Roumanian supplies from reaching Germany, and it provided tremendous aid for the Finns in their struggle against Russia.

A. S. Clephan, opposing the motion, declared that Short's speech was absolutely lacking in truth. He pointed out that the snow was a public nuisance and that snowfights often resulted in the participants having influenza if they failed to change into dry clothes after them.

J. S. Cooper, Esq., called upon by the Chairman to second the motion, divided his speech into three sections, 14

the first concerning burst pipes, the second skating, and the third the benefit derived by trade. He said that burst pipes provided scrap metal for making battleships, and that the cold weather provided an opportunity for the use of skates, with which so much exercise could be taken. As regards trade, he said that firms who manufactured such goods as woollen articles and sou'westers did a very good trade. He illustrated his points with a burst pipe, a skate and a sou'wester.

A. C. Brown rose to second the opposition, and declared that the cold weather greatly increased road accidents and that as a rule only small boys enjoyed the snow, he could not see, therefore, why Mr. Cooper so much liked the cold weather.

The debate was then thrown open to the House, and speeches were made by Denby, Vero, Barker, Graham, Ping and Stratton. Short and Clephan summed up for their respective cases and on a vote being taken the motion was defeated by 18 votes to 10.

MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 10th, 1940.

The minutes of the last meeting were read by a member of the Committee and were approved by the Chairman.

The Chairman called upon R. C. Lynch to propose the motion that " The Allies should openly intervene on behalf of Finland." Lynch said that Finland was the first country to put up any resistance to the aggressor and that by helping them we would encourage other small nations to do the same. He went on to say that Russia's defence forces were so inefficient that we need only send small quantities of men and material to our Finnish friends.

G. D. Jefferson, opposing the motion, declared that it was practically impossible to send aid to Finland owing to her secluded geographical position. He said that by aiding Finland we would provide meat for German propaganda, in so much as the Germans could say that we ought to have fought the Red menace too in Spain, and in this way the neutrals may well be convinced that we were a muddleheaded nation. To close, Jefferson quoted President Kalio of Finland as saying that the Finns could fight and win their war unaided.

The Chairman then called upon C. M. Robson to second the motion. Robson opened by saying that if war was declared on Russia by Great Britain, small countries such as Denmark and Sweden would be encouraged to fight with Finland as well. He concluded by saying that aid must be sent immediately so as to stop a Russian victory in the summer.

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R. L. Pryer, seconding the opposition, said that we were unable to spare men and material as we had a war of our own with Germany. Like Jefferson, he pointed out the difficulty of transport.

On the debate being thrown open to the House several interesting speeches were made. In summing up both Lynch and Jefferson repeated their main ideas.

On a vote being taken the motion was carried by 20 votes to 6.

MEETING HELD ON MARCH 2nd, 1940.

The minutes were first read by a member of the Committee. As Mr. Le Tocq was taking part in the debate, G. D. Jefferson took his place in the Chair.

To open the debate the Chairman called upon Mr. L. Burgess to propose the motion that " The Cinema is deleterious to the nation." Mr. Burgess opened by saying why he personally disliked the cinema, and explained what utter nonsense most present day films are. He deplored the fact that such drivel could act as a drug to so many people, and came to the conclusion that this was because the education of the country was poor. Mr. Burgess declared that the American slang employed on the screen was utterly unbecoming to our English standards. One frequently heard such expressions as " That's so " and " Oh yeah," and he quoted a case in point by mentioning " A Yank at Oxford," and added, " Thank God it was at Oxford and not at Cambridge." He declared that modern films murdered all plays and books, and he even knew of people who refused to read books as they thought that they would spoil the films which made pretence of portraying the events depicted in those books. Mr. Burgess deplored the gentleman in the white coat who sings absolute drivel and plays terrible music. To end a very fine speech, Mr. Burgess tried to anticipate what his opponent might have to say.

H. A. Milburn, for the opposition, declared how well Mr. Burgess had anticipated his arguments, and went on to say that at the beginning of the war, when cinemas were closed, the consumption of beer rose by some million gallons.

The cinema, he said, provided cheap entertainment for the working classes and provided them with something to do on Saturday afternoons.

J. H. Butler, when called upon to second the motion, said that he had very little to say, as Mr. Burgess had used' up all his arguments. He pointed out that people on the dole wasted their money by going to the cinema too often, and left their wives without sufficient house-keeping money.

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He said that women went to the cinema during times when they could be knitting socks, and the consequence was that they had to buy them instead.

Mr. Le Tocq, seconding the opposition, said that the cinema provided a useful form of taxation and gave people something to do. As regards the cinema's relation to the theatre, he declared that the cinema was not so immoral as the theatre and thus, perhaps, it was just as well that the theatre was far too expensive for most people.

The debate was then thrown open to the House, but owing to lack of time the number of speeches was limited.

Mr. Burgess and Milburn summed up for their respective cases, and a vote was taken. The motion was defeated by 26 votes to 15. * * The debates have lately begun to lose their object and are not taken seriously enough, most people contenting themselves with hurling abuse at their rivals. People go into the debates with their minds made up as regards to voting, and however well a speaker may put forth his arguments he always stands a fair chance of losing his case.

As an example of this, there is the defeat of Mr. Burgess, who undoubtedly gave one of the best speeches that the House has ever heard. He had his opponents " tied up in knots " and yet he lost. This kind of thing is all wrong, and the sooner it stops the better.

[This is not Editorial Comment, but the view of a member of the Debating Society.—Ed.]

THE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. President: THE HEADMASTER. Vice-Presidents : W. N. CORKHILL, Esq., E. S. JEFFS, Esq., D. K. CREWS, Esq., L. C. LE TOCQ, Esq. Hon. Treasurer : A. W. PING, Esq. Hon. Secretary : F. F. STEELE. Rise Representative—F. H. HILLYARD. School House Representative—G. W. VERO. Temple House Representative—J. McN. INGLIS. On Saturday, February 2nd, several members of the Society paid a visit to the Yorkshire Museum. They were shown round the part open to the public and were then allowed to inspect several exhibits not generally on show.

These exhibits consisted chiefly of rare birds.

That evening F. F. Steele gave a lecture to the Society on " High Voltage Electricity." It was more in the nature 17

of a demonstration than a theoretical discussion. He started by demonstrating the passage of electricity through air and various pressures, and explained the formation of striae. He then passed on to the use of these types of tubes in signs, illustrating his explanation with the Geissler tubes.

An interesting experiment was the one showing that electrons are charged particles of electricity. A stream of electrons was obtained by passing a discharge through an evacuated bulb, and on the application of an electric field the stream rotated.

Then came the high-light of the evening—the Tessla coil. This coil is a piece of apparatus designed to set up very high frequency oscillations, and many beautiful effects were obtained with it. Streamers of blue sparks were obtained by bringing a finger near one of the terminals, an experiment which is quite safe because, although the discharge is of a very high voltage, there are a large number of oscillations per second. *Vacuum tubes brought near the Tessla glowed ; this is due to the ionisation of the atoms caused by the oscillations of the electric field.

Steele then demonstrated the X-ray bulbs, explaining that X-rays are radiations formed by the stoppage of electrons.

All the audience had various portions of their bodies X-rayed, and the evening finished with votes of thanks from Mr. Ping and Mr. Halliday.

The second meeting of the Society last term was held on February 17th. We had hoped to hear a lecture given by an R.A.F. officer, but permission for the lecture could not be obtained and so Mr. Ping filled the breach by collecting a number of slides together and giving an impromptu talk ; his subjects ranged from floods in York to jokes from " Punch," and his slides included two very topical ones, showing people walking about on the frozen Ouse.

On March 10th the Society was privileged to listen to a lecture given by S. H. Smith, Esq., J.P., F.Z.S. Mr. Smith is a very well-known naturalist and a keen photographer of wild life. His slides consisted almost entirely of photographs taken by himself, and some of them were outstanding, in particular the one of the salmon leaping the falls and those depicting the growth of a young cuckoo.

He started by showing us a series of slides illustrating types of fish ladders, used to help fish to get upstream. The next slides were photographs of various fish taken in their natural surroundings. Mr. Smith then passed on to birds ; the life of a cuckoo was shown from the egg, through the stages of ousting the other nestlings from the nest, to the

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time when the cuckoo is much bigger than the foster parents. We were now shown how wild duck were entrapped.

Decoy ducks are placed on a lake and attract wild duck ; the wild duck feed and are gradually led, by food, to a tunnel constructed of cane and branches. Here a dog, which has been specially trained, attracts their attention; their curiosity causes them to follow him, and he leads them up the tunnel, which gradually narrows, finally ending in a thin neck, through which the ducks pass into an enclosed area.

Here they are killed and sent off to market. Thousands of ducks are annually killed by this method.

A woodcock on its nest and a partridge with its young at various stages of growth were then shown.

The different types of snares for moles and rabbits were explained to us ; we watched a badger hunt, and a most interesting lecture ended with a fine photograph of a fox off for its evening prowl.

Mr. Ping called on the Secretary to propose a vote of thanks, and the meeting then closed.

FAMOUS OLD PETERITES-IV. CHARLES SHADWELL. Anybody studying the Salvete in " The Peterite " of November, 1910, will notice a name which is no doubt very familiar to them, that of C. M. W. Shadwell. Certainly they will know him as the famous B.B.C. variety orchestra conductor and will probably not trouble to think of his school days and of his earlier life, so let us go back to the beginning of his school life at St. Peter's and from there we will try to discover what kind of life he has been leading.

The greater part of his life at St. Peter's was spent under the Headmastership of Canon Owen, but he also spent one term with Mr. Toyne, whom many of us know so well.

The highlight of his life at School seems to have been his singing and musical ability, for he was for a long time head choir boy, and on November 26th, 1910, he sang a solo in the School Concert entitled " Nymphs and Shepherds," by Purcell. As for his musical ability, he studied the organ, piano and violin under the watchful eye of Mr. Tendall and later on under Mr. Tertius Noble at the Minster. The significance of this is obvious when one comes to consider his present day position.

As regards his study at St. Peter's, Mr. Shadwell's reports were as a rule " fairly good," but there is one story of his school life that must not be omitted, for it concerns one of his misdeeds. Mr. Shadwell one day paid a visit to 19

York Empire and there he witnessed a conjuror demonstrating the way in which a glass of water can be swung round and round without the water being spilled on to the stage.

On the next day Mr. Shadwell went to the Big Hall, and with a jar of ink, which he found on the stage, he tried to show his friends what the conjuror had done. He failed miserably, and instead of the ink remaining in the jar, it splashed on to the walls, which had been newly painted for Speech Day. On reporting the accident to Canon Owen he received 2,000 lines of " Virgil " to write out and his parents had to make good the damage !

On the outbreak of war in 1914 he worked for a time in the recruiting office at Fulford Barracks, York, and in April, 1915, he was commissioned to the 14th West Yorkshire Regiment, in which he eventually gained command of a company at Ripon. Whilst serving in this capacity he one day ordered his new messing officer to report to him, and much to his astonishment, Brian Storey, another Old Peterite, who is now manager of the Princes Theatre, Manchester, turned out to be this new officer.

Whilst at Ripon, in 1917, Colonel Sapt put him in charge of entertainment, and with the aid of C.S.M. Filtness, another Peterite, he formed a concert party, to which he gave the name " The Very Neats." There is no information available to record the success of this venture, but judging

by Mr. Shadwell's present day standards it ought to have been highly successful.

After seeing service at Ypres he was invalided out of the service in 1918, when with the aid of the Officers' Association he once again took up the study of music. After conducting touring companies in many parts of the country he became musical director of Portsmouth Hippodrome.

From there he went to Coventry Hippodrome and from here he broadcast for more than 250 times before becoming conductor of the B.B.C. Variety Orchestra in May, 1936.

From here the story of his life is only too well known, and so let us close this account by wishing Mr. Shadwell " The Spice of Life."

G. D. Jefferson, Form VI.

THE SCHOOL IN WAR, 1914-18.

In the January issue of " The Peterite " there appeared an article on the School in War-time, comparing 1939 with 1914 from a study of " The Peterites " of 1914-18. Perhaps some disjointed reminiscences of someone who spent his time at School during those years may be of some interest 20

to those now at St. Peter's and may recall some memories to those who were at School during the last war.

The start of the war in 1914 saw the School temporarily commandeered as a recruiting depot and training centre for " Kitchener's Army," with the not unwelcome result that the beginning of term was postponed for a week. The Big Hall and the Gym, as well as the form rooms, were turned into barrack rooms and sleeping quarters for the recruits.

These at first were entirely without uniform and more or less without ideas of discipline, but in a remarkably short time they attained both " esprit de corps " and considerable smartness, in spite of their peculiar mixture of clothing— cloth caps, trilbys and bowler hats mixing freely on parade.

The only uniform to be seen was that of the commanding officer—and that was Mr. Toyne's O.T.C. uniform which he had lent!

Although the army had left by the time we came back to School, the whole place was still plastered with their notices and orders of the day. For a considerable portion of the war we lost the use of the Gymn and two of the form rooms (the present Geography Room and the Armoury), which were taken over by the Army Pay Corps, while the Fives Court became an army bootmakers' shop. P.T. was not abandoned, although the Sergeant Instructor attached to the O.T.C. had gone at once. We carried on in the open air on the asphalt under the inspired and vociferous instruction of Sergeant Major—later Captain—Walker.

Among other things, he was a ju-jitsu expert, and was fond of showing us just " how the arm is broke in two places."

The beginning of the war in 1914 saw the sudden and unexpected departure of many of the senior boys, either before the September term began or at Christmas. Many of these went brilliantly through the war—one is now Governor of Khartoum and another is Air Adviser to the War Council ; others, still very young, gave their lives.

In 1914 the O.T.C. was still a very young institution in the School. It had only been started during the previous year by Mr. Toyne, with the active encouragement of Sir Herbert Plumer, who was then G.O.C. Northern Command.

During the whole war the O.T.C. played a very large part in the life of the School. To start with we had a very odd assortment of rifles—long barrels, short barrels and even carbines and a few Japanese rifles, but these gradually became standardised. Mr. Toyne was in command of the O.T.C., with Mr. Barnby as Second-in-Command. Mr. Toyne was in his element in drawing up schemes and in organising field days, while Mr. Barnby was the expert on drill. There were two full-dress parades each week—with buttons cleaned 21

—and frequent extras such as musketry parades, recruit parades and band practices at 12-15. During the later part of the war there was a special course of instruction for those who were going to O.C.B.s (Officer Cadet Battalions), under the direction of an invalided officer.

War Office camps were discontinued, but Mr. Toyne organised camps for a few northern schools for three years at Levisham and Huby, where we gained useful experience and had good fun. On two occasions the O.T.C. had the honour of providing the Guard of Honour when the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand came to York to receive the freedom of the city.

The N.C.O.s had a busy time, for not only did they train the School O.T.C., but they were also turned on to drill the local " Derby " recruits. In the evenings they could be seen putting through their drill and instructing in P.T. old gentlemen of various ages and shapes. The School SergeantMaj or—his name, incidentally, was Sergeant (minor)—soon became the terror of those whose figure and wind had long since gone.

The boys had many odd jobs to do during those early war days—scrubbing floors, cleaning out the local drill hall, making beds, ringing the bells and taking round the absentee lists (Bert had departed very early to the war), but it was a useful experience, and although we probably grumbled, most of us enjoyed it.

Gardening was another occupation new to some of us.

Under the sometimes caustic comments of Fred Roberts we dug up a large plot of ground at the top of the Grove field (where the hard tennis court used to be later) and started a kitchen garden which was managed almost entirely by boys, and which provided much useful foodstuff. Sometimes, too, the more expert farmers went out to help in the harvest on local farms. They enjoyed it, and the harvest did not suffer much !

Generally the question of feeding, even in the early days of the war, was more acute than it has been so far during the present war. Meat was scarce and meatless days frequent. The substitutes—mainly beans—were filling at the time, but not very satisfying in the long run, while the bread and the sugar were frankly nasty. The " brown sugar " used to turn the tea purple and had large and solid lumps in it. One such lump was taken on the parade ground and after vain assaults on it with a mallet in an attempt to break it, it was put in the School Museum, where it remained until after the war—still intact. Bread and butter puddings naturally made frequent appearances, while maize was tried 22

as a substitute for rice pudding—not very successfully.

However, nobody starved, although everybody grumbled, and on the whole we managed to keep very fit on it.

Even during the 1914-18 period air raids were not unknown, and although there was not then the present expert knowledge of aircraft, there was considerable interest in aeroplanes and airships, especially in a tri-plane on which experiments were made at York. So much interest was shown that there had to be an arrangement after a short time with Mr. Yeld that no one should get up to look during periods, unless it was an airship; " Is it a ship? became one of the great sayings of the time. Although there were not the elaborate air raid precautions of to-day—no trenches and no sand bags—we did have air raid warnings (they were given by lowering the lights three times and then putting them out). Several times the " Zeps " came over York and dropped bombs, while one was brought down near Skelton.

In event of raids we were herded in the changing rooms and stayed there for hours. Once I was sleeping peaceably on the concrete floor until the boy who was sleeping on the locker above me, rolled off on top of me. After that I left him on the floor and took to the higher level of the lockers !

However, in spite of rather changed conditions and diverse activities, the School carried on as usual, both as regards work and games. Younger masters went and older masters took their place, but the work went on. Perhaps the main difference was in the games, where the boys had to take on more and more of the organisation and coaching.

But games, too, went on steadily. School matches continued, and although club fixtures tended to drop out, Army fixtures took their place. There was one memorable contest between the School and an Officers' team in a Gymkhana (of the egg and spoon variety). In the Obstacle Race one of the tasks to be performed was to crawl under tarpaulins pegged to the ground, after going through the water jump.

The Officers and the Seniors achieved this safely, but before it came to the turn of the Juniors, someone (Mr. Toyne and Roberts were suspected) had put quantities of soot under the tarpaulins. It was probably very amusing for the spectators to see the competitors emerge, covered with soot and choking. I was one of the Juniors and didn't see it!

Armistice Day was a memorable day at the School.

The School band was privileged to announce the Armistice to York by marching through the streets playing. Naturally all work was at an end for a few days, and bonfires and excitement were general. But the most vivid memory of that day is the spontaneous service of thanksgiving which took place in the Minster. The whole nave was packed23

it was clear of chairs at that very simple and impressive service.

After the Armistice came peace and the gradual return to the normal. Throughout the war St. Peter's had carried on " in the paths of her old traditions."

" THE BEVERLEYS " by LESLIE BURGESS. A father who is the little " dictator " of municipal affairs in the small town of Westbridge, a son who sees his father in a true perspective, and finds his work petty and unimportant, and a daughter who conceals under a docile and subsurvient exterior a propensity for breaking off engagements and marrying actors—such are the characters which play the main parts in Mr. Burgess's latest novel, " The Beverleys." Michael Beverley, the last member of an old dissenting family, feels no desire to follow in the steps of his fathers, who have been, for many generations, important people in the little town, and wishes to break away from the restricted world of municipal affairs and the narrow morality of his family. He is about to commit an action not at all in accordance with the Beverley tradition when an unexpected move on the part of his sister prevents him.

The characters are well drawn, and whether admirable or not in themselves, have sufficient depth and background to interest the reader in their problems and the ultimate solution.

Perhaps some of the most enlivening features of this novel and of an earlier novel, " Short Let," also by Mr. Burgess, are the author's digressions, which sprinkle caustic and amusing strictures, classical and modern alike, over the more serious matter of the narrative.

As a cross section of life in a small country town " The Beverleys " follows the modern tradition in the theme of the strong man gradually disintegrating, but as a refreshing change, youth and progress steal the novel before the final collapse.

Add to this more positive and optimistic treatment of the theme a genially sophisticated portrayal of several very lively characters and it will become quite clear why this particular editor enjoyed his influenza.

Mr. Burgess's new novel has been well received in the literary columns of the Press, and it is of interest to find that our own good opinion is confirmed by the most important professional critics. Ralph Straus, in the " Sunday Times," commends it as " a lively and entertaining story 24

of life in one of those small provincial towns which (quite rightly) have a good opinion of themselves . . . Mr. Burgess has a nice sense of humour and a shrewd eye for a portrait: I found his book very much to my taste." " The Times Literary Supplement," in a lengthy notice, is equally favourable : " . .. . a straightforward story of ordinary life and practical people told so simply and effectively that the characters take clear and decisive shape and their destinies become matters of interest and concern for the reader. . .. A book to be read through in leisurely enjoyment of the story that it quietly unfolds."

In these disjointed times there is much to be said for a book which affords leisurely enjoyment and one in which, to quote a comment on " The Beverleys " by Sir Hugh Walpole, " the people are all human and real—the first necessity in a novel."

BLACK DIAMONDS. One of the largest coal-mines in the Sheffield district belongs to the Nunnery Colliery, and the 600,000 tons output per annum from the concern has an extensive local sale both for domestic and commercial purposes.

It was by the kindness of one of the directors of the firm that I was able to visit on two occasions the Parkgate and Silkstone surface workings and actually descend to the working-faces of the latter seam.

The pit is situated within a mile and a half of the centre of the city, and the seams, extending as they do right under the streets, make it necessary to take special precautions in the method of removing the coal from the seam. The system used is known as the half and half system, which is designed to give support to the surface so that no lowering of it or damage to buildings is done. It consists in taking out the coal in levels and gates 44 yards wide, and leaving solid coal between 55 yards in width.

As I was to accompany the under manager on his daily inspection of the Silkstone seam workings, it was not quite 9 a.m. when I arrived at his office, situated in the heart of the surface plant surrounded by the shaft, screens, the washery where the coal is automatically washed, the sidings connected with both the L.M.S. and L.N.E. Railways, the other offices, engineering shops and the coking plant.

I soon changed into my oldest clothes which I had brought with me, and after I had been fitted up with the necessary equipment—torch, helmet and heavy stick—we made our way across the busy yard toward the lift at the pit-head.

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A large steam engine, the working of which I was to see the next day, operates this lift on the pulley and cable system, and the descent of some 300 yards with two sides open to the wall was breath-taking in its suddenness.

At the bottom of the shaft, however, we had to wait a few moments while one of the trains of coal tubs from the the face was split up, each tub being dispatched to the surface in the lift, there to be automatically tipped into the screens, where it is graded by sifting, after grading the coal is washed and is then ready for distribution—either to the surface plant for further utilisation or direct into lorries for public consumption.

The tubs have a capacity of only 10 cwt., and run on a gauge of only 2 ft. 4 ins. There are, therefore, many needed to cope with the yearly output of 90,000 tons from the Silkstone seam alone. That output is one-third of the output from this section of the colliery, and the coal obtained is high quality house coal with a large demand locally.

The power used underground is electricity for the pumps and haulage engines, and compressed air for small haulage engines, pneumatic picks, drills, coal cutters, etc.

The power stations are placed at intervals along the main plane, and the tunnels are nearly all encumbered by either the continuous cable for the railway, which keeps rising and falling between the tracks, or by the loudly hissing compressed air and water pipes.

As we rather gingerly made our way down the fairly wide main plane, dodging occasional trains, to the first workings 300 yards from the lift shaft, the air began to get noticeably warmer, and at the first power station I was advised by my guide to remove some of my outer garments.

It certainly did get much hotter as we went down the slope, and my discomfort was further increased by the necessity for bending almost double in order to clear the low roof, made even lower by the wooden beams encountered every few yards.

By the time we began crawling through even smaller passages, many with running water on the floor and all in complete darkness, my back was really sore and aching, and I was very glad to be able to stand up almost straight at the first working-face to be inspected.

The men, as usual, were only working three at a time at the actual face, and I was able to watch them while my guide interviewed the deputy in charge of this particular section and discovered how much work was being done.

This latter point is important, as each section of men is paid on its merits as a body and not individually.

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Leaving this working-face after suggestions had been made for supporting the roof, etc., we moved, with the usual difficulty (for me at any rate), to the next, where blasting was about to take place.

Blasting is not a frequent occurrence, because the miners have to pay for their own explosives. In a mine the usual method of making a small hole, padding it up, and touching it off from a distance by a spark, is followed, and after we had retired the necessary few yards round a corner, the leader of the men pressed the plunger. Rather to my surprise all that followed was a dull rumbling and the air became filled with clouds of coal-dust and the reek of cordite.

As the distance from the lift shaft increases so the difficulties in the transport of the coal are intensified. In the more awkward places moving belts have to be used to carry the coal from the working-face, either directly to tubs which are attached to the continuous cable system used for haulage, or to the fewer tubs drawn to the nearest " rail-head " by pit ponies.

Lads are employed to look after the ponies, and they treat them very well.

After visiting many working-faces where just the normal work was in progress, I was beginning to get rather tired of crawling along permanently doubled up, and I also realised that it was somewhere near dinner-time!

However, my interest revived when we reached a working-face where a compressed-air coal-cutter was in action.

This machine eats horizontally into the coal by means of a revolving belt of teeth moving round a long arm some 30 ft. in length. The arm, despite its length, is quite easy to move about horizontally, although how they managed to get such a tremendous machine right up to the coal face completely defeated me.

Another example of manual labour in the mine being supplemented by machinery is the pneumatic drill, already mentioned as being driven by compressed air. This drill is larger and heavier than the ordinary street drill, and is much more difficult to use, since the operator has to raise it at least horizontally and sometimes vertically before he can dig into and so loosen a piece of coal from the seam.

In the area at present being worked an average section of the seam is as follows :—dirt, coal 2 ft. 6 ins., dirt 1 ft. 2 ins., and coal 2 ft. 4 ins., and the usual height of the working-face is between 5 to 6 ft.

The farthest workings are over a mile away from the lift bottom, and I was very relieved to learn that we were 27

to travel back for the last half-mile on the " 2 p.m. Paddy Mail," or the train of tubs in which the men travel from the face when their shift is over.

Thus, after nearly five hours underground, I once more saw the light of day at the pit-head, grateful for the experience, but thankful to be out " on top " again !

J. A. Cato, Farm VI.

THE COUNTRYSIDE DURING THE COLD SPELL. At the beginning of this year we experienced the coldest weather of this century. Records show that it was as far back as 1895 since we have had such intense frost.

This has had a very serious effect in the country, the land being frozen many feet deep. Most farm work has been held up because the work that should have been done then, ploughing, was impossible. Most farmers filled up the time with hedge slashing, a job which is usually done at this time of the year when the weather is not fit for anything else.

As soon as the weather became warmer the snow began to fall. The first fall was about one foot deep and in drifts.

All the stock had to be brought in from the fields as they were starving from both cold and hunger. In some parts of the country sheep were buried for several weeks until found and dug out.

The rabbits could not get at the grass and chewed the bark off the hawthorn stumps in the hedge bottoms instead.

The wild birds suffered greatly from the snow rather than from the frost, owing to lack of foodstuffs.

A word must here be said about the war on Wood Pigeons, as it was they who attacked the sprouts and kale in the fields, the only green things showing above the snow.

The farmers built hideouts in their fields and shot many hundreds of these birds. They did not come in twos or threes, but in hundreds, covering the whole field and pecking at the sprout tops with their strong beaks. Two or three could be shot in a line at once.

The cold weather brought the seagulls in from the coast, seeking warmer weather and food. Many were seen on the Ouse near the School, and a young Herring Gull was found by an Olavite on the Ings.

One day when the snow was deep on the ground a Sparrow Hawk was seen to pounce on a Sparrow within a few feet of the house, and to carry it off in its claws. It is not often that these birds venture so near buildings. It 28

was only because the other birds were all waiting near the house for scraps which are thrown out for them, and the Hawk had to come near or go hungry.

When the snow began to thaw, the water could not run away as the ground was still frozen hard. Miniature ponds were formed in the fields, and the roads became like rivers owing to the frozen drains.

Now that the land has returned to normal, the early spring flowers are beginning to show through the earth.

The snowdrops and aconites are in flower, and it will not be long before the celandine blooms. The birds are singing once more, and it is lovely to hear the Blackbird's evening song again after this exceptionally hard weather.

F. Hillyard, Lower VI.

GOLDMINING. The first aspect to be considered is, of course, the excavation of the ore. In this mine the rock is mainly pyritic shale (shale with an addition of iron pyrites or ferrous sulphide). In this lie the main quartz, gold-bearing veins of which there are three. There are few outcroppings (rocks showing at the surface) and this renders the already hard task of ascertaining the position of the lodes, or veins, underground doubly difficult.

But before approaching the modern aspect of the mine let us go back to the time of the Roman Legions and their conquest of Britain. That time is the earliest period during which the mine is known to have been worked. Evidence has been found in the pieces of pottery and coins and the shape of some adits (tunnels into the hillside). These adits are shaped like a triangle standing on its apex. The reason for this is that the narrow portion at the bottom is wide enough to allow for the feet of a man and the broad upper part is made so as to allow for the shoulders and basket of ore to move to and fro along the adit. The Romans did not employ underground work much ; their main method of excavation being quarrying. The gold vein was lying between two layers of rock, something like the ham in a sandwich. The Romans stripped off the top layer, leaving the naked gold vein exposed. With their crude methods of excavation and extraction it is surprising that the Romans could make the gold workings pay. True, their labour was almost entirely composed of slaves. Also the ancient waste rock dumps, known as " tailings," not slag heaps, which can still be seen, may contain gold which the Romans, with their crude methods of extraction, could not obtain, and which may be " pay-ore " with the modern methods.

29

So much for the Romans. After the ore has been excavated it is brought to the surface in trucks or tubs.

The large, irregular shaped pieces of rock are then sent into the first of three crushing machines. This is known as the " jaw-crusher." As its name implies, it works on the lines of a jaw. The only difference being that it is the upper half that moves and not the lower. From here it passes to the " cone-crusher." This consists of a large metal cone, open at either end. In the centre is a metal rod set on an eccentric axis. This rod is turned, and in doing so scrapes along the sides of the cone and crushes the ore which is dropped in at the top. Then the ore enters the last crusher.

It is the " ball-crusher." This is a large metal barrel set on a horizontal axis. The barrel is lined with steel plates.

The rock is sent in at one end, and mixed with it are a hundred or so metal balls like canon balls. The barrel is revolved, and out of the other end comes the ore, by this time reduced to the fineness of cooking flour.

There are two main methods of extraction from this point. The chlorine process has been done away with because of the danger. One takes advantage of the affinity existing between mercury and gold. This is the amalgam process. The finely pulverized rock is added to water, which renders it into little more than very liquid mud. This is allowed to run over copper plates coated with mercury. The mercury absorbs the gold. The mercury is periodically " combed " and the mercury evaporated, and thus the gold obtained. This, with the silver which is almost inevitably found with gold, is sent to the mint, where it is made into bullion.

The other process is done by using potassium cyanide in a very weak solution. The gold, after being dissolved in this, is recovered from the " pregnant solution " by passing it over a catalystic agent, namely zinc filings, which causes the gold to be precipitated. Those are the methods employed in the mines proper. But other methods exist. Everyone has seen pictures of a man kneeling by the side of a river with a pan in his hand. Apart from the work done by the lone " mucker " a large part of the world's gold has been obtained by placer (pronounced " plasser ") mining. the gold is obtained from the beds of streams where it has been brought by the natural weathering agents. The bed is sampled with the well-known pan, and if the tests warrant it, it is worked on a large scale with sluice boxes. These are wooden troughs up to twelve feet long, fitted together so as to form a continuous waterway.

At intervals wooden slats are nailed across the troughs about two inches high. These are known as " riffle bars " 30

and are used to duplicate the uneven stream bed. The gravel from the stream is sent down the sluice boxes in conjunction with water and the heavy gold sinks to the bottom and is caught by the riffle bars. This is done many times to get all the gold from the gravel. As may be seen this is a somewhat crude method and the stream has to be very rich to render it into " pay-dirt." It takes many centuries of erosion to put the gold into the river bed, but in past years the cream of the gold has been skimmed in such places as the Klondyke and California. So for many years the major part of the world's gold will be brought from mines proper.

N. A. Chudleigh, Form V.

ENGLISH AND GERMAN EDUCATION, AS SEEN BY AN AUSTRIAN. In every paper we open we find long articles about coming air bombardments, the destruction of London by the air, freezing gas and other horrors. Many believe that Germany possesses special bombs filled with germs and bacilli. If this is so there is no doubt that Hitler will employ them. But in none of these papers is the slightest doubt expressed that England will win this war. Why? Because neither bombs nor aeroplanes will decide this war, but the spirit of the population. If we have the will to see it through, we will do so, and if we see it through the victory is ours.

In 1918 the German army ceased fighting because the men wanted to see their wives and children, because the men could not any longer bear the thought that their wives and children were starving. So you see, we boys may be a deciding factor in this war. If we do our part in it, it will be to the advantage of the mother country, and if we make life easier for our fathers on the front they will see it through more easily than otherwise. The same thing applies also to the German youth, and therefore we have a spiritual war of our own with them, we have to show that our spirit is better than that of the German youth, and that the English principle of education—to make a gentleman and a sportsman out of a boy—triumphs over the German principle —to make a soldier and a (brainless) follower of the Fiihrer.

On the first glance you might think that the Germans are better trained for the present situation than we are.

We must now try to show that this is not true.

At about the age of 12 or 13 at the latest the German boy is put into a uniform, learns songs about the invincibility of the German army, their right to be masters of 31

Central Europe, the criminality of the Jews and other such rot. He learns how to handle a rifle instead of learning Latin ; he reads Mein Kampf instead of reading the Bible; he studies the " Racetheory " instead of his Geography. It might be quite interesting if I give a short review of the German school system. The thing that would probably strike a British boy most of all is the age of the masters.

Masters are at least 30-35 years of age, and a school with a good name will often employ none under 35. You might ask what do masters do until they are 35 ? Well, there is a type of school to which the poorer classes can send their children and at which the German equivalent of the School Certificate, the " Matura," cannot be taken. That is where masters start, and later on the Ministry for Education transfers them to the so-called gymnasiums, schools which you must have visited to be permitted to attend a university.

The former are free, the latter cost 60 marks (about £3) per semester. Semester is the name for the German " term," which lasts for about 4.1 months. There are two semesters per year, and the holidays are as follows: 21 months in Summer, 10 days at Christmas, and 4-5 days at Easter.

Another striking difference is between the English and German system of elementary education. A German boy usually enters his prep. school at the age of six, and stays there for about four years. At the age of 10 he, or rather his parents, have to make up their mind as to whether or not he wants to attend a university. If not he is sent to an ordinary secondary school where he receives a general education and at the same time specialises in a foreign language. If he wants to attend a university later on, he goes to a university school. There he learns the usual subjects as well as either Latin and Greek or Latin and English (or French).

But above all he is taught that what the Fiihrer does is right and that he never fails. If Hitler says Russia must be annihilated, he is right; if he signs a pact of mutual assistance with her, he is right; if he says Germany's best friend is Poland, he is right; and if he invades Poland, he is right. Therefore it will be a difficult job to make the German boy believe the truth. But I think we will be able to live in peace with the coming German generation when we once succeed in telling the German youth the truth and in turning him into a decent citizen, if once his faith in the Fiihrer is destroyed and if he does not believe any longer in the invincibility of the German army, and if he sees that not all Jews are criminals and traitors, and if he sees that the truth is in the Bible and not in Mein Kampf. We know 32

this as well as the Germans do. Therefore the Germans try to educate the youth in such a way that they will never doubt anything the Ftihrer says ; for this reason the R.A.F. drops pamphlets in order to tell the German people, and especially the German youth, the true facts about the Nazi regime.

The English boy does not learn politics at school. At least not directly. He is only trained how to make decisions, how to judge everything and taught how to form his own opinion. I think that everybody in this School has more or less " his " party, though, of course, he may be influenced by his parents, but whatever a (English) boy thinks, I have never heard him say that all other fellows who do not agree with him are blackguards, criminals and traitors. Despite the boys' " lack " of party education I do not think that you will find many places in the world where there is a better " esprit de corps " than in an English public school.

Another advantage of the English boy is that propaganda cannot exert half as much influence on him as it can on a German boy. A great man once said : " The best kind of propaganda is the truth." The English boy knows the truth. To tell him a lie is more difficult than to tell a German boy the truth. And to tell the German boy the truth may be very deciding!

In summing up, we come to the conclusion that all advantages lie on our side if we know how to use them and have the will to use them. It is always said that the future of a country lies in its youth : if this is so, then Britain need not be afraid to face the future.

H. E. Braun, Form Va.

IN APPRECIATIONOF THOSE WHO GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS. How often do we hear those cruel phrases—" Mined in the North Sea," " Sunk by Enemy Action off the East Coast." They come to our ears with an almost maddening regularity, and the toneless voice of the announcer half convinces us that he must have had some part in this cold, callous, barbarous murder. But it isn't a suggestion to say that perhaps our sympathy and sorrow are just a little superficial! Do we fully realise that without our seamen the power of our race would wane and fade ? Our Merchant Navy is the network of veins through which the heart of 33

our nation beats, and without it the greatness of this small island would wither like a rare hot-house plant deprived of its life-giving warmth.

In the early hours of a bitterly cold December morning the British oil-tanker, Inverlane, drifted derelict on to the rocks off the East coast. A few hours before her hull had been shattered by the violent explosion of a magnetic mine.

The sharp thrusts of the spearheads of water pierced her plating and her crew were forced to abandon ship. The oil, • which oozed out from her cracked sides, was ignited by the explosion and the seamen were compelled to swim for their lives beneath a blazing sea of oil. She was expected to founder, but by some lucky chance she kept afloat and drifted, a burnt-out wreck, on to her rocky graveyard. There the wintry seas have broken her back and split her in two, and soon only a few seared and twisted plates will remain to form a tombstone in memory of her. She was but one of five that came ashore inside four days and all within a mile of each other. Yet this poignant story serves as an everlasting reminder of how much we owe to all those who serve us on the sea.

The Inverlane was probably the pride of one of the neighbouring shipyards near to where she came to rest.

The pride of someone's heart in the past, but in the future a sad reminder of heroism and love. Yes! of love, for it is the love of the sea that has built our great nation. No one has been able to capture and express that great abstract virtue better than John Masefield: " I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied, And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying And the flung spray and the brown spume, and the seagulls crying."

Therefore, in times of peaceful thoughts and meditation let us not forget to say a silent prayer of appreciation for the safety of those, whose love for the sea brings them face to face with such deadly perils. They are always ready to face the dangers of nature and even to die for their love of the sea, but the future holds a new weapon in its hand.

The atrocities of man have made the sea-ways more perilous than ever before, so let us say " Thank you " to all those who go down to the sea in ships, because to them we owe the safety and the happiness of this dear island, which we cherish so highly.

H. A. Milburn, Form VI. 34

THOUGHTS ON PARADE. ORDERS FOR WEEK ENDING TO-DAY. Tuesday (Pancake).

No. 1 Ptn.—Will attend an uninteresting lecture on how to camouflage butterflies.

No. 2 Ptn.—Semi-conscious, foreground guns and stickers.

No. 3 Ptn.—Same as No. 4 Ptn. No. 4 Ptn.—Same as No. 3 Ptn. Unattached N.C.O.—L/Bombardier Picklepuss to make himself generally useless.

Friday (Good).

No. 1 Ptn.—Will practice digging trenches with a toothpick, as laid out in Infantry Section misleading ch. XXIV, para. 4, line 5, wds. 2-10, 101/202 35016: 0211-1898.

No. 2 Ptn.—Will listen ( ?) to a talk by Major FlabbyCheeks upon the relief of Mafeking.

Nos. 3 and 4 Ptns.—Gymns. Lecture by Gym-skols upon how not to assemble pouches (pooches), and what not to do at camp (so what ?).

Unattached N.C.O.s.— L/Cpl. Messabout to messabout.

L/Cpl. Faffer to aid L/Cpl. Messabout.

CERTIFICATE " A." (With apologies to the War Office and anyone else who thinks he deserves them.)

FOR: Infantry, R.A.F., A.R.P. Wardens, Engineers, Mountaineers, Auctioneers and anybody who wants it.

SUBJECT : GENERAL TACTICS (late Indian Army).

TIME ALLOWANCE : The duration of anything.

N.B.—Before reading the questions, look over your neighbour's shoulder, read anything he may have written and consult the map.

N.B.—No map is provided.

*

*

*

NARRATIVE I. A herd of Germans are playing pontoon, knee-deep in water, somewhere in the Siegfried Line. They are completely unarmed and march on their stomachs, which are usually empty of synthetic tea.

QUESTION I. Consult the map and describe the country almost anywhere, with special reference to its suitability for flying.

(100 marks.)

QUESTION II. Where was Goebbels when the lights went out ?

(000 marks.)

(If you are a member of the Gestapo or are in a concentration camp, do not answer this question.)

QUESTION III. Write an essay to be read between the lines.

(14/6 a bottle.)

QUESTION IV. How many uniforms has Goering? If so, how many can he wear at once?

(Don't be personal or rude.)

(Q.R.M. pfennig.)

* * *

NARRATIVE II. At 1215 hours, St. Peter's O.T.C. are passing " The Spotted Dog." (1130-1430 and 1800-2230, except Sundays.)

QUESTION I. Why? QUESTION In what (a) (b) (c)

(100%.)

II.

countries are the following languages spoken: " Morse Code." " Algebra." " Bad." (2 dollars 50.)

QUESTION III. How many men are there in a section?

ANSWER. Eight.

(Full marks.)

(Questions 4 and 5 are alternative, on no account answer either of them.)

36

QUESTION IV. Give one word which means each of the following: (a) " Quot homines, tot sententiae." (b) " Stop." (c) " Form up in a line of sections of three, at the same time forming a close column of platoons and ordering a pint of bitter."

(12 dynes/unit p.)

QUESTION V. Your C.O. tells you to explain the lying load. You have already explained it six times. What would you say to him ?

(Cl. 35.5 ; C, 12 ; 0, 16.)

Note.—Be tactful.

(7/6 in the £.)

QUESTION VI. What is the field signal for " enemy advancing out of sight in Rolls Royce cars " ? (dy/dx Cos 0.)

Paul de Kruif.

THE WAR IN THE AIR. If it is possible that any good can come out war, then perhaps one rather interesting issue is the fact that the man in the street is becoming increasingly air minded. It is therefore not surprising that the papers are publishing details of air fights with increasing frequency; and thus we hope that anyone who reads this article will not be surprised to see a survey of the war in the air appearing in a school magazine. This survey, which is taken as far as the middle of March, embraces most of the activities of the belligerents in the air war.

The much vaunted " Luftwaffe " had its first experience of warfare in the Polish campaign. The air arm was used to its fullest advantage. Almost before Poland had realised that she was at war, every known Polish aerodrome was raided and at least a fifth of the Polish Air Force wiped out. Then followed a systematic bombing of railheads, junctions, roads and bridges. The Poles fought back heroically, but their machines had to run with no maintenance, and no spares were available. The whole Polish military machine was brought to a standstill. Reserve troops could not reach the front, as the railways were submitted to continual bombing and machine-gunning. Besides this, stationary locomotives were repeatedly attacked by Messerschmitt Me 110s, which used their cannons to perforate the boilers. No anti-aircraft 37

defences existed at important points, and the German machines were able to fly to and fro at will, except for sporadic interruptions by Poles who still managed to keep their aircraft supplied with petrol and ammunition. All industrial areas suffered badly, with the result that no new machines were available. The dropping of parachute troops was also tried, the purpose being to blow up important centres. It was, however, unsuccessful.

Dive bombing was first tried out on a large scale in Poland, the machines employed being Junkers Ju 87, single engine dive bombers. After a reconnaissance had been made of their target, the bombers dived down from their operating height of 10,000 ft., and when at about 3,000 ft. they released their bombs either in salvo or singly.

Thus in every phase the Luftwaffe was successful in bringing to a speedy conclusion the Polish campaign.

Turning to activity over Britain the most outstanding feature has been the surprisingly small scale air operations.

Before the war it was generally anticipated that Germany would send waves of bombers to attack London and the big industrial centres. So far nothing has been seen of this.

No doubt the much threatened mass air raids will take place.

It is not Goering's kindheartedness which prevents him bombing civilians, but the fear of reprisals from R.A.F. bombers.

Naval units were attacked in Scapa Flow and the Firth of Forth, four ships sustaining some damage. Enemy losses were considerable.

Land bombing by the German Air Force has been confined to the Shetlands, where the casualties have been a rabbit and three sheep. Most of the planes which have crossed the British coast have been on reconnaissance, and have been mainly Heinkel He 111s, about thirty of which have been forced down, several of those shot down over the land yielding valuable information. One landing near Whitby was practically undamaged. The new short-nosed version has a maximum speed of about 290 m.p.h. The gun positions, however, are not enclosed in turrets, as in their British counterparts.

While on reconnaissance the 111s have been mostly engaged in taking photographs, several of which appeared in the Press. At present only one German machine has been seen to penetrate as far inland as Lancashire, and then it was flying at a great height. This seems a poor comparison with the many R.A.F. flights over Greater Germany.

38

The reason for the scarcity of German machines over the British coast is due to alert coastal and air defences.

Since the beginning of the war, fighter squadrons of the R.A.F. have shot down and destroyed about fifty enemy planes without a single loss. This seems to bear out the quality of the Hurricane and Spitfire and the effectiveness of their armament, which is a battery of eight machine guns situated in the wings.

A dozen German aircraft, probably Junkers Ju 87, in the first few weeks of the war attacked units of the home fleet in the North Sea. This incident gave rise to the popular German query, " Where is the Ark Royal ? " During this engagement the enemy lost six aircraft. Since then the Luftwaffe have had to resort to attacking unarmed merchant ships (of any nationality), trawlers, drifters and lightships, to gain any measure of success. Even after these inhuman specimens of Nazi rule have gone so far, they are not content, but they have to machine-gun the men as they try to launch their lifeboats.

If it were not that the enemy have attacked shipping chiefly on cloudy days, their percentage loss would have been considerably higher. The clouds enable them to approach unseen and also evade the fighters. From the fact that the Germans have only been using small numbers of aircraft for these raids, it may be concluded that they are compelled to be economical with both fuel and trained men, in preparation for a big offensive.

A new phase of warfare was opened when the enemy used seaplanes to lay magnetic mines in river estuaries and shallow waters. The principal type employed for this work is the Heinkel He 115, which is one of the cleanest seaplanes yet designed and has a maximum speed of 204 m.p.h. Two magnetic mines are carried and are dropped by parachute, or alternatively the aircraft can alight on the water. But there are obvious disadvantages to this method.

To revert to the R.A.F., which has been much busier than the German Air Force. From the outbreak of war the Coastal Command has been doing very valuable work in protecting and guiding convoys, attacking submarines and detecting mines, as well as giving fight to, and frequently overcoming, the enemy. The aircraft in this command consist both of landplane and flying boat designs.

The large Short Sunderland flying boats have been doing wonderful work, their long range being useful for patrol over the Atlantic. The rescue of the crew of the torpedoed 39

ship " Kensington Court," the first of its kind ever made, was carried out by two of these aircraft For shorter flights Avro Ansons and Lockheed Hudsons are used. It was one of the latter type which discovered the German prison ship " Altmark." The Anson, although an old design (it has a top speed of 188 m.p.h.), has been highly successful in the destruction of U boats. Frequently these aircraft have saved ships in convoy from hitting mines, and they can be relied upon to keep lurking submarines well out of the way, as submarines cruising at periscope depth can easily be spotted from the air. It is interesting to note that not a single ship has been lost in a convoy escorted by aircraft.

Another duty of the Coastal Command, which they have not yet had an opportunity of putting into practice, is to wireless back the approach of hostile bombing forces.

As far as bombers are concerned, there seems to be no end to the initiative of the R.A.F. in spreading its wings over Europe. Yet there has been no land bombing by the R.A.F. All targets attacked have been on the water, except for the raid on the German seaplane base at Borkum carried out .by long range Bristol Blenheim fighters. The fighter Blenheim has far more fire power than the bomber version.

The main armament is a battery of machine guns, under the centre section of the fuselage, firing forwards. Besides this there is a gun turret amidships on top of the fuselage.

The R.A.F., however, have certainly not been idle, almost nightly heavy bombers have penetrated hundreds of miles into enemy territory and have indicated their presence by dropping leaflets and parachute flares. Moreover, an amazing series of aerial photos of every important part of Germany has been obtained and has had to be kept constantly up to date.

The aircraft most widely used by the heavy sections of the Bomber Command are the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley and the Vickers' Wellington. The latest Whitley about which it is permissible to give performance figures is Mk. IV, which has a maximum speed of 245 m.p.h. The Wellington Mk. I when fitted with two Bristol Pegasus engines has the high top speed of 265 m.p.h. and the extremely long range of 3,240 miles in still air. Both are very well defended, as has been shown in their none too frequent encounters with the Messerschmitt Me 110s. This twin-engined aircraft has a top speed of 370 m.p.h. and a range of about 1,800 miles. Its armament consists of four machine guns and two shell-firing cannon. Two machine guns are free, being operated by a rear gunner who has no gun turret. The rest of the guns are fixed and fire forward.

40

The long range of this machine makes it suitable as an escorting fighter to protect the bombing force. The British policy of fitting power-driven gun turrets is greatly helping to prove the superiority of R.A.F. bombers over the opposing fighters.

The enemy has been loth to attack British aircraft on their nightly reconnaissance trips. The reason probably being that they are anxious to keep secret the location of their batteries of heavy anti-aircraft guns, which cannot easily be moved.

Very few interceptions have been made by enemy fighters. The Messerschmitt Me 109, the backbone of the German fighter force, is unsuitable for night flying on account of its extremely high landing speed. Its armament consists of two machine guns and one cannon firing through the airscrew hub.

R.A.F. aircraft, mostly Whitleys, have been on Security Patrol over the German seaplane bases at Borkum, Nordeney and Sylt. The seaplanes cannot take off at night to lay their mines without a flare path, and so if any lights are being shown on the water it is the job of the Air Force to put them out.

A great many reconnaissance and some bombing raids have been over the Heligoland Bight to report on the position and to attack German warships. Heligoland must be untenable as a naval base for large ships, as its defence against aircraft is difficult. The intercepting fighter forces have to fly out from the mainland, which causes delay. The same problem arose when the Shetlands had to be protected against the tip and run raids of the enemy. Fighters, however were based in the islands and seem to have acted as a deterrent to enemy bombers.

Little has happened on the Western front, either on the ground or in the air. In the first few weeks of the war, British machines flew over the Siegfried Line, photographing every inch of the ground. At times they were so low down that they were mistaken for German aircraft. Thus the General Staff were able to compile a complete aerial mosaic of the Western Wall.

A lot of this work was carried out by Army Co-operation Squadrons. Aircraft from these squadrons are used for artillery " spotting " as well as for observing troop movements. The types of machine used in A.C. work are Fairey Battles, Long Nose Blenheims and Westland Lysanders. The latter type was specially designed for this work. It has two fixed guns firing forward and one free gun operated by the 41

second member of the crew. One of its most striking features is the large speed range. The maximum speed is 230 m.p.h., but while spotting for the artillery it can fly at as low a speed as 45 m.p.h. This is due to the fitting of both slots and flaps. The Fairey Battle is used mainly for photographic reconnaissances and for convoying lorries up to the front.

So far this war has produced no outstanding fighter pilots, such as Mannock and Bishop during the last war.

However, there is one New Zealand pilot, nick-named Cobber, who has so far shot down two Dornier 17s and one Messerschmitt 109.

The largest dog-fight of the war took place on November 5th, when twenty-seven mixed German fighters were attacked by nine French machines. After a hard-fought battle, the French shot down nine enemy aircraft and came away unscathed. The two types of French aircraft engaged were the Morane 406 and the Curtiss Hawk 75A. The former has a top speed of 310 m.p.h., and its armament consists of two machine guns and one shell-firing cannon. It is a very strong and manoeuvrable machine, much liked by the French pilots. The Curtiss Hawk 75A, purchased from America, has a top speed of 310 m.p.h. and is armed with six machine guns. It is believed that the French version has four machine guns and one cannon.

Finally, one important point should be appended. The war has not started yet. When it does we can be sure that Germany will at least attempt large scale bombing attacks on this country, and our planes will strike back with even greater persistency. But one should not be discouraged, for our defence system is powerful enough to prevent a repetition of Poland.

Motrevlock, Forms V and VI.

S.S. HOLMPARK. The " Holmpark " left this country with a cargo of coal shortly before Christmas for a destination in the Indian Ocean. The voyage was, we gather, without adventure, and a mail arrived from the ship in February, having been posted in January at a bunkering port not far from her destination.

We do not know her present whereabouts, but it is unlikely that she will be home for some time. Meanwhile, we send Capt. Richard and his officers and crew our very best wishes for a safe voyage.

42

In order to avoid all risk of giving useful information, Mr. Martin has sent accounts of places he visited on previous voyages, and a fascinating description of deep sea fishing in the far north. He has made several trips on these trawlers, and his first-hand account is particularly interesting.

THE RIVER AMAZON AND THE CITY OF PARA. When approaching the coast of Brazil from anywhere between north and east, during daylight, you may see ahead a thin black line stretching at right angles to your course and disappearing over the horizon in both directions.

Behind this line there is a distinct change from the deep blue near the ship to a dull greyish yellow. The black line is a fringe of tree trunks, palm leaves and other debris floating at the junction of salt and fresh water. This line is sometimes several hours' journey from the land and may be two hundred miles from it. The enormous volume of water necessary to " push back " the sea water to such an extent comes from the River Amazon. This ship is able to steam up the Amazon for several days—in fact, for 2,232 miles. The average width for the whole distance is three miles, but it is very irregular. I think the narrowest part is just over a mile, but it widens in places to twenty. The banks and surrounding country are covered with dense jungle, and there are no navigation lights. The pilots have to rely on their knowledge of the country—probably the most difficult pilotage in the world.

Above Para the river divides, one part going to the right past Para and the other entering the sea to the west.

The island which divides the river at this point is responsible for the two " mouths." One is 100 miles wide and the other 45.

The city of Para is the only important city in that part of South America. Excellent quays are built along the river bank, and five minutes' walk takes one to the central part of the city. From the river an avenue runs inland for about half a mile and the chief hotels, cafes, etc., are found on this thoroughfare. An interesting point about the avenue that all the trees are male fruit trees. That is to say, they do not bear fruit, but are evergreen and provide welcome shade all the year round. As in all countries settled by Latin races, there are elaborate gardens full of fountains and beautifully designed footpaths consisting of small tiles in different colours arranged to form a pattern. On the 43

avenue, in the centre of a garden, there is an opera house worthy of any big European city.

Money is a bit of a trial in Brazil. A millreis is worth about threepence, and a tram-ride to the zoo costs 200 reis.

If you change a couple of pounds -into reis you need an attendant to carry your small change. Among the shops are numbers of wood-workers who make all kinds of articles from native woods. These shops cater chiefly for foreign trade and tourists who call at the ports on their way from U.S.A. to Rio and the Argentine. Brazil produces over 2,000 different varieties of woods, some of them highly coloured, and some which have a natural " french polish " and do not need to be polished after sawing or planing. One article of this kind which sells in large numbers is a " dumb waiter."

It is the figure of a page boy, standing with a small tray on the palms of his two hands. His hair is black, skin chocolate brown, jacket yellow with red buttons and collar, pants blue with yellow seams. It is a bit gaudy, but it shows to perfection the beautiful woods grown in the country, and these colours are natural, no polish or artificial colouring being used. Beaded articles and all kinds of brassware are made by the Indians.

From the Amazon come an amazing assortment of highly-coloured fish, and these are sent chiefly to New York Aquarium. I bought a full-grown monkey in Para for eighteen pence. He was so small that he could sit on the edge of an empty tea-cup without knocking it over. If I pretended to be eating something he would spring on my shoulder and try with his tiny hands to force my mouth open. I grew so fond of him that I did not have the heart to take him from his native land, and so gave him to our agent's son, who promised to give him a good home.

There is a large but shallow dock at Para which is used by native sailing craft. A walk round this region is well repaid if only to study the many different types of native. Before moving on, I must mention that the electric tramways are owned by an English, company, and were in operation in Para before London had. its first tram.

Extract from a letter from F. Martin, Esq., W/O., S.S. Holmpark, January, 1940 DEEP-SEA FISHING. The term " deep-sea " refers to trawlers which go to Iceland and the far north, and does not include trawlers or other fishing craft which remain near the coasts of Great 44

Britain and the northern islands. The modern deep-sea trawler is a large vessel, compared even with those built ten years ago, and as the owners of these vessels believe in using the best equipment, Great Britain can claim to have the best as well as the largest fishing fleet in the world.

Hull and Grimsby are the home ports for these big trawlers, and ten or twelve of them will leave each tide for one or other of the distant grounds. A similar number arrive, and within a short time the cargoes are sold and have started their train journey to various parts of the country. When leaving port the ships are heavily loaded with coal, and both fishrooms are filled with it, so that they are able to steam to distant grounds and return without having to call at foreign ports for supplies. Cape Kanin is about eighteen hundred miles' journey, and takes about 61 days' steaming, so you see that a trawler fishing on those grounds has to travel a distance of 3,600 miles just to get there and back. In addition to that must be added the distance travelled by the ship while actually fishing.

Trawlers may be seen in Hull every day, loading and unloading, but for the presQnt we are interested in those loading. Any necessary repairs have to be taken in hand, and will be completed at about the same time as the loading of coal, food and crushed ice—the latter being used to preserve the fish until they can be brought to market. At the owner's office nearby a number of men are gathered in the hope of getting a job, and from among this number the mate will select his crew. When signed on they will be told at what time to be on board. All these arrangements must be completed by the time the dock gates are opened, and the vessels leave within a few minutes of each other.

Trawler skippers are very familiar with the channel and will proceed to sea in thick fog.

Assuming the skipper has instructions to fish for plaice at Cape Kanin or Cape Tereberski, he will run his ship across the North Sea and along the west coast of Norway till he reaches the West Fjord. Entering this wide, straight sound he runs to its eastern end, where, at the little village of Lodingen, he takes a pilot. From this point the pilot takes the vessel through the narrow passages between the mountains as far as Honingsvaag, at which point the ship is able to proceed the remaining few miles to the open sea without a pilot. This journey from Lodingen to Honingsvaag is full of interest either in summer or winter. In winter it is dark throughout the twenty-four hours, and in bad weather there is nothing to be seen. On a fine winter's night 45

it is very different. On both sides rise towering mountains, covered with snow to the water's edge. Overhead the clear sky is black, and covered with millions of glittering stars.

The word " glittering " seems to be the only one to use in connection with the stars in the far north. Each one seems to claim attention, and each one contributes its share of light, until collectively there is sufficient to illuminate the snow-clad mountains, and enables travellers to find their way about without difficulty. When the sky is obscured by heavy storm clouds, the resulting blackness would put a war-time " black-out " to shame. Occasionally the vessel passes a small village tucked away in one of the tiny ledges at the foot of the mountains, and here the lights from the mountains add their share to the fairylike scene. The narrowest passage is at Tromso, the largest town in the north. Tromso is the commercial centre for a very large part of northern Norway, and is famous as the starting point for polar expeditions. Like all Norwegian towns in the north, Tromso is a lonely place during the long winter night, but in summer the whole region is transformed. The days begin to lengthen from about half an hour of light to the full twenty-four hours. Hundreds of holiday-makers flock there and the water is alive with motor-boats, private yachts and cruising liners. The latter go to North Cape especially to let their passengers see the sun shining at midnight. The landscape, too, is changed. Snow still lies deep and spotless on the summits, but the lower slopes are dark green, especially where the pine trees grow. Pine trees are a source of livelihood to the folk who live in the far north. Each year hundreds of young pines are shipped abroad to be used as Christmas trees, and it is fairly certain that a tree bought from one of London's stores came from this region. " Farming " as it is understood in the north is rather different from our idea of it. The farmer usually owns an acre or two of land, and two to six cows, according to the amount of coarse grass available for feeding. In winter these unfortunate creatures live under the owner's house, and eat fish. Fishing is, naturally, the chief industry, and a good deal of salted fish is exported. Laplanders bring furs to Tromso and they can be bought very cheaply.

Purchasers of furs need to send them to be properly cured, however, if they are taking them to warmer climates.

Whaling is still a profitable undertaking in season.

On arrival at Honingsvaag, particularly in winter, it is easy to imagine that you have discovered a real fairyland. High mountains almost close the small harbour, and when the water has recovered from the disturbance caused 46

by your arrival, the harbour looks like a sheet of ice— perhaps mirror would be a better word, as it is possible to see the reflection of the stars in its still surface. Thousands of lights from the shore add to its beauty, while it needs only the faint sound of accordions to complete the illusion. The townsfolk take no interest in your arrival, unless you are staying or going ashore, but boys always come on board. It is impossible to arrive at any time during the twenty-four hours without seeing some of them. They come in the hope that the skipper will give them a job while fishing, and they might even persuade him to take them for a trip to Hull. Like all Scandinavians, these lads sing, and they will sing song after song just for the pleasure of entertaining you. They all speak four or five languages and are quite at home on English, German, French or Dutch trawlers. Having learnt some of it at school, they quickly learn more from those they meet in ships, but as the bulk of it has been learned from sailors, their version is a bit salty.

Half an hour after leaving Honingsvaag brings the ship to the open sea, to the eastward of North Cape, which can be seen in the distance. There is still a long way to go, but even in this part of the world there is something to see.

Trawlers of different nationalities and timber-laden tramps from the White Sea are passed fairly frequently, and there is always the coast-line plainly visible in the Arctic night.

Life is not always so peaceful, and very severe blizzards are numerous. A black frost is almost as bad, and is much more severe than the white frosts we see at home. Calm weather is the fore-runner of black frosts, and without any warning a heavy fog seems to rise out of the water. This is no ordinary fog, either, but is like frozen air. Hot water thrown on deck will freeze before it can reach the scuppers.

Ice forms everywhere, and in bad frosts it is necessary to stop the ship so that water will not be splashed on the sides, where it would freeze instantly. Even then if there is a slight breeze the wavelets soon cause a layer of ice to form, and in two or three hours it may be three feet thick and has to be chopped away. Fishing is not possible under these conditions, but black frosts seldom last more than a day.

Heavy gales also add to the fisherman's burdens. Whether the conditions are good or bad, the ship eventually reaches its ground.

Plaice favour sandy ground, and sea beaches are good localities, but trawling has to be done in deeper water.

About thirty-five fathoms is the usual depth, and on arrival 47

at the trawling ground, the trawl is " shot " and towed for about two hours. At the end of that time the skipper will haul and see what fish there are in the trawl. If it is a poor catch a move will be made to another part of the ground or to a new one, but if good the skipper will " shoot away " and tow the. trawl along the bottom for four or six hours before hauling again. Twenty baskets of good sized fish is excellent fishing, and many men are content with much less. In good weather plaice fishing is very pleasant and an easy-going business, as there is plenty of time to clean and stow away the catch and to rest before the next one comes on board. The fishing continues night and day (whether dark or not), and if good hauls are made the ship will remain there till time to leave for home. If not she will leave after about seven days' fishing, and shoot for " rough stuff," which is the fisherman's name for cod and other less valuable fish. Perhaps two days will be spent on this ground and the ship filled. On reaching the market it may be found that the ship will land five hundred kits of plaice and two thousand kits of " rough." Such a landing may bring as much as three thousand pounds and would be described as a good trip.

When cod are plentiful at Bear Island, 1,300 miles to the north, fishing is a much more strenous business. At the first haul the vessel may get six " bags " of cod for one hour's towing. The fishermen " shoot away " again and work frantically to clean and stow the catch. It is not possible to stow such a large quantity before hauling time, and the result is that another five or six " bags " are dumped on top of those still remaining from the last haul. This goes on till the decks are so full that they are " running over " and further fishing is impossible. As soon as there is room, however, over goes the trawl. With fish coming on board at that rate it is impossible for the men to rest, and they frequently work fifty or more hours without sleep or rest, and one hour will cover the time " wasted " in eating food—about ten minutes for a meal. Fish-rooms fill rapidly at this rate, and as soon as the skipper thinks there is enough on deck to complete filling he will set off for home, his decks waist deep in fish, and his men still slaving away to get them below. When the fish are cleared away, trawls are stowed and the ship washed down, and the men may rest—except those who have to go straight on watch for a six-hour stretch. As soon as everything is ship-shape, the skipper goes to bed, and that is the last anyone sees of him for forty-eight hours or more.

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All trips are not so successful as the ones mentioned, and there are many when fishing is poor and the ship is forced to return with half a cargo. In that case she will be lucky to pay expenses. However, on the average for the year, they make a good living.

Extract from letter from F. Martin, Esq., W/O., S.S. Holmpark.

January, 1940.

PRE-WAR TIENTSIN. Tientsin, like all the other International Settlements in China, is divided up into sections called Concessions, in which the different nationalities in the city live. Thus there is a British Concession and a French Concession, etc. Each Concession has its own police force, and in the case of the British these are Sikhs. The city itself is no different from an ordinary town in England such as Leeds, except that Tientsin is possibly the cleaner of the two. It has parks, trams, imposing buildings and even traffic lights, although they are hand-controlled by the policeman on point duty.

The main difference between the two towns is the people, and in the case of Tientsin the " Rickshaws." I daresay you have all seen pictures of them at some time or another, just a small carriage with two large wheels and a pair of shafts, and propelled by one man. They are the cheapest and easiest form of transport, although cars and bicycles are used by many. One has only to shout " Rickshaw " and they come running from every direction to obtain your fare.

The Chinaman himself is a bit different from the average person's conception of him: he has no pigtail and he wears a trilby, although instead of trousers and jacket of the European he still keeps to the traditional long-sleeved robe of his ancestors. The women wear short starched trousers and little jackets of the same material, although the modern young Chinese " Miss " has taken to skirts and lipstick. Moreover, except in the case of the older women their feet are a natural size, as the custom of binding up the women's feet when they are young has now been abolished.

Apart from the usual run of everyday incidents and the usual forms of amusements, there were one or two outstanding happenings. One day the presence of bandits near the city was reported, and the troops were rushed to the outskirts of the Settlement in case they came anywhere near. I remember vividly the thrill I got when I went to 49

see a section with a lewis gun entrenched about half a mile from my house, in my mind's eye I conjured up hordes of fierce-looking bandits all armed with fearsome knives.

Another minor incident was when someone threw a bomb at the Japanese Embassy only a hundred yards down the road from where I lived.

The Chinese, like the Americans, like a good show when they do anything. At night, for instance, everywhere is just a blaze of light, all the big stores and buildings being festooned with coloured lights and Neon signs of varying sizes and hues. The streets are thronged with shoppers, and theatre-goers in evening dress. In the winter there is skating from the middle of December till the end of February, this is continuous as the ice never melts, at times it is over a foot in thickness. All the lakes in the parks are skated on, and as the country is cut up by innumerable small creeks, it is possible to spend the day skating for miles into the surrounding countryside. In the summer the swimming-baths are always thronged as any other form of exercise is extremely hot work.

G. W. Vero, Form VI.

NOTES AND ITEMS. In response to the Government's " Grow-more " campaign a School Allotment has been started. The object of this is not to supply either of the boarding houses with an endless store of vegetables, an impossible task, but merely to supplement the present quantities which have to be obtained from outside.

The site chosen for the plot is down near the shooting range and will cover an area of about 300 square yards when it is completed. The plot is to consist of three sections so as to provide a rotation of crops. So far, one section is finished and is now sown with various varieties of early potatoes.

The original digging was heavy going, as the land had previously been uncultivated grassland. Up to the present the enthusiasm for this valuable work has come from the Rise, but next term it it hoped that there will be many more keen gardeners who are not afraid of a bit of hard work.

In spite of the War the Five Million Club continues its good work. Already many children evacuated to the country have been supplied with sports equipment. Next term we hope to increase our number of members.

A further subscription has been voluntarily added to the School list on the suggestion of the Head of the School.

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This is supported by the large majority of the School and consists of id. per boy weekly for the British Red Cross.

C. M. Robson is to be congratulated on being made a School Monitor, and on his appointment to be Captain of School Boats.

We congratulate R. C. Lynch on his appointment as Captain of Hockey, and J. B. Shillitoe on becoming Secretary of Athletics.

P. R. G. Graham is to be congratulated on his appointment to be Secretary of Squash.

D. Cole and J. McN. Inglis are to be congratulated on the award of their School Shooting Colours.

G. D. Jefferson has been appointed an Editor of " The Peterite " and also a Librarian.

R. C. Lynch and F. F. Steele are to be congratulated on the award of their School Hockey Caps, and J. S. Garnham, H. C. Belchamber, H. A. Milburn, F. N. Milburn and J. I. Sleight on their Hockey Colours The Editors of " The Peterite " were very pleased to receive, during the term, a copy of the magazine of the Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, U.S.A. A copy of " The Peterite " has been sent in return. We hope that the exchange of magazines between the two Schools will continue, and help to consolidate the good feelings already existing between this country and the United States of America.

During the term members of the Scientific Society, led

by Mr. Ping, paid an interesting and instructive visit to the Yorkshire Museum.

O.T.C. NEWS AND SHOOTING. Because of bad weather conditions this term, there have been few semi-dress parades out of doors.

Every platoon in the company has had a lecture on the Bren gun by a Sergeant from Fulford Barracks, who brought a Bren gun with him for the purpose.

No. 1 platoon's training has consisted mostly of lectures, in preparation for the Promotion Exam., which should have taken place this term.

No. 2 platoon is composed of candidates for the practical of " Certificate A," which also should have been this term.

Nos. 3 and 4 platoons, composed of recruits, have been mainly doing Arms Drill and Weapon Training in preparation for the summer term.

51

Signalling under Mr. Jeffs has been proceeding as usual, and a field telephone is in action between the Rise and School House. Apart from the telephone, the lamps have been the only means of signalling as the heliographs have been requisitioned for the Army.

The band has been unable to make much headway this term owing to absentees.

SHOOTING. Altogether, eight league matches have been shot off this term, and up to date, nine out of twelve league matches have been won, which says much for the skill of the Shooting VIII when one considers that several people have been away ill for part of the term.

League Results:— End of Last Term.

Won 116 129 Repton St. Peter's Won 118 Bromsgrove [no card] Lost 125 115 Ampleforth Won 124 127 Stowe Lost 128 114 Royal G.S. 7/ This Term.

Won 119 124 Witham St. Peter's Won 119 129 Repton B. Pf Won 127 Bromsgrove [no card] Won 126 128 Uppingham ff Won 118 124 Forest School Won 120 130 Oundle A. ,, Lost 132 125 Repton t1 Won 118 126 King William's 39 Congratulations to D. Cole and J.McN. Inglis on being awarded their Shooting Colours.

9f

SENIOR SCHOOL SCOUTS. This term organised Scouting has been difficult and most of the parades have been unofficial and poorly attended. In spite of this some of the Scouts have done very useful work.

The task of collecting and disposing of the School's waste paper was taken on by the Scouts, as is being done all over the country. It was a big job for the few volunteers, but was carried out without much trouble with the aid of our improvised mechanical transport! We were bewildered 52

at times by the extraordinary assortment of `junk ' that people try to pass off as waste paper, ranging from old electric light bulbs to orange peel. The inclusion of such materials makes this business of sorting an enlightening but dangerous task.

Towards the end of term, when circumstances permitted, an Ambulance class was started. This will be continued next term.

Some Scouts have been worried about our Summer camping. They can be reassured now as arrangements have been made provisionally for a beautiful private camp site within easy reach of the School. It is hoped that we shall be able to have more week-end camps as successful as last year's.

There has been very little activity among the Senior Scouts this term. We assume that this is due to the approaching examinations which unfortunately come at a time when Scouting should be at its highest.

HOCKEY, 1940.

ST. PETER'S SCHOOL v. WORKSOP. Result—St. Peter's School 1, Worksop 3.

Played at Worksop, Wednesday, February 28th.

A team, depleted by illness, lost to Worksop 1-3.

Neither of the teams had had much practice and the standard of Hockey produced was surprisingly good.

The game started in a drizzle with an attack by the School. Sleight took the ball down the wing and centred, but the forwards tapped it about in the circle and it was cleared.

It became apparent that our forwards were beset with the same sin that has marked them for the last few years— an inability to hit hard in the circle. They can get up to the circle, but once inside they seem stricken with paralysis and, with the exception of Milburn, they pat the ball about until it is cleared.

The School were doing most of the attacking, the halves, well up, hitting the ball back as soon as it was cleared, but no goal resulted. Then at last it came ; Milburn got the ball from a clearance, and, with Sleight, took the ball down the right wing. Sleight centred and Buckler was there to push it past Middleton into the goal.

In the first half the Worksop attack was held by the School. Knox was making repeated efforts to beat Belchamber, but Belchamber was playing magnificently and stopped him every time. Evans was more concerned with 53

defence than attack, and so a dangerous left wing was bottled up.

Just before half-time the School lost their grip. Their attacks had only met with one success and their forwards weren't combining well. Cole tended to centre too late and was usually tackled before he could part with the ball.

Worksop began to feed their left, and with Evans playing well up it became a dangerous left wing. Then Hunting got the ball and had a hard shot at goal. The ball rose, hit Garnham and went into goal.

Evans was playing a grand game for Worksop; he was back in defence and started most of their attacks. Within a few minutes of Worksop's first goal he sent Knox away down the wing. Knox centred, and following up Hunting's shot, put the ball into the net.

The School made great efforts to score an equaliser, but the Worksop defence, with Graham playing a sound game, kept them out. Milburn put the ball into the net from just outside the circle, but nothing else resulted.

Steele, who is not used to the centre-half position, was tending to give Hunting too much rope, and this, coupled with the fact that the backs were standing square, enabled Hunting to score Worksop's third goal.

No side came with the School making desperate attacks on the Worksop goal.

The stickwork of the School team was much better than that of Worksop, but Worksop played as a team, whereas the School team played as eleven individuals, sometimes combining in groups of two or three.

Graham and Evans were the best of the Worksop team, and Belchamber played a grand game for the School.

Teams :St. Peter's—J. S. Garnham ; H. A. Belchamber, J. H. Butler; R. C. Lynch, F. F. Steele, P. M. Steele ; J. I. Sleight, H. A. Milburn, F. N. Buckler, J. R. Frost, D Cole Worksop—S. A. Middleton ; P. M. Graham, H. D. Jenison ; R. W. Naismith, P. F. Stow, G. Watner-Smith ; W. B. Knox, A. L. Evans, S. J. Hunting, P. Carmichael, J. B. Millar.

ST. PETER'S SCHOOL v. ROYAL ENGINEERS. Played at Home, March 16th.

Result—St. Peter's School 3, Royal Engineers 2.

The School fielded an exceptionally young team, perhaps one of the youngest that the School has ever fielded, owing to the fact that 6 regular members of the XI were absent.

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From the start the School were on the attack, and several times they were in their opponents' circle, but owing to some poor shooting and some fine saves by the goalkeeper, they failed to score. The Royal Engineers then made their first attacking movement and this resulted in a goal, which Garnham could hardly have hoped to have saved. The School immediately attacked again and Buckler scored an equalising goal, this being followed immediately afterwards by another goal, this time scored by Broadhurst.

For the rest of the half the School were pressing for most of the time, but there were occasional rushes by the Engineers into the School circle which were all beaten off.

Just before half-time Frost scored the School's third and last goal.

The second half was a repetition of the first, with the School pressing for most of the time and with spasmodic rushes downfield by the Engineers, one of these resulting in their second goal. The School shooting was again poor, and in this way many scoring opportunities were wasted.

Team—J. S. Garnham ; H. C. Belchamber, J. H. Butler; F. N. Buckler, A. S. Clephan, J. R. Frost; D. Cole, A. Broadhurst, T. F. Cookson, J. Caley, P. M. Steele.

SENIOR HOUSE HOCKEY. SEMI-FINAL. Result—School House 2, Rise 1.

The Semi-final of the House Hockey was played Thursday, 7th March.

Both teams were depleted through illness. This probably accounted for the low standard of hockey.

After the first five minutes it was obvious that it was going to be a hard struggle.

In the first half, the play was fairly open and the Rise did most of the attacking; their attacks lacked cohesion and never got far against Milburn and Clephan. The Rise halves dominated the game, starting attacks and breaking up attacks by School House.

Neither goal was in any real danger as the forwards on both sides were the weakest parts of their teams. Frost, Sleight and Buckler provided what fireworks there were in the shape of individual efforts to score, but the defences were on top. Half-time came with no score but with the Rise doing the major part of the attacking.

In the second half School House began to wake up, and for the first time in the game, Taylor, the Rise goalie, 55

touched the ball. It was in an attempt to stop a shot from Sleight, but the ball glanced off his pads and went in.

The Rise now made a series of attacks in an effort to get an equaliser, and their backs and halves went right up the field. This proved to be their undoing; Sleight got the ball, hit it right down the field, went racing after it, and had scored before any of the defenders could intervene.

The Rise continued to attack, but the School House defence was too good for them, only Frost proving really dangerous.

School House then forced a short corner and a goal was saved by Steele, who, in the nick of time, flicked the ball clear off the goal line.

A long corner followed, but Steele cleared to Shillitoe and another Rise attack started.

Frost was making great efforts to score, but Garnham was playing his usual fine game and stopped all his shots.

Then at last the Rise scored ; Coombe dribbled the ball into the circle and, with Garnham on the floor, put the ball into the net.

Soon after this no-side was blown with School House victors by two goals to one.

Milburn, Clephan, Buckler and Garnham were the best of the School House team, and for the Rise, their halves and Frost were outstanding.

Teams:— School House—J. S. Garnham ; A. S. Clephan, G. W. Vero; D. J. Burton, H. A. Milburn, J. P. Caley ; J. I. Sleight, F. N. Buckler, F. B. Davison, D. G. Middleton, D. Anderson.

Rise—D. Taylor; J. H. Butler, S. H. Beetham ; K. M. Ramsden, F. F. Steele, P. M. Steele; J. B. Shillito, P. L. Hort, J. R. Frost, H. L. Taylor, A. P. Coombe

SENIOR HOUSE HOCKEY. FINAL. Result—School House 6, Temple 0.

The Final of the Senior House Hockey was played on 8th March.

As is usual in House matches the hockey was, with the exception of that produced by a few people, rotten.

On paper, School House, with their fast-moving right wing, were the potential winners, and the result, 6-0 in their favour, is a good indication of the run of the game.

The game started with a series of attacks by School House, which were cleared by Lynch before they reached the circle. The play then pottered about in midfield, and it 56

began to look as though the game was going to deteriorate into a colourless affair with defences on top for both sides.

We thought if School House could once get a shot at goal they would, with only boater Inglis holding the fort, score; and so when Sleight at last got into the circle and shot we were mentally registering School House's first goal ; but lo and behold, what do we see but boater Inglis saving and kicking clear with his feet in a manner worthy of a veteran goalie, a goalie who was obviously used to this sort of thing and could do it in his sleep if wanted.

Soon after this, Davison scored School House's first goal after a loose maul in the circle.

School House then started a series of attacks, and their forwards left one astounded by their inability to hit the ball in the circle ; centres from the right would travel across the circle and we would be treated to the sight of three School House forwards wildly waving their sticks at the ball in the vain hope of hitting it.

Sleight put School House further ahead just before half-time.

After half-time School House attacked almost continually, but the Temple defence was surprisingly strong, Lynch, Denison and Inglis being outstanding, and nothing much got past them. The School House attacks were engineered chiefly by Milburn and Buckler, both of whom played excellent games.

Then came a spate of goals ; Milburn scored from a corner and Sleight notched another after Inglis had saved three certain goals.

Sleight tended to keep too near the centre of the field for a wing, but made several good runs, and with Buckler's help at inside this wing was a continual menace to Temple.

Davison finally managed to hit a centre from the right and put School House's total up to five.

Temple made a few desultory attacks, but Broadhurst was their only forward who knew much hockey, and he had not enough dash for an individual effort. School House goal was in danger several times though, but Garnham and Clephan managed to clear every time.

Just on time Sleight made a good run down the right wing and the School House total became six.

Milburn and Buckler were outstanding for the victors ; they engineered most of the attacks and stopped a lot of Temple attacks. Sleight was dangerous on the wing and Clephan was sound at back. Lynch and Denison did stout work for Temple, but undoubtedly the man of the match was a boater—Inglis. We take off our hats to his goal-keeping.

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JUNIOR HOUSE HOCKEY. Result—Rise 11, Temple 0.

The Semi-final between the Rise and Temple was played on Friday, March 1st. The two teams contained the usual sprinkling of boaters and the game provided as high a standard of amusement as last year. The game started with a forward rush by the Rise ; their forwards made a compact bunch with the ball in the middle and by dint of kicking, barging and beating Temple shins, the ball was propelled into the circle, where Ruddock cannoned it in off one of the Temple backs. Temple then made a haphazard attack which got them as far as their own twenty-five, but the Rise, with their superior footwork, forced a corner.

Temple gave Taylor approximately half-an-hour to play about with the ball, and, after hitting most of the circle into the goalmouth, he finally connected with the ball, which whistled through the Temple team and went in off Terry's head.

The usual mêlées in mid-field were held, everyone hitting anything they could see. When, by an obvious effort of memory, they remembered the ball, there would be a rush of a yard or so, occasionally followed by a massive " beat," which would send the teams off in full cry after the ball (sometimes).

The boater technique of dealing with the ball is classic and was well worth noting. The ball would trundle along towards the boater, watching with a smirk and an eagle eye; just as the ball is about to pass him, he jumps into action— there is a spraying of legs, a flurry of stick and arms, a slash at the ball, a miss as the ball sinks into a pot-hole or bounces over the stick, and the boater crashes onto the floor.

There were occasionally some glimpses of hockey; Walker was the strong man of the Temple defence—their attack was non-existent—and Coombe made some good runs down the left wing for the Rise. Hillyard (F. H.) was invincible at back and Robson displayed his usual high standard of Rugger—finishing several classic pieces of work by gracefully sinking to his knees and bowing his face in the dust. There were some good moments—scrums in the Temple circle, boaters back-sticking, and looking up to see if the umpire had noticed, Taylor's goals from corners and Wright's third goal, when he whistled into the circle to smash the ball into the net. Scorers for the Rise were Wright (R. A.) 2, Rodwell3, Ruddock 1, Coombe 3, Taylor 2.

Result—Rise 11, Temple 0.

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JUNIOR HOUSE HOCKEY. FINAL. Result—Rise 7, School House 0.

The final was played on Saturday, 2nd March, and was much the same as the semi-final.

This time, however, the Rise were up against a team whose footwork was as good as, if not better than, their own. The Rise backs, however, were unbeatable ; Hillyard played a faultless game and Morris's stick was enough to strike terror into men of a sterner calibre than the youths of the School House team.

Well, let us cease this frivolity and get down to brass tacks.

We knew that the School House team had more system than that of Temple, and thought that they would give the Rise a shock. We were expecting a hard fought game, an even one, and for the first ten minutes or so we were not disappointed. The play wandered from twenty-five to twenty-five and back again; everyone got in everyone else's way and nothing much was done.

Then Coombe got the ball and dribbled down the left wing; he centred and Ruddock was there to put the ball into the net.

A little later Ruddock dribbled down the field and scored another for the Rise.

The Rise were now doing most of the attacking, and just before half-time Wright scored their third goal.

A boater, Taylor, set an example in hard hitting in the circle, which the School forwards might follow. Almost immediately after half-time he scored with a terrific shot.

Soon after this he had another shot at goal and nearly broke the leg of a spectator who was standing next to the goal.

Ruddock scored off a centre from Rodwell and Hillyard (E.) got one by waiting just inside the circle for the ball to come out of a scrum in the circle and then hitting it past Braun.

Just before time Taylor got the seventh goal with another hard shot.

Caley was the best of the School House team, Davison was neat with his stick in more ways than one.

The Rise were all good, but Ruddock, Coombe, Wright and Hillyard (F.) were outstanding; Taylor produced some of the hardest hitting seen for some time.

Rise Team :—J. R. Penty ; G. R. Morris, F. H. Hillyard ; E. J. Hillyard, C. M. Robson, C. A. F. Cookson ; B. Rodwell, H. L. Taylor, P. H. 0. Ruddock, R. A. Wright, A. P. Coombe.

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ROWING. FIRST DIVISION. As was the case last year, the river was high and fast and the course was altered accordingly. In order to diminish the advantage gained by the crew on the Station side, the start was at the Scope and the finish was at the diving boards.

The Rise, who held the cup, drew the bye, and thus School House and Temple rowed in the semi-final on March 14th.

School House won the toss and chose the Station side.

Soon after the start School House, who were rowing with a long and steady stroke, were a length up. Temple House, rowing very pluckily, made valiant efforts to overtake their rivals, but School House passed the post to win by 3 lengths in 2 minutes 50 seconds.

The final was rowed on Friday, March 15th, between the Rise and School House. Both crews got away to good starts, but School House were half-a-length up at Wall end ; here the Rise increased their rate of striking to such good effect that they went up to lead by a length. School House now put on a fine spurt and began to overtake their rivals rapidly, but their efforts were in vain for the Rise passed the post to win by 3 feet with School House still gaining on them.

Crews:Rise.—Bow, J. B. Shillitoe; (2) H. Ping; (3) C. M. Robson ; Stroke, J. H. Butler; Cox, A. P. Coombe.

School House.—Bow, R. L. Miller; (2) G. D. Jefferson ; (3) R. Earle; Stroke, J. H. Motum; Cox, R. Webber.

Temple House.—Bow, R. G. Langstaff; (2) J. McN. Inglis ; (3) G. Long; Stroke, E. P. Bulmer ; Cox, G. E. K. Reynolds.

SQUASH. Squash this season has suffered several severe handicaps. Firstly, the top three strings have gone up to Cambridge, and we are glad to hear good news of their Squash there. Rucklidge and Brockbank each obtained college colours in their first season at the University, and Brockbank narrowly missed selection in the Inter-Varsity match.

Secondly, the blacking-out of the courts and the lack of match practice owing to travelling difficulties made the normal development of the younger players impossible.

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Two matches were played (in each of which we were successful last year) with rather unhappy results. In each of these the top strings were unable to play owing to illness, and the rest had to play in an unusually high position.

The Individual Competitions and Inter-House Matches have been left to the beginning of the Summer Term, and there will also be a match at home against Edinburgh Academy.

ST. PETER'S SCHOOL v. WORKSOP. Played at Worksop, Wednesday, 28th February.

Result—St. Peter's School 0, Worksop 3.

As Graham was ill, Cave was brought in and Butler and Milburn played first and second strings respectively.

It was obvious that the School team suffered from lack of practice. None of them were very sure of themselves, and several times during their games each missed the ball completely.

The first game was Butler v. Evans. Butler won the toss and went to 4-0 playing easily. He then lost the service and Evans took six points in a run. The score hovered round 4-6 for several long rallies, Butler eventually gaining the service with a nice drop-shot. He got another point, but then lost the service to Evans, who won the next three points and the game 9-5.

Butler was now tiring, and in the second game was missing easy shots. Evans had no trouble with this game, winning it 9-0.

Evans went to 4-0 in the third game and then lost the service to Butler. Butler could only make one point though and Evans went on to win the game 9-1 and the match 3-0. The last game was remarkable for some long rallies, both playing good squash ; Evans was more skilful than Butler and kept him on the run.

Milburn lost to Hall, chiefly because he was hitting too hard. Hall won the first game 9-3. He was playing on the defensive, content to wait for Milburn to make a mistake. Milburn was made to run all over the court by a cleverer player, who gave the impression that he just stood still.

Milburn lost the second game 2-9 ; it was largely a repetition of the first game.

In the third game Hall did most of the attacking and had a tired Milburn continually on the run. Hall won 9-3.

Cave started very nervously against Buchanan, who went to 7-0. Cave then got the service and scored three points before serving out of court, a thing he did frequently, thereby losing many points.

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Buchanan won the first game 9-3. The next game was very even though the score, 9-3 in Buchanan's favour, does not show it; Cave contested each point and played some of the nicest shots of the day.

Buchanan used the corners well and also gave Cave some trouble with his service.

In the last game, Cave was playing quite confidently, and it was a hard struggle until the score was 5-5.

Buchanan then went ahead to win the game 9-5.

Results:— J. H. Butler lost to A. L. Evans, 5-9, 0-9, 1-9.

H. A. Milburn lost to E. Hall, 3-9, 2-9, 3-9.

G. M. Cave lost to G. C. Buchanan, 3-9, 3-9, 5-9.

ST. PETER'S SCHOOL v. DEVENSHIRE HALL. Played on Sunday, March 10th.

The School were without their second and third string, P. R. G. Graham and H. A. Milburn were indisposed. In the first match, J. H. Butler lost to G. H. Cooper after five very hard games. Both players hit hard and there were many long rallies.

F. N. Buckler then met 0. W. Porritt, who was too clever and experienced for the School player. Although the School player played many good shots he was beaten in three straight games.

R. C. Lynch lost to D. L. Cooke, who easily won in three straight games. The School player was perhaps nervous and played many careless shots when in a good position.

C. M. Robson had a close and exciting game with D. T. Milthorpe, Devenshire Hall's fourth string. The School player lost the first game, but won the second to love. In the next three, however, he only managed to get one, to lose 3-2.

P. L. Hort, who came in as a last minute selection, showed promising form in winning three straight games from S. Saurlaugas in a hard-hitting match.

Scores :— J. H. Butler (School) lost to G. H. Cooper, 6-9, 9-10, 9-7, 10-9, 3-9.

F. N. Buckler (School) lost to 0. W. Porritt, 3-9, 5-9, 7-9.

R. C. Lynch (School) lost to D. L. Cooke, 0-9, 5-9, 3-9.

C. M. Robson lost to D. T. Milthorpe, 5-9, 9-0, 5-9, 9-6, 1-9.

P. L. Hort beat S. Saurlaugas, 9-7, 9-5, 9-2.

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CRICKET FIXTURES, 1940.

1st XI.

Sat., May 25th. Denstone College Sat., June 1st. Ampleforth College Sat., June 8th. Worksop College Sat., June 15th. Giggleswick School Wed., July 3rd. Durham School Sat., July 6th. Cryptics C.C. ...

• • • •

2nd XI.

Sat., June 1st. Ampleforth College Sat., June 8th. Worksop College Sat., June 15th. Giggleswick School

COLTS XI.

Wed., June 12th. Ampleforth College Wed., July 3rd. Durham School

Away Home Home Home Home Home Away Away Away Home Away

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL. May we talk about the weather as an opening for our notes about the Junior School? When School started on January 16th, we had already experienced a good deal of frosty weather, but after that date we had real Artic conditions—or so it seemed.

One interesting point was that the River Ouse was frozen so solidly that any number of people could walk or skate on it. Mr. Ping and Mr. Cooper made a first adventurous walk across from the boathouse steps, and then a number of Olavites were allowed on. There wasn't even a crack !

After that we had heavy falls of snow, and it lasted so long that we even tired of snowballing!

Igloo building became a craze, and the playground was a regular village of igloos. It is reported that Mr. Ping couldn't find his boarders anywhere and ultimately found them all in the igloo village.

We were all glad when the thaw actually came (it made several attempts) and we could see green grass once more and think of football again.

It has been very disappointing not to have any matches this term, as the rugger side were distinctly promising and we had several prospective fixtures. The hockey sticks provided by Mr. Cooper were very useful and helped to give good exercise and games.

Our Nature Study observations of the first signs of Spring are all very much later this year, of course. The 63

first flower of Winter Aconite was brought in on February 29th, and the first Lesser Celandine was not seen until March 15th, when the annual reward was duly paid to Peter Chilman. We ought to have mentioned the various birds seen during the severe weather, killed either by the cold or starvation. The bird population suffered greatly.

[N.B.—To all Olavites. April 21st, 10-58 a.m. I have just heard a cuckoo. Any reward ?—Ed.] The Junior School put in a good term of work, although it was not found possible to hold the P.T. Display or to produce the French Play.

The instruction in knitting, given by Miss Mason in the handicraft periods, was very popular, and many boys were extremely keen to produce something really useful.

The Boxing Tournament was held on Wednesday, March 13th, and was a very successful function. The results of the contests are given below, but we should like to thank Dr. Macpherson and Capt. Roseigh for refereeing, and Mr. L. Burgess and R. C. Lynch for acting as judges.

Sergt.-Major Puddick is to be congratulated very heartily on getting the boys, and particularly the beginners, to the degree of skill shown.

Except for some cases of flu—most of which were mild cases, the health of the boys has been very good until German measles found a loophole during the last fortnight of term. Still, few boys, and we believe few parents, were sorry about the earlier end of term, and all fully appreciated being able to go home for Easter.

The boarders and the day boarders would like to express their good wishes for the future to Miss F. Harrison, who is leaving St. Olave's this term. Miss Harrison has been Matron at St. Olave's for three years and has been untiring in her endeavour to look after the boys in every way. We should like to take this opportunity of thanking her for her work and care.

We now look forward to a successful Summer term, when we hope to hold our Sports early in the term.

It is with great regret that we have to record the death of an old boy of St. Olave's, John Williams, who will be remembered by a good many old boys.

John (with his brother Arthur) was a boarder at St. Olave's from September, 1921, to the Summer Term, 1927, when he left for Leatherhead School. He became a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and was recently killed in action.

64

ST. OLAVE'S BOXING TOURNAMENT. MARCH 13th, 1940.

CONTESTS. 1. S. Amos drew with J. Gibson.

2. G. Dench beat D. Sim. 3. I. Macpherson beat P. Dodd.

4. L. Edinger beat J. Amos.

5. G. Radford beat R. Hutchinson.

6. K. Taylor beat W. Roseigh.

7. J. Dook beat J. Cadell.

8. I. Haysey beat P. Weighill.

9. II. Fryer beat W. Andrews.

10. G. Mountain beat E. Denison.

Seconds : D. Hart, W. Stratton, M. Smith, T. F. Morris.

ST. OLAVE'S GAMES REPORT. Owing to the exceptionally poor state of the grounds, boys, staff, etc., games this term have not been very highly organised. Until half term we could only have one game of rugger, so we have had to devise other means of taking exercise. When there was snow we had both snow-fights and snow sports. When there was ice we had sliding and skating on the Ings. When it was just raining we went to the gym and played games there. We have also been for runs. and played shinty, an exciting and rather dangerous variation of hockey. Naturally, there have been many days when the day boys have had to be sent home, but there has generally been something afoot for a number of boys. On one occasion a working party added timber-hauling to the already long list of sporting activities. It was quite fun guessing what we were going to do next, but we should have preferred better weather and regular games of rugger and soccer.

ST. OLAVE'S SCOUTS AND CUBS. In spite of the rather disturbed nature of the term we were able to carry out full programmes at both Scout and Cub meetings. This more than proved the usefulness of Scouts and Cubs, since it gave us something to do at a time when many were missing the regular school games. Both troop and pack are so flourishing that there are several boys waiting for a vacancy to join. This is in a way fortunate, but it cannot be helped since the number of scouters available is strictly limited, and the number of boys must be limited too.

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SCOUTS. This term we have re-introduced the inter-patrol competition, and each week there has been a contest requiring either mental or physical exercise. In the former category may be placed the guessing of objects by touch and acting, while shinty is a good example of the latter. Peewits easily defeated their rivals, but Woodpigeons and Curlews had a good struggle for second place, the former just winning.

The passing of tests has been a little disappointing, and scouts must realise that it is up to them to work on their own. We hope next term to continue with second class work, and to start on some badge work.

We are sorry to lose Hart and Crowe, but hope that they will continue with scouting.

CUBS. In the inter-six competition, Blue have got their revenge on Red, and beat them by two-and-a-half points. Yellow are still third, and must try to win more competitions next term. Of the many contests, smelling things was perhaps the most popular, and the pack is to be congratulated on possessing a very fine sense of smell ! It is true that the scent was hot, but such smells as cloves were picked out so quickly that the whole pack might well have only just returned from a visit to the dentist.

The following are to be congratulated on gaining their first stars :—Fawcett, Bainton, J. and R. Harrison, Gowan and Langdon. This first star work took up a lot of our time, but there should be some second stars in the near future.

Macpherson and Dook are going up to the Scouts next term, and we wish them the best of luck. The Blue Six will be losing both sixer and second, so it is up to those remaining to show what they can do.

THE JUNIOR SCHOOL. SALVETE. Boarders.

Day Boys.

R. Dobson.

R. A. Brindley.

D. R. Reavley.

D. R. Brindley.

P. C. Brindley.

VALETE. Boarders.

Day Boys.

D. M. Hart (to Rise).

J. E. Taylor.

N. D. L. Crowe.

66

CORRESPONDENCE. To the Editors of " The Peterite."

Sir, Recently there has come into my possession a collection of lantern slides which belonged to the late Mr. Oxley Grabham, formerly the Curator of the Yorkshire Museum.

While shewing some of these slides I came across some pictures of a fisherman's boat—taken probably near Bridlington or Scarborough.

With the fishermen in the boat, hauling in a fish, is a boy wearing a Peterite cap.

We wonder who it is ! Does this query perchance catch his eye?

The photographs must have been taken some 30 or 35 years ago, and the boy must have been friendly with Mr. Oxley Grabham.

Yours, etc., A. Wentworth Ping.

March, 1940.

Dear Sirs, We are writing this letter in order to make a few criticisms and to provide constructive ideas for your journal.

In our opinion the magazine at present consists merely of a record of facts, and really, it is not worth sending them to print, for a record of events could be entered into one single book and so much valuable paper could be saved in this way. The lay-out of the magazine is poor and any original articles that do find their way into your pages start at the bottom of a page or are squashed between two paragraphs of factual matter.

We suggest that drives for original articles should take place each term, and as an incentive to effort the offer of small prizes for the three best articles submitted would be an excellent idea. We do know of a case when an editorship was offered for the best original articles, and one of the writers of this letter tried for this ; the article was accepted, but no editorship was forthcoming ; we suppose that this was to be expected however.

Well sirs, we hope that you will take notice of our wellmeant remarks and improve the quality of your magazine so as to make it worthy of our famous School.

We are, dear sirs, " Wellwishers."

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In answer to the above letter the Editors wish to remind the writers that the form of a school magazine is governed largely by the question of costs. They are also convinced that the majority of boys are in favour of a detailed record of events, particularly when they themselves are concerned in them. The Editors would welcome further expressions of opinion on this point.

They also feel that as regards the economy of paper, the first two points of the letter are mutually contradictory.

A " drive " for articles does take place each term, usually with disappointing results. No Editorship was promised for an accepted article. It was merely promised that the writing of such articles would lead to subsequent Editorship. Vacancies are always announced, and if the writer failed to apply, the Editors can hardly be blamed.

There will be a vacancy for the next issue, and it is to be hoped that the omission will be remedied.

Finally, in spite of their disagreement with the contents of the letter, the Editors wish to thank " Wellwishers " warmly for practising what they preach and presenting the " Peterite " with several excellent articles for the current issue.

Dear Sir, In the B.B.C. programme for the Schools—a normally rather dry production—there is one very good item, namely a lecture on the progress of the war for Senior boys.

In these days when we are stuffed from two sides with conflicting propaganda, the genuine news—when it seeps through—is so difficult to find, that it becomes a Herculean task to discover the truth by ourselves.

Why not then have a lecture, once a week, or once a fortnight, for the fifth and sixth forms on the War? These lectures need not only be concerned with the progress of the War and the tactics being used by the belligerent powers, but something of the economic side, which we cannot get from books or the wireless, might be gone into.

The lectures might even on occasions be turned into debates on Questions of National purport, and then several sides of the case would be seen, and conclusions could be drawn much more easily.

Fifth Former.

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March, 1940.

To the Editors of " The Peterite."

Dear Sirs, Through the medium of your journal, I would like to remind all Library users of the fact that no book should be kept longer than fourteen days unless it is renewed. The present practice of keeping a book out longer than the stated period means that the number of people who can read the book during the term is considerably lessened.

Certain types of books, which are used as text books may be renewed for longer periods, but only if there is not a great demand for the book. This is only possible in cases of necessity and does not apply to other types of books.

It would seem that if the Library users do not rectify this matter of their own accord, the only alternative method will be to introduce a system of charging fines on books overdue.

Hoping that this expedient will not be necessary.

I remain, Yours sincerely, E. F. Hillyard, School Librarian.

CONTEMPORARIES. The Editors acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following publications, and apologise for any omissions :The Reptonian, The Babu Lal Paiswal High School Magazine, The Haileyburian, The Leodiensian, The Ashville Magazine, The Artists' Rifles Gazette. The Denstonian, The Ousel, The Johnian, The Bootham Journal, The Brighton College Magazine, The Sedberghian, The Malvernian, The Merchistonian, The Stoneyhurst Magazine, The Ampleforth Journal,' The Limit, The Monktonian, The Giggleswick Chronicle, Danensis, The Dolphin Magazine, The St. Peter's College (Adelaide) Magazine, The Cranleighan, St. Bees' Magazine, The Eastbournian, The Framlinghamian, The Dovorian, The Journal of the Honourable Artillery Company, The Worksopian, The Nottinghamian, The Draxonian, The Scardeburgian, The Eagle, The Hurst Johnian, The Dunelmian, The Journal of the Royal Air Force College, The Cantnarian, The Hymerian, St. Peter's College (Ceylon).

69

ST. PETER'S SCHOOL, YORK. EXAMINATION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXHIBITIONS, 1940.

An Examination will be held on June 4th and 5th for the award of Scholarships and Exhibitions. Candidates may be examined either at their Preparatory Schools, when supervision is guaranteed, or at St. Peter's School.

The limit of age is under 14 on June 1st, 1940.

The Scholarships and Exhibitions available for award in one or other of these Examinations are as follows:— One Foundation Scholarship value £60, and three of £35 to £45.

Three Exhibitions value £15—£20 each.

Three Day Boy Scholarships of £15—£20 each.

Two of the Scholarships are reserved, other things being equal, for sons of the Clergy or Officers of H.M. Forces.

Papers will be set as follows:— A. Obligatory.

(1) English Grammar and Composition.

(2) Elementary Mathematics (Mathematics I).

(3) English History and Geography.

(A large choice of questions will be given, so that a boy is not required to concentrate on any special period or country.)

(4) Latin Grammar and Translation.

(5) French Grammar and Translation.

B. Optional.

(6) More Advanced Mathematics (Mathematics II).

(7) Latin Composition.

(8) French Composition.

(9) Greek Translation, Grammar and Sentences.

(10) Science.

Candidates are expected to offer one or more of the optional subjects. An outstanding performance in one of these papers will receive greater credit than mediocre performances in several.

A few sets of papers set in recent Examinations are available, and may be had on application to the Headmaster.

The Entry Form, obtainable on application, together with Birth Certificate, should be returned to the Headmaster before May 11th, 1940.

70

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