Book of Remembrance 1914-18 Royal Grammar School

JESMOND Royal Grammar School

 

Front cover

 

  ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL

 

  NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

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Title-page

  In Memoriam

 

  Hujus scholae alumni qui

  pro patria decertantes haud

  indecorae morti occubuerunt

 

  A.D. MCMXIV. – MCMXVIII.

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Half title-page

  This Memorial Volume is dedicated to

  Old Novocastrians of all generations who

  in it may learn how much they owe to

  those brave men, who, at the call of duty,

  fought for the honour of their country,

  and, following the great example, willingly

  laid down their lives for others

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Page 7

  THE SOLDIER

 

  If I should die, think only this of me:

  That there’s some corner of a foreign field

  That is for ever England. There shall be

  In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;

  A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,

  Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,

  A body of England’s, breathing English air,

  Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

 

  And think, this heart, all evil shed away,

  A pulse in the eternal mind, no less

  Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;

  Her sights and sounds; dreams happy in her day;

  And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,

  In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

   Rupert Brooke.

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Page 9

 

  AITCHISON, OSWALD (‘07)*, joined the forces soon after

  the outbreak of war as a Private in the 16th Com-

  mercial Batt. N.F. He was wounded in 1915, and

  was again wounded in the attack on Thiepval on

   July 1st, 1916. He died a week later and lies

  buried in Doullens Cemetery.

 

  ALLAN, ALEXANDER HUGH (‘93), joined the forces on

  March 1st, 1915, in the A.S.C., went to Rouen

  in November of the same year, and was there until

  September, 1917, when he was transferred to the

  Artists’ Rifles. He was killed in the battle for the

  Passchendaele Ridge on October 30th 1917.

 

  ALLEN, ROBERT (‘97), volunteered on the outbreak of

  war for service in the Navy, and early in

  November, 1914, received his commission as

  Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.V.R., and was appointed

  to the Tyne Patrol. He was later transferred to

  the Nore Forces and there engaged in mine-laying

  and patrol work. Early in 1918 he was lent to the

  Dover Patrol and was engaged in the English

  Channel and on the Belgian coast. During the

  operations against Zeebrugge on St George’s Day,

  1918, he was one of the four mine-layers of

  Captain Collins’ unit which directed the Vindictive 

  and screened her while she was alongside the Mole.

  After these operations he returned to the Nore

  Patrol. Late in November, 1918, while on patrol he

  contracted a severe chill which developed into

  pneumonia, and on November 23rd, 1918, he

  died in the R.N. Hospital, Chatham.

   “Kindly, unaffected and straight in every act,

  Robbie Allen won the love and respect of all who

  knew him.”

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Page 10

 

  ANDERSON, FRANCIS WILLIAM (‘95), served with the

  forces through the South African War and the

  campaign in East and West Africa. He died at

  the Military Hospital, Durban, on April 26th, 1917.

 

  ATKINSON, F.P. (‘06), enlisted as a Private in the

  9th Batt. N.F. He has been officially reported as

  Missing since the Somme Battle of July, 1916.

 

  BAILES, FRANK G. (‘04), Lieutenant, D.L.I., died of

  wounds after the fight at Ypres.

 

  BARNES, HARRY SCOTT (‘06), received his commission as

  Second-Lieutenant, 16th N.F. in September, 1914,

  and served with the battalion until it left for France

  in November of the following year, when he was

  transferred to the training camp at Hornsea. In

  January, 1917, he was sent to France to join the

  1st Batt., and on Easter Monday of that year he

  was killed in action at Arras, and was buried in

  the cemetery there, aged 19 years.

 

  BARTRAM, FRANK (‘08), enlisted in the Public Schools’

  Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and went to France with

  them on July 23rd, 1916. Serving first as a

  Bomber, he became later a Lewis-gunner, and was

  wounded whilst attaching the German lines on

  April 16th, 1917. He died of his wounds and was

  buried at Fontaine-les-Croiselles.

 

  BASTOW, NORMAN (‘09), had served his apprenticeship

  at Wallsend Slipway. He obtained a commission

  as Second-Lieutenant in the 3rd West Yorks and

  went to France, where he was attached to the French

  Mortar Battery. He went to the front in June, 1915,

  being temporarily attached to the N.F. He was

  killed in action, December 23rd, 1916. His Com-

  manding Officer writes: “He was leading his

  section, and, utterly regardless of his personal

  safety, got out of the trench the better to supervise

  operations, when he was shot through the heart and

  died immediately.”

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Page 11

 

  BELL, WILLIAM MARCUS (‘09), enlisted in the Sherwood

  Foresters, April 15th, 1917, and after two serious

  illnesses left Dover for France on August 23rd, 1918.

  He was wounded and gassed at the battle of

  Cambrai on October 25th, 1918, and died on the

  following day in the General Hospital at Etaples,

  aged 19 years.

 

  BLENKINSOP, WILLIAM M. (‘05), joined the Durham

  University O.T.C. in October, 1914, and was

  gazetted Second-Lieutenant in the 12th D.L.I.

  before the end of the year. In January of the

  following year he was serving with his regiment as

  Transport Officer at Aldershot. Promoted

  Lieutenant he was sent to France, and after a

  year’s service there, proceeded to Italy. He was

  twice mentioned in despatches. On October 29th,

  1918, he was severely wounded in the head and died

  ten days afterwards. He lies buried at Carita, near

  Treviso, in Italy.

 

  BOOKLESS, ALEXANDER FREDERICK (‘10), joined as a

  Private in the 7th N.F. in August, 1917, went

  overseas in April, 1918, and was taken prisoner

  near Rheims a few weeks later. He died of

  dysentery in the Trelon Hospital on September

  10th, 1918, aged 19 years.

 

  BROWN, GEORGE RUSSELL (‘09), enlisted in September,

  1914, received his commission in the N.F. a month

  later, and in November, 1915, was ordered to join

  a battalion of his regiment at the Dardanelles.

  After serving for some time on the Suez Canal,

  he was in France in 1916 with a Trench Mortar

  Battery, and during the attack at Mouquet Farm

  was wounded and invalided home. In the follow-

  ing year he was again in France and served

  with his regiment in the fighting at Passchen-

  daele Ridge and Cambrai. He attended a Lewis-

  gun course at the base, and returning to his

  regiment served with it near Arras until February

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Page 12

 

  11th, 1918, when he was killed while in com-

  mand of his company. He was in charge of a

  working party engaged by day at a spot under

  distant observation of the military lines. They

  had to take cover from shell fire several times

  during the afternoon, and, according to the account

  of one of the men, Lieutenant Brown, having given

  orders to cease work for the day, ordered the men

  under cover, and waited to see them in their places

  before taking cover himself. He was hit by a

  bursting shell and was killed instantaneously.

   “He was a jolly good pal,” an officer writes, “one

  of the very best, with ever a cheery word and a

  smile when the “dumps” were prevalent.” His

  soldier servant relates that among the men he was

  best known as “Old Cucumber,” on account of

  his coolness when under fire.

 

  BULLEN, HARRY STANLEY T. (‘06), received his commis-

  sion in the Northumberland Howitzer Brigade,

  R.F.A., in September, 1915, and went to France

  a few months later. He was promoted Lieutenant

  in March, 1917, and was killed at the battle of

  Arras, April 14th, 1917, aged 20 years, and is

  buried in Beaurains Cemetery, near Arras.

 

  BURKE, WILLIAM H. (‘08), joined the 6th N.F. on

  June 26th, 1916. He was soon in France and wrote

  On October 6th, 1916, from the base that he was

  ready to leave for the trenches at any moment.

  He died on December 7th, 1916, from wounds

  received November 15th, in the battle of the

  Somme. “He was a brave and plucky lad,”

  writes the Q.M.S., “and even when he was hit

  displayed the greatest courage. After being

  attended to by the Medical Officer he walked

  to the advance clearing station; in fact he came

  back to the Sergeant-Major’s dug-out and squared

  everything up, even to putting into good order

  some effects of other poor lads who had paid

  the full penalty.” Private Burke showed much

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Page 13

 

  promise as a scholar, and had been reading for

  Classical Honours at Armstrong College. He

  had qualified by examination for the B.A. degree,

  taking the prize for French. Of a modest and

  retiring disposition he had exercised much influence

  for good and had won the respect of both dons and

  undergraduates.

 

  BURN, JOHN CULBERTSON (‘09), enlisted in the

  2/1st Northumberland Hussars when 18 years of

  age, and proceeded to France in March, 1917.

  He was gassed at Ypres on July 13th, and on his

  recovery was posted to the 9th N.F., with which

  battalion he served until a few days after the

  evacuation of Armentieres, when on April 18th,

  1918, he was wounded and invalided home. He

  was again drafted to France about the end of July

  when he joined the 12/13th N.F., and was killed

  in action on August 22nd, 1918, on Beaucourt

  Ridge.

 

  BURTON, REGINALD COOKSEY, B.Sc. (‘05), gained a

  Science Research Scholarship while at Armstrong

  College, and was later appointed Deputy Super-

  intendent of the Indian Geological Survey. Eight

  months after the outbreak of war he was permitted

  to join the Indian Army, and proceeded to

  Mesopotamia. On April 7th, 1916, a month after

  he had obtained his Second-Lieutenancy, he was

  shot in the head by a Sniper, and died after remain-

  ing unconscious for two days. His brother officers

  and also the Chief of Survey in India bore

  testimony of his brilliance and foresight in

  whatever he did.

 

  BUY, KENRIC E.G. (‘04), joined the Northumberland

  Hussars and went to France in 1917. He obtained

  A commission as Second-Lieutenant in the

  4th Batt. Border Regiment. He fell “while

  gallantly leading his men into action,” and died

  on the field near Bellenglise, on the Hindenburg

  line, October 1st, 1918.

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Page 14

 

  CAMPBELL, IAN STUART (‘06), joined the 16th (Com-

  mercial) Batt. N.F. on its formation in August,

  1914, and was commissioned as Second-Lieutenant

  in the 23rd Batt. N.F. (Tyneside Scottish) in the

  following October. He went to the front with his

  regiment in the early part of 1916, and was killed

  on Thursday, June 29th, during a night raid,

  planned anticipatory to the big attack of July 1st,

  1916. He was seen lying in “No Man’s Land,”

  but next day he was missing, and nothing has

  been heard of him except an unconfirmed report

  that he had been buried near Albert.

 

  CHAPMAN, JOHN CLIFFORD (‘06), was an aviation pupil

  and was killed while on a trial flight for his certify-

  cate as Pilot. On May 10th, 1916, he was flying on

  a Hall-Cauldron at Hendon when his machine

  touched the wing-tips of a biplane which was under-

  going a test by Mr Courtenay, the newly appointed

  instructor. The two machines fell from a height

  of about two hundred and fifty feet and Chapman

  was killed.

 

  CHAPMAN, WILLIAM A. (‘91), joined up in September,

  1914, and went to France with the 5th Batt. N.F.

  in April of the following year, when that battalion

  went straight into action at Ypres. He was

  invalided home towards the end of the year, but

  returned to France two months later. He was

  killed during the fight on the Somme on September

  15th, 1916.

 

  CHAPPY, ATHOL I. (‘11), Royal Military College, Sand-

  hurst, was commissioned Second-Lieutenant May,

  1917, in the Essex Regiment, and served in Egypt

   (February, 1918). He returned to France in June of

  that year, and was killed on September 24th, 1918,

  while his regiment was attacking a strong and

  intricate point which was eventually captured.

 

  CHRISTOPHER, RICHARD (‘07), enlisted in the 27th N.F.,

  and was gazetted Second-Lieutenant in November,

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Page 15

 

  1916, in the Machine Gun Corps (Heavy Section)

  for service in the Tanks. Later he was promoted

  to lieutenant and attached to the 16th Batt. Tank

  Corps, and served in France on the Cambrai, on

  the St Quentin front, and on the Hindenburg line.

  He was killed in action on September

  29th, 1918.

 

  COULL, JAMES C. (‘98), Second-Lieutenant in the

  3/1st Northumberland R.F.A., was promoted

  Lieutenant July, 1917, and later posted to the

  R.F.A. signalling training centre. He died of

  pneumonia on February 13th, 1919, at the Gosforth

  War Hospital.

 

  CURRY, Percy J. (‘00) was a Lance-Corporal in the

  16th Batt. N.F. He was reported missing on

  July 1st, 1916, and the authorities have sent the

  information that he was killed in action on that

  day.

 

  CURTICE, FREDERICK RUSSELL (‘05), joined the R.F.A.

  soon after the outbreak of war and served eighteen

  months in France. He held the rank of Lieutenant

  in 1916, and died on November 17th of that year

  of wounds received three weeks previously just

  before the last advance on Beaumont Hamel. A

  brother officer stated that he left the gun position in

  order to go to the observation post where he was

  to register the battery’s guns for the bombardment.

  The road was a very dangerous one and stretched

  across a mile and a half of country so thick with

  mud that one had to keep above the trenches and

  not in them as they were simply running rivers of

  clay and water. For at least two hundred and

  fifty yards he was under direct observation from the

  German side, and it was while crossing this most

  dangerous part of the road that he received the

  shell wounds that unfortunately proved fatal.

 

  DAVIDSON, ROBERT CHRISTOPHER (’04), went to

  France in 1915 as a Sapper in the R.E. From May, 1916,

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Page 16

 

  he was attached to the 35th Division R.E., and was

  engaged in the Somme battle of 1916, the German

  retreat, 1917 and the Ypres to Renaix offensive,

  1918. He died in France on March 14th, 1919.

 

  DAVISON, CHARLES MONTAGUE(‘09), finished a credit-

  able career at school as a prefect and Company

  Sergeant-Major in the O.T.C. He early answered

  the call to military service, and obtained a com-

  mission in the 4th Batt. N.F. in March, 1917. In

  the Army he was eminently successful, and at the

  front was loved and trusted by his men as he had

  been by the boys at school. By his kindly nature,

  his sympathy with and his interest in others, his

  courage and consistency, he won on the battlefield

  the reputation as an officer of sterling qualities and

  a gentleman.

  He went to the front in May, 1917, and died on

  April 10th, 1918, of wounds received that day in

  action. The chaplain of his battalion writes: “He

  was one of the most loved of our officers, partly

  for his boyishness, partly for his delightful person-

  ality and manners – some of us called him the

   “Prince” – but chiefly for his fine soldierly

  qualities. Few officers were more courageous in

  the line.”

 

  DAWSON, WILLIAM ATKINSON (‘06), was training with

  the 6th Batt. N.F. in September, 1914, and went

  to France with the 50th Division in April of the

  following year. He was wounded at the battle of

  St Julien, and during the second advance on the

  Somme he was killed at High Wood, September

  15th, 1916. “I see him now,” said a friend, “as

  he was then, calmly binding up the wounds of the

  injured (he was a stretcher-bearer), and unselfishly

  helping them under that awful death-hail. He

  always did his work well and was indeed a brave

  man.”

 

  DITCHBURN, W. (‘05), Private, 6th N.F., reported

  missing, presumed killed in action, April 27th, 1915.

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Page 17

 

  DIXON, Charles John (‘08), on leaving school com-

  menced the study of music in which he attained

  some success. On returning to Newcastle he

  obtained a commission as Second-Lieutenant in

  the D.L.I. on May 8th, 1917. He went to France

  in the following June, and a fortnight later, on

  June 22nd, was killed by a bomb while in the

  trenches with a working party.

 

  DIXON, GEORGE (‘92), was manager of collieries in

  Nottingham, but enlisted immediately after the

  outbreak of war in the Coldstream Guards, and was

  in France early in 1915. His abilities were soon

  recognised, for in the April following, he held

  a commission as Second-Lieutenant, R.E., in the

  Second Division, 1st Army Corps. He was killed

  in action at Cuinchy, August 6th, 1915, and was

  buried in the Military Cemetery at Cambrai. “No

  matter how hard the work to be done,” says one

  who knew him, “he always went straight on with

  it – thoroughness characterised all his work.” “He

  was greatly beloved, a gallant gentleman who

  humbly and nobly did his duty.” “He was one

  of the most unselfish men I have known,” said

  another, “and he was always ready to help others

  and do them a good turn.”

 

  DIXON, JOHN G. (‘10), served at first as a Private in the

  6th Batt. N.F., and on the completion of his train-

  ing was sent to Lichfield Cadet School. He

  obtained his commission in the 3rd Batt. N.F., but

  was afterwards attached to the 13th Batt. He

  was killed while leading his company in an attack

  on Fontaine-les-Croiselles on June 16th, 1917. “It

  was his first time of leading and his behaviour was

  that of an old soldier.”

 

  DOBSON, SYDNEY (‘05), joined the forces as a Private

  and was soon promoted Sergeant Instructor in the

  M.G.C. He was drafted to France in July, 1917,

  and was reported missing on March 21st, 1918.

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Page 18

 

  For some time it was thought that he was a

  prisoner of war in Germany, but in November his

  parents received word that he had been killed. He

  had been captured along with others, and as they

  were being marched away a German machine-gun

  opened fire and Sydney was mortally wounded.

 

  DODDS, JOHN H. (‘94), enlisted as a Private in the

  23rd N.F., and was killed in action on July 1st, 1916,

  at the battle of the Somme.

 

  DOUGLAS, LESLIE HALL (‘95), after leaving school

  became an assistant surveyor of shipping, and was

  one of the first to volunteer his services when

  hostilities commenced, enlisting as a private in

  the 2nd Field Co., Northumberland Div., R.E. In

  September, 1914, he held the rank of Second-

  Lieutenant, and went to France in April, 1915. He

  was later promoted Lieutenant, but on July 9th,

  1915, he was killed in action near Dranoutrè,

  Belgium.

 

  DOUGLAS, ROBERT (‘04), joined the 15th Batt. N.F. in

  1915. He was twice wounded at the battle of the

  Somme. Later he served with the British troops

  at the crossing of the Piave river. On the night

  of October 26th, 1918, the N.F. were engaged in

  action, and during the advance on the following

  morning Corporal Douglas was one of the first to

  fall – shot through the heart.

 

  DOUTHWAITE, ERNEST E. (‘92), joined the forces

  in Canada where he had been living for several years,

  and was attached to the 27th Canadian Batt. of

  Infantry. He was killed in action on April 10th,

  1917. An officer writes: “We captured a trench

  on Vimy Ridge quite close to Farbus, a small

  village in Farbus Wood. The trench was our

  objective on the 9th, and we held it until the 11th

  when we were relieved. The trench was furiously

  shelled for five hours, and the enemy had the exact

  range; consequently we lost a lot of men. Douth-

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Page 19

 

  waite was killed during those five hours. Before

  he was killed the boys saw him do a very fine piece

  of work with a rifle grenade. He put out of action

  a German machine-gun which had been very

  troublesome, and so saved many of our men’s lives.”

 

  DOWNIE, PHILIP (‘03), served as a Private in the

  16th N.F. He was officially reported missing on

  July 1st, 1916, and in June 1917, he was reported

  as having been killed on that day in the Somme

  Battle. He lies buried at Lonsdale Cemetery,

  north-east of Albert.

 

  DRYDEN, NORMAN McLeod (‘95), obtained his commis-

  sion as Second-Lieutenant in the old 3rd (Vol.

  Batt.) N.F. On the outbreak of war this battalion

  became part of the 6th Batt. N.F., and he was then

  Captain of “A” Company. The 1/6th Batt. N.F.

  will always be remembered for its glorious work

  when first in action in April, 1915. On the 24th

  of that month they were moved up to the Ypres

  salient to hold what had become at that time a

  serious situation. On the morning of the 25th,

  the 6th and other N.F.’s, together with the D.L.I.

  and Yorkshire Regiments, went into action at

  St Julien. Captain Dryden was severely wounded

  in this engagement. Later in 1915 he was appointed

  to the signalling section of the Farnley Park

  Bombing and Signalling School at Otley. He died

  of meningitis, contracted at Otley, on November

  23rd, 1915, while on a visit to his brother at Selby,

  and was buried there with full military honours.

 

  DUNFORD, ROY CRAIG (‘96), became a chartered

  accountant on leaving school and later acted as

  secretary to various companies. Being an old

  volunteer he obtained a commission in the N.F.

  at the outbreak of war. He went to France in

  May, 1915, was wounded slightly, but returned in

  the January following. In September, 1916, he

  was engaged near High Wood, and on the 15th

  got his company out of an awkward predicament,

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Page 20

 

  showing wonderful courage and resource. For

  this he was awarded the D.S.O. -”For three days

  prior to an attack he directed the digging of assault

  trenches under heavy shell fire. During the attack

  his personal direction of his company resulted in

  heavy losses to the enemy and the capture of a

  hundred and fifty prisoners. Finally he was shot

  through the body whilst organising his defences.”

  On November 10th, 1916, he succumbed to these

  wounds in the spine.

 

  DUNN, ARTHUR GIBSON, M.D., B.S. (‘95) had had a

  most promising career at the Medical College,

  Newcastle, and having qualified as M.R.C.S. and

  L.R.C.P. he became resident Medical Officer at

  the Newcastle Dispensary. After being for some

  time at the Northumberland War Hospital, he

  joined the R.A.M.C. in 1917 and was attached, as

  Lieutenant, to the 129th Field Ambulance. He

  was killed on September 5th, 1917, at Alonette

  Farm, near Langemarck, by a shell bursting near

  the dug-out door. Only one hour before his almost

  instantaneous death he had taken the post of a

  Medical Officer wounded in action.

 

  DUNN, FREDERICK O. (‘98), joined the forces immedi-

  ately after war was declared, and was commissioned

  in the 4th Batt. Tyneside Scottish (23rd N.F.)

  Early in March, 1916, he attained his First-Lieuten-

  ancy and was appointed Brigade Bombing Officer.

  On March 19th, 1916, while engaged on a new test

  with a trench catapult and a percussion bomb, the

  latter exploded prematurely and killed him instan-

  taneously. He lies buried at Erquinghen, France.

 

  DYSON, NORMAN R. (‘97), served as a Gunner in the

  West Lancashire Regiment R.F.A. early in 1916,

  and went to France in February, 1917. Later he

  was attached to the 315th Brigade R.F.A. and saw

  much active service in many parts of the western

  front. He was offered a commission but preferred

  to remain as a Private. His influence for good

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Page 21

 

  was much appreciated by the men of his regiment,

  and his officers had the very highest regard for

  him. He was killed in the Cambrai sector on

  September 20th,1918.

 

  FARTHING, ALFRED (‘09), joined the 31st Batt. N.F. in

  November, 1915, and proceeded to France on

  July 3rd, 1916, where he was transferred to the

  1/4th Batt. K.O.Y.L.I. (Signalling Section). He

  took part in the first battle of the Somme, and

  during the fight at Nieuport on July 22nd, 1917,

  he was gassed, and died two days later while being

  conveyed to hospital. He lies buried in Le Treport

  Military Cemetery, France.

 

  FLETCHER, JAMES NEVILLE (‘98), enlisted in the 6th Batt.

  N.F. in September, 1914, and went to France as

  Corporal in April of the following year. He was

  wounded in the head a St Julien, and died at

  Chatham on May 28th, 1915.

 

  FOGGIN, GEORGE W.D. (‘10), trained for an infantry

  commission and later transferred to the R.A.F.

  He was gazetted Second-Lieutenant in September,

  1917, and attached to the 48th Squadron. Killed

  in action in France, July 14th, 1918, aged 19 years.

 

  FOTHERBY, REGINALD S. (‘07), Driver, 2nd Field Com-

  pany R.E. (Northumberland Division). After

  eighteen months’ service in France he was wounded

  in September, 1916, at the battle of the Somme. He

  was sent to Mesopotamia in April, 1917, and died

  of dysentery at Basra on March 16th, 1918, aged

  25 years.

 

  FOX, CEDRIC EARLE (‘05), Flight Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.

  Born December 27th, 1894. Drowned January 7th,

  1918. Cedric Fox was a law student and had passed

  his intermediate examination when he joined the

  University and Public Schools’ Batt. – 21st Royal

  Fusiliers in September, 1914. He went to France

  in 1915, and was recommended for a commission in

  April, 1916. After having trained at Trinity

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Page 22

 

  College, Cambridge, he was gazetted to the N.F.,

  but transferred to the R.N.A.S. which he had long

  been keen to join.

  He took a first class certificate as pilot and was

  attached to H.M.S. Manxman – a sea-plane carrier.

  Later he was loaned to the 6th Wing, stationed

  at Taranto, Italy.

  On January 7th, 1918, an enemy submarine was

  sighted and Sub-Lieutenant Fox took out a machine

  with an observer in pursuit. He left the station

  about 2 p.m., and a wireless message was received

  from them about an hour later. They must have

  had mechanical trouble about 3.45 p.m. when they

  had to make a forced landing which they did in

  spite of a heavy sea. A pigeon was liberated with

  this message: “Down on surface seven miles

  S.S.W. Saseno.” Unfortunately, owing to the

  storm or darkness the pigeon did not land at the

  station, forty miles away, until the next morning.

  When the boats reached the spot they found

  nothing but wreckage, which, however, was

  identified.

 

  FUTERS, NORMAN RATCLIFFE (‘10), on the outbreak of

  war was a first year’s engineering student at Arm-

  strong College. He joined the Durham University

  O.T.C., and was commissioned on November 26th,

  1915, to the 3rd Batt. N.F. (Reserve of Officers).

  In July, 1916, he was in France attached to the

  16th Batt. N.F. He was wounded during the

  attack on Nieuport in July 1917, and for some time

  was in the Military Hospital at Glasgow. Recover-

  ing he returned to France in the following

  November, and was posted to the 20th Batt. N.F.

  and promoted Acting Captain. The break up of

  the battalion, however, saw him reduced to the

  rank of Lieutenant once more with the 18th Pioneer

  Batt. Later he served with the 1st Batt. N.F.

  where he commanded “W” Company, being

  gazetted Acting Captain on September 17th, 1918.

  He was killed whilst leading his company in the

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Page 23

 

  advance on Ribecourt on September 27th, 1918. A

  fellow-officer writes: “He was commanding “W”

  Company at the time, and his company contributed

  very materially to the magnificent success

  which the battalion achieved on that day.”

 

  GANDY, CLEMENT JOSEPH, M.C. (‘00), received a com-

  mission in the Special Reserve of Officers on

  October 1st, 1914, and later joined the Royal

  Engineers. After special preparation at Chatham

  he was sent to France. In December, 1916, he was

  awarded the Military Cross for work thus described

  in the London Gazette – “He led his section and

  working party by compass bearing all night through

  heavy fire to the newly captured line. He and his

  party worked hard throughout the night consolidate-

  ing the trenches won.” He was killed on July 31st,

  1917, by a shell, while reconnoitring in the Steen-

  beck Valley, near St Julien.

 

  GIBB, JOHN HARDIE (‘08), joined an O.C.B. in 1916,

  received his commission in the King’s Royal Rifles

  and went to the front in May, 1917. He took part

  in the battle for Messines Ridge, and was killed on

  July 31st, 1917, when leading his men in an attack

  on the village of Hollebeke. Aged 19 years.

 

  GIBSON, GEORGE H. (‘05), went to sea as an engineer

  and was off Constantinople when war broke out.

  After reaching home he took the first opportunity

  of entering the Naval Service (December, 1914) as

  an Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.R. on H.M.S.

  Vicknor, an auxiliary cruiser, which, it is feared,

  was lost on January 25th, 1915, in the Irish Sea.

 

  GIBSON, JOHN (‘97), on leaving school took up motor

  racing. In 1912 he had a serious accident while

  racing in the Isle of Man. At the outbreak of war,

  however, he enlisted in the 2/7th Devon Cyclist

  Corps as a despatch rider, and served with that

  regiment for over eight months, being present at

  the Hartlepool bombardment. He as then

  gazetted Second-Lieutenant in the same regiment,

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Page 24

 

  serving as Transport Officer. He was next trans-

  ferred to the R.A.F., and early in 1916 was sent

  to France where he was accidentally killed on

  June 19th, 1916. He was commencing a flight and

  on leaving the ground his machine collided

  with a hay-mower. The aeroplane was completely

  smashed, the observer sustained only a few bruises,

  but Lieutenant Gibson was so injured that he died

  almost immediately.

 

  GILCHRIST, FRANK (‘90), Private in the Canadian

  Infantry, killed in action.

 

  GRAY, J. MARSHALL (‘01), enlisted as a Private on

  September 3rd, 1914, in the 16th Batt. N.F. He

  proceeded with his battalion to France in November,

  1915, and was killed by a bomb on March 21st,

  1916, while his battalion was holding the line in

  front of Albert.

 

  GREEN, CHARLES ARTHUR, M.C. (‘06), only son of the

  late Arthur Green, M.B., B.S., of Gateshead, was

  born on April 28th, 1897. He became a member of

  the school O.T.C. on its inception, and a few years

  later obtained a scholarship to Bromsgrove School,

  Worcestershire. When war broke out he was a

  classical scholar of Worcester College, Oxford.

  He joined the Royal Horse Guards, O.T.C., in

  February, 1916, and was gazetted Second-Lieutenant

  Special Reserve of Officers on August 11th, and

  attached to the R.G.A. after two months’ training

  at Shoeburyness.

  He was in France in January, 1917, attached to

  the Lowland Heavy Battery as forward Observation

  Officer, and during the battle of Arras in April

  and May gained great distinction and was awarded

  the Military Cross. The London Gazette for

  June 26th, 1917, says: “Charles Arthur Green,

  Second-Lieutenant Royal Garrison Artillery, Special

  Reserve: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion

  to duty whilst forward Observation Officer with

  Infantry during attack. Four times he came back

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Page 25

 

  with valuable information through the heavy enemy

  barrage and, at a critical moment when our attack

  was strongly held, once more returned through

  the barrage, and informed the Infantry Brigade

  Commander that reinforcements were urgently

  required, thus relieving a very serious situation.”

  Seventeen days later (July 13th, 1917) he fell in

  action at Arras. He and others belonging to his

  battery were a little way from their guns when a

  German shell burst close to them, killing him and

  Two of his men, and seriously wounding several

  others. His Colonel wrote: “He was our best

  Observing Officer, and did excellent work in all the

  operations near Arras in April and May, 1917.

  He displayed great gallantry on several occasions

  for which I am glad to see that the Military Cross

  was awarded. Cheerful at all times and wiling to

  undertake any work, he was much respected by both

  men and officers and we all regret his loss. He has

  been buried close to the spot where he was killed.”

 

  GUTHRIE, HERBERT (‘97), joined up as a Private in the

  R.M.L.I. on January 4th, 1917. He was killed at

  Passchendaele, October 26th, 1917, aged 33 years.

 

  HALL, CHARLES EDW. RUSSELL (‘09), when war broke

  out was at the Bank of Montreal in British

  Columbia. He immediately enlisted, then eighteen

  years of age, in the Medical Corps of the 2nd 

  Canadian Mounted Rifles. He suffered from two

  attacks of trench fever, and was subsequently trans-

  ferred to the 3rd Batt. Field Ambulance for service

  in France and Flanders. In his work of succouring

  the wounded he sacrificed his life near Cambrai on

  September 27th, 1917, aged 22 years.

 

  HALL, GEORGE HANNAY (‘06), joined the London

  Scottish in 1912. When war was declared he

  volunteered for service and went to France with

  the 1st Batt. in September, 1914. In September,

  1915, he was wounded at Loos, and on recovery

  was given a commission as Second-Lieutenant in

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Page 26

 

  the 24th Middlesex Regiment. He joined, how-

  ever, the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, and in

  May, 1917, was ordered to India, being attached

  to the 1/39th Garhwal Rifles. On the outbreak of

  trouble on the North-West Frontier he was sent

  there with the 4/39th Batt. Garhwal Rifles, and

  remained there till ordered to proceed to England

  for demobilisation. He unfortunately contracted

  enteric and died on board the S.S. Manora in the

  Red Sea on December 6th, 1919. His rank was

  then that of Captain.

 

  HALL, PERCY GEORGE (‘04), on leaving school joined

  the Merchant Service, and was at sea when war

  broke out. On his return he obtained his com-

  mission in the Tyneside Scottish in 1915, and went

  to France with them in January, 1916. In the

  early part of June the Brigade was moved to the

  front line trenches at La Boisselle in contemplation

  of the Somme offensive. On June 28th, 1916, it

  was found that German wire entanglements in front

  of their lines had remained untouched by our

  artillery fire owing to the formation of the ground.

  Engineers were detailed to go out at midnight to

  clear the ground of these obstacles, but previously

  a raid on a large scale was conducted by Tyneside

  Scottish troops which raised the German fire and

  activity. Volunteers were called for, to act as a

  covering party to the Engineers. Second-Lieutenant

  Hall immediately offered and was accepted, and the

  men of his platoon were eager to go with him. He

  made his dispositions so well that the operation was

  successfully accomplished, but while leading his

  men Lieutenant Hall was shot by a Sniper and died

  a few minutes later. His comrades, officers, and

  men paid a high tribute to his skill, courage, and

  care. As an instance of his fearlessness in leading,

  his Company Commander subsequently reported

  that, in the dispositions for the opening of the battle

  on July 1st, the 4th Batt., being close to the German

  lines, was ordered to lead the Brigade into action,

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Page 27

 

  with Lieutenant Hall’s platoon (the 11th of “C”

  Company) in the van, for his men would follow him

  anywhere.

 

  HALL, WILLIAM B. (‘06), joined the D.U.O.T.C. in the

  early part of 1915 and was gazetted to the 3rd Batt.

  Tyneside Scottish. He was transferred to the

  Army Cyclists’ Corps for the 34th Division when

  it was first formed, went to France in January,

  1916, and was with this corps till it was disbanded

  in March, 1918, when he was Captain and Lewis-

  gun Instructor. He was severely wounded on

  August 22nd when he was serving with the 24th

  Batt. London Regiment, and died on August 25th,

  1918.

 

  HALL, WILLIAM GASTON DUVAL (‘06), enlisted in the 6th

  Batt. N.F. a few days after war was declared and

  served in France until March 23rd, 1918 – a very

  disastrous day for the 6th Northumberlands. He

  was engaged as a runner and after having taken

  despatches, had returned and taken more. It is

  officially presumed that he was killed on that day.

 

  HAMER, ARTHUR DERRICK (‘04), on leaving school,

  proceeded to Queen’s College, Cambridge, where

  he was reading for the theological tripos with a view

  to ordination and work in the foreign mission field,

  when war broke out at the end of his first year.

  He offered his services on the day war was declared

  and soon afterwards received his commission in the

  Northern Cyclists’ Battalion. He was gazetted

  Captain in June,1917, and went with the

  Manchester Regiment to France three months later.

  His Commanding Officer writes: “He was killed

  in an attack on the morning of November 6th, 1918,

  near Maubeuge, leading his company with

  unequalled bravery. He showed an absolute dis-

  regard for his own safety, his one thought being to

  lead his men and to gain his objective, and as a

  soldier and a Christian he was an example to all

  of us.”

 

  HANSON, JOHN (‘05), was a Private in the 6th Batt. N.F.

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Page 28

 

  in August,1914, and died of wounds received

  during the attack on St Julien, in the second battle

  of Ypres, April 28th, 1915. He was buried at

  Bailleul in France.

 

  HARKER, GEORGE ERNEST (‘03), became a mining

  engineer after leaving school. He obtained a

  commission in the R.F.A. in October, 1914, and

  was promoted Lieutenant in February, 1916. He

  went to the front in January, 1915, and was wounded

  on February 16th, 1917, and again two months

  later. On May 19th, 1917, he was killed in action,

  aged 24 years.

 

  HARKER, GEORGE ALFRED (‘88), joined the N.F.

  on October 6th, 1916, and was transferred on November

  16th following to the Yorkshire and Lancashire

  Regiment. He went to France in January, 1917,

  and was reported missing at Bullecourt on May

  3rd, 1917, aged 44 years.

 

  HARRISON, EDWARD (‘09), obtained a commission in the

  R.E., afterwards being transferred to the R.A.F.

  In May, 1918, his squadron, the 24th, was

  stationed in the Somme district. Units scouted

  daily, making bomb attacks on Chaulnes, at that

  time about twelve miles within the enemy lines.

  On the 17th, Lieutenant Harrison and eight others,

  were attacked by enemy machines while returning

  to their base. They rose to seventeen thousand feet

  when Lieutenant Harrison was shot down, near

  East Vermando Villas.

 

  HARVEY, William (‘09), was commissioned as Second-

  Lieutenant 3rd N.F. on October 12th, 1915. He

  had been in France about four months and had

  been engaged in some of the heaviest fighting on

  the Somme front when he was severely wounded on

  October 12th, 1916. Writing a few days later his

  Commanding Officer says: “It is with great regret

  that I have to write and tell you of the death of your

  splendid boy. On the evening of the 12th inst. he

  was one of four officers and a hundred men detailed

  to make a raid on the enemy trenches. He went

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Page 29

 

  off in most splendid spirits and it was due to his

  fine example that the party did so well. He was

  badly wounded just above the knee, and his

  Sergeant who was also wounded, brought him out

  into “No Man’s Land”, and then our Padre went

  out and fetched him in. He was taken to the

  hospital at Armentiers and next day sent to the

  Australian hospital at “Trois Arbres,” Steenwerck.

  I went over to see him on the 13th but was not able

  to do so. I regret to say he died the same night.

  I saw the poor lad laid to rest alongside many

  another good fellow who had made the supreme

  sacrifice for his country.”

 

  HASLAM, ARTHUR DIXON (‘03), was Captain both of the

  school cricket and football teams and on leaving

  was awarded the Collingwood prize. When war

  was declared he was holding a science scholarship

  at Armstrong College. He was gazetted Second-

  Lieutenant in the 8th Batt. N.F. on September

  15th, 1914, and a week later was transferred to the

  9th Batt. N.F. He gained his Lieutenancy June

  1st, 1915, and went to France with the 9th N.F.

  in July, 1915. He was wounded in February,

  1916, while fighting in the International Trench at

   “The Bluff.” After being in hospital at Boulogne

  he was invalided home but returned overseas

  in September, 1918. He was severely wounded in

  October of that year and died on November 2nd,

  1918, aged 26 years.

  An Old Boy writes: “ ‘Kiddy’ – we shall

  always remember him by that name. At its every

  mention we recall the little interesting scenes of our

  school-boy life. It was chiefly upon the playing

  fields that we knew him and watched the develop-

  ment of his manhood. There he was an example of

  self-forgetfulness, and we never knew him to hesitate to

  sacrifice, that we might gain. Not of strong

  physique, he possessed something greater which

  we call ‘pluck’. But the secret of the nature which

  made us love ‘Kiddy,’ and which made him the

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Page 30

 

  confidant of many a schoolboy secret, was his quiet

  reserve. We can fully believe from our knowledge

  of him that in a critical time he would serve for

  duty and usefulness rather than ‘showiness.’ We

  accept the mystery of his call to a Higher Service

  in the knowledge that he would humbly make the

  great sacrifice with the highest sense of duty.”

 

  HAVELL, ERIC TUNBRIDGE (‘09), entered the service of

  the London County Council in 1913, and soon after

  the declaration of war, on October 9th, 1914, joined

  the 10th Batt. Royal Sussex Regiment. Some

  time was spent in training at home and it was not

  until the end of August, 1915, that he was sent to

  France. At the battle of Loos, on the 25th of the

  following month, the 9th Royal Sussex was one of

  the battalions in reserve, and in the early afternoon

  was moved up into the trenches. In the evening

  the battalion received orders to take part with the

  rest of the Brigade to which it belonged in relieving

  the troops who had taken “Fosse Eight” near the

  Hohenzollern Redoubt. On the following morning

  the Brigade was heavily bombarded by the

  Germans, and just before midday Private Havel [sic]

  was hit by a bursting shell. He was instantly

  killed, September 26th, 1915, aged 22 years.

 

  HAVELL, REGINALD BEAUMONT (‘08), after leaving school

  went as a farm pupil in Cumberland and then to

  Uckfield, intending subsequently to settle in

  New Zealand. He joined the Middlesex Regiment

  in June, 1916, and went to France in the November

  following, just after his nineteenth birthday. He

  returned home in April, 1917, suffering from blood

  poisoning, but was back again at the front in

  August. He was posted as a bomber in the 2nd

  Middlesex Regiment. After being in the heavy

  fighting at Passchendaele with the 8th Division he

  spent four months in hospital in France. He

  rejoined his regiment in May, 1918, and became a

  Lewis-gunner. He fell mortally wounded in the

  German attack near Rheims on May 28th, 1918.

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Page 31

 

  HEDLEY, JOHN RALPH, D.S.O. (‘84), was born in Berk-

  shire and came to the Grammar School on coming

  to live in Gateshead. On leaving school he entered

  the firm of Messrs Anderson & Lee, auctioneers,

  and finally became a partner in the firm. About

  1896 he obtained a Lieutenancy in the 3rd Batt.

  N.F. (volunteers). He left Newcastle in 1910 to

  take up an important government appointment at

  Hull but still kept up his connection with his old

  regiment. The outbreak of war found him a

  Captain in the 6th Batt. N.F. He was soon made

  Major and went with them to the front, and was

  with them when they went so gallantly into action

  at the second battle of Ypres in April, 1915. “In

  that action outside St. Julien the territorials lost

  their Commander, Brigadier General Riddell, and

  the story of the battle is one which will always

  redound to the credit of the fighting sons of

  Northumbria.” After surviving the dangers of the

  Ypres salient, Hooge and Vimy Ridge, he obtained

  his Lieutenant-Colonelcy and was attached to the

  5th (Cumberland) Batt. Border Regiment. He had

  been four times mentioned in despatches, and in

  June, 1916, he was awarded the D.S.O. He returned

  to France with the Borderers and a year later, on

  July 15th, 1917, laid down his life in the service of his

  country. “To his friends he had qualities of kind-

  ness, loyalty, straightforward speech and thought,

  which secured him unalloyed regard, even when we

  failed to acquiesce in all his views,” says his friend

  the Right Honourable Walter Runciman. “He

  loved the open air, whether on a cricket field or on

  a golf course, on horseback, or with a gun. He

  hated crooked methods and low standards and

  everything unclean, and he has left with his friends

  the memory of an upright, wholesome man.”

 

  HENDERSON, FRANK (‘12), enlisted at the age of seven-

  teen in the R.M.S.M. and trained at Aberdeen,

  Cromarty Bay and the Tyne, and then transferred

  to the R.M.L.I., training at Plymouth and Deal.

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Page 32

 

  He applied for a commission in the Navy and while

  waiting to know the result of his application he

  volunteered for the naval raid on Zeebrugge. He

  was killed during the raid, April 23rd, 1918, aged

  19 years, and now lies in the family burial ground

  at Wallsend.

 

  HERBERT, CHARLES STANLEY, M.C. (‘10), was gazetted

  Second-Lieutenant in the D.L.I. in January, 1915;

  proceeded to France, October 1st, 1915, and was

  transferred to the 15th Batt. D.L.I. He was men-

  tioned in despatches July 1st, 1916, and won the

  Military Cross on Passchendaele Ridge on October

  5th, 1917, being promoted to Captain on the same

  day. On October 9th, 1918, he obtained a Bar to

  the Military Cross on Kemmel Hill. He was

  killed in action on May 27th, 1918.

 

  HOGG, ROBERT WALLACE (‘11), Northern Cyclists’

  Batt., served in Lincolnshire until December,

  1916. He then joined the M.G.C. (Heavy

  Brigade) – afterwards the Tank Corps – and went

  with it to France on July 22nd, 1917, being for

  a few months on the Ypres section and then in

  the Cambrai front where he was engaged in the big

  attack in November of that year. He attained the

  rank of Sergeant, and was engaged as a Gunner

  in the heavy fighting near Bray-sur-Somme.

  He was in action from March 21st, 1918, till the

  afternoon of the 25th inst. when he was killed.

 

  HOLDSWORTH, Ernest (‘12), served in a cadet unit of

  the R.A.F. in October, 1916, and received his com-

  mission as Second-Lieutenant in February, 1917,

  gaining his wings three months later. He went

  to France in July and was killed while engaged

  in an air-fight in Flanders on September 23rd,

  1917. He had been mentioned in despatches, and

  his Commanding Officer wrote: “He was a very

  efficient officer, and did excellent work whilst at the

  front. Upright in character, noble-minded and

  generous-hearted, pure and bold in purpose,

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Page 33

 

  devoted to his duty, he was found faithful unto

  death in his country’s cause.

 

  HOLDSWORTH, WESLEY COPE (‘07), received his com-

  mission as surgeon probationer when he had passed

  his second examination as a medical student of

  Glasgow University. He joined H.M.S. Begonia

  on September 19th, 1917, and wrote on the 27th

  of that month that he had returned to port, and that

  all had gone well. On October 15th information

  was sent from the Admiralty that the Begonia was

  missing – feared lost with all on board. A sailor in a

  sister-ship informed Lieutenant Holdsworth’s father

  – the Rev. J. Forster Holdsworth – that they were in

  search of the Begonia for several weeks, and all

  they could learn was that she was “spoken” in

  mid-Atlantic on October 6th. Six months later,

  word was sent from the Admiralty that Lieutenant

  Holdsworth was killed on or about October 6th,

  1917.

 

  HUGHES, JOHN, B.A., B.Sc. (‘01), joined the Northern

  Cyclists’ Batt. in 1915, was drafted to France,

  attached to the 25th Batt. N.F., and took part in

  the actions near Albert. On the night of

  September 8th, 1916, he was sent out with a cover-

  ing party to a position near Contalmaison, on the

  Somme. It was a brilliant moonlight night, but

  they had to go forward. The Germans waited till

  they got within range, and then let go a hail of

  shell-fire for twenty minutes. The Lieutenant

  signalled his men to retire, sending Lance-Corporal

  Hughes and another to bring up stragglers.

  Neither ever returned. The war office records:

   “Lance-Corporal Hughes, presumed killed in action

  September 8th, 1916.” An officer in his battalion

  says: “He has proved himself an Englishman in

  every sense of the word. He had the respect of

  every one of us in “D” Company, officers and

  men alike.” He was a teacher under the Newcastle

  Authority, and had devoted much time to voluntary

  work among the children.

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Page 34

 

  HUNTER, ARNOLD COLTMAN (‘94), decided on leaving

  school to take up work in Canada. After a period

  on a farm he joined the Royal North-West Mounted

  Police for three years. When the King’s pro-

  clamation reached Canada he enlisted in the

  152nd Batt. Canadian Infantry and was promoted

  Sergeant. He reached France on the 16th February,

  1917. His last entry in his diary states: “28th

  March, 1917. Practising going over to-day and

  left for trenches at 6 a.m.” He was killed next

  day, March 29th, 1917, near Villers-au-Bois. His

  Commanding Officer writes: “Although he had

  been with the company but a little time” (he had

  been transferred to the 46th Canadians), “I had

  come to regard him very highly. No task was too

  unpleasant, and everything he did was done cheer-

  fully.”

 

  HUNTER, ARTHUR LAWRENCE (‘03), volunteered as a

  Private in August, 1914, in the 9th Batt. N.F., and

  went to the Ypres front in July, 1915. After a

  short training at home he was gazetted Second-

  Lieutenant, February, 1918, in the 9th Batt. Royal

  Fusiliers and again went overseas. He was killed

  on August 8th, 1918, in the advance near

  Morlancourt.

 

  HUNTER, GEORGE EDWARD (‘96), became an architect

  on leaving school. Later he joined his father’s

  firm, and in 1913 became a partner in the business

  of Hunter & Henderson, Stockbrokers of Newcastle.

  He received his commission in the 6th Batt. N.F.

  in 1904 and was gazetted Captain in 1908. He went

  overseas with that battalion, and was killed in

  action near St Julien in the second battle of Ypres,

  April 26th, 1915. A brother officer writes: “He

  led his men with great courage and a total dis-

  regard for himself, and was right in front of the

  enemy’s position when he was killed by a shell

  fired at short range.”

 

  HUNTER, HOWARD TOMLIN, M.B., B.S. (‘96), became a

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  medical student on leaving school. He qualified

  for the M.B., B.S., in 1910, and afterwards studied

  surgery at St Bartholomew’s, London, and in

  Vienna. He received his commission in the

  6th Batt. N.F. in 1906 and was gazetted Captain

  in 1912. A writer in the Durham College of

  Medicine Gazette says: “We have all heard with

  pride and aching heart of his entry into action.

  The first torrent of bullet and shell only seemed to

  increase his absolute indifference to danger, and his

  example and courage infected the whole company.

  He led his men through a crossfire of machine-

  guns and shrapnel, trying to reach the German

  trenches by a series of rushes. When close to his

  objective he was struck on the leg but stuck to his

  job, gamely cheering on his men. We can imagine

  his bitter disappointment when he had to fall out

  so near the end of his task. While being helped

  to the rear he was struck again in the chest and

  almost immediately dropped dead.” This was in

  the action near St Julien on April 26th, 1915, at

  the second battle of Ypres.

 

  HUTCHINSON, GEOFFREY D. (‘08), served in the 21st Batt.

  King’s Royal Rifle Corps as a Corporal. He was

  wounded on September 15th, 1916, and died three

  days later in hospital at Amiens, aged 20 years.

 

  HUTTON, ANDREW DONALD, M.A. (‘01), was a student

  of Glasgow University when he was sixteen years

  of age, and showed much promise of being an

  unusually able man. His arts course was just

  completed when war broke out, and it was while

  he was training as a soldier in 1915 that he

  graduated M.A. He intended to practise law

  at the Scottish bar, and in addition to his successes

  in arts he had been equally successful in the work

  for his LL.B. degree. He went to France in

  November, 1915, as a Subaltern in the 15th Batt.

  Highland Light Infantry. There he attained the

  rank of Captain, and while leading his company on

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  the morning of July 3rd, 1916, he was killed at

  Thiepval on the Somme. He lies buried in the

  Military Cemetery at Bouzincourrt.

 

  IRVIN, THOMAS WILLIAM (‘97), soon after leaving

  school commenced to study for the ministry in the

  Presbyterian Church of England, but gave it up

  for a business career and became a director of

  Richard Irvin & Sons, one of the largest fishing-

  vessel firms in England. In December, 1914, he

  obtained a commission as Second-Lieutenant in the

  5th Batt. Gordon Highlanders and was promoted

  Lieutenant in May, 1915. In January follow-

  ing he crossed to France, and was in the front line

  till his death on May 20th, 1916. The circum-

  stances which preceded his death were tragic. His

  company had to go to a rest camp for a week, but

  the relieving company was short of officers and

  Lieutenant Irvin volunteered to remain. Some of

  his men were wounded by a trench mortar, and

  while attending to them he was himself wounded.

  While being carried out of the trench he begged his

  bearers to look after those who were worse off than

  himself. This was on May 15th. He died five

  days later. An officer wrote: “So pure in life and

  lofty in ideal, he has lived and died for those great

  aspirations which he cherished.”

 

  JACKSON, HERBERT Wm. (‘09), joined the D.U.O.T.C.

  in 1915, was commissioned to the 3rd Batt. N.F.

  as Second-Lieutenant in August, and went to France

  in May, 1916, attached to the 13th Batt. N.F.

  Towards the end of the year he was promoted

  Lieutenant, and posted to the 97th Field Company

  R.E. He served with his battalion until January

  20th, 1918, when he was killed in action while

  under shell fire in the Cambrai district. An officer

  writes: “He had done splendid work with the

  R.E. We shall all miss him, for in addition to

  being a most gallant leader, he was a true comrade

  dearly loved by both officers and men. He always

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Page 37

 

  did his best for the regiment of which he thought

  so much. He died as he has lived a brave and

  gallant representative of the Fifth Fusiliers.”

 

  KNOTT, ROBERT CECIL (‘07), enlisted in the 9th Batt.

  N.F. on September 6th, 1914, and received his

  Second-Lieutenancy in the 19th Batt. three months

  later, being placed in charge of the Signalling

  Company. He was promoted Lieutenant in April,

  1915, and Captain on June 15th of that year. On

  his recovery after an operation for appendicitis he

  went to France on July 11th, 1916, and was attached

  to the 20th Batt. N.F. (Tyneside Scottish). He

  was killed in action on August 14th, 1916, and was

  buried with military honours at Cabaret Rouge

  near Souchez. Captain Knott had a very lovable dis-

  position, and was a favourite with all who knew

  him. His Colonel wrote: “I loved him as if he

  were my own son.”

 

  LITTLEFAIR, JOHN JAMES (‘10), enlisted as a Private in

  the 7th N.F., and was killed at Ypres on April 26th,

  1915.

 

  LONG, ARTHUR Wm. EMMANUEL (‘10), joined the

  colours on December 24th, 1914, as a Private in the

  15th Batt. Royal Warwickshire Regiment and

  received his commission in the 8th Batt. Queen’s

  Royal West Surrey Regiment in September, 1915.

  In June, 1916, he proceeded overseas and was killed

  in action on the Somme, near Albert, on August

  24th, having served his regiment in France

  less than two months. The Chaplain wrote: “In

  the great attack he raced over the open, followed by

  his platoon and was killed instantaneously by a

  shell. His gallant conduct largely helped to make

  the attack a great success. He impressed every one

  with his singular courage and devotion to duty.”

 

  LONGHURST, ROY CRESSY (‘97), was a member of the

  D.U.O.T.C. in August, 1914, and a few months

  later received his commission in the 23rd Batt.

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  N.F. (4th Tyneside Scottish). He was promoted

  Captain while undergoing preliminary training at

  Alnwick, and went to the front in January, 1916.

  He was engaged in the heavy fighting at Arras,

  Albert, and La Boisselle, and was gazetted Major

  on the field and subsequently acting Lieutenant-

  Colonel. In October, 1917, he was granted six

  months’ leave of absence in England and appointed

  Commandant of the Training School for the

  Durham Auxiliary Volunteer Forces being attached

  to the 3rd Batt. N.F. He had been mentioned in

  Sir Douglas Haigh’s despatch of November 13th,

  1916, and during his Colonel’s illness was

  personally complimented by Sir Douglas Haig for

  his work.

  He was accidentally killed on March 8th, 1918,

  whilst on military service, by colliding with a tram-

  car, when travelling on his motor-cycle from

  Newcastle to Benton during a snowstorm at night.

  His Colonel said: “I need not tell you how I

  appreciated and valued Major Longhurst as a

  comrade at the front, but far beyond that was his

  splendid loyalty and affection for his regiment, and

  all ranks of the 4th Battalion Tyneside Scottish

  have lost one of their very best friends. You

  perhaps do not know how he devoted his spare time

  to the men’s comfort and well-being and what

  valuable work he did in this way”.

 

  LUNN, HERBERT CHARLES, B.A. (Cambridge) (‘98), was

  a Private in the Public Schools’ Battalion in Sep-

  tember, 1914, and rose to the rank of Sergeant.

  He obtained his commission in the Tyneside

  Scottish in 1915 and at the beginning of the follow-

  ing year was transferred to the 3rd Batt. Royal

  Scots Regiment. He proceeded to France, attached

  to the 11th Batt., was wounded at the battle of the

  Somme in July, 1916, being mentioned in des-

  patches for his work at this time, and was reported

  wounded and missing in a raid near Arras on

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Page 39

 

  March 21st, 1917 – nothing has since been heard of

  him. He was twenty-four years of age.

 

  McARTHUR, WILLIAM (‘05), joined the R.F.A. and was

  killed at Arras during the night of August

  21/22nd, 1918. He was then serving in the

  123rd Brigade, 37th Division, and held the rank

  of Bombardier.

 

  MACLAGAN, JAMES G. (‘07), was at the Armstrong

  College when he applied for a commission. Fail-

  ing to obtain it he joined the ranks and was drafted

  to the R.A.M.C. at Aldershot, being at that time

  unfit for foreign service. In January, 1916, he was

  gazetted Second-Lieutenant in the King’s Own

  Royal Lancaster Regiment and being passed fit

  was sent to France attached to the 4/5th Batt.

  Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in February,

  1917. In the following autumn he was promoted

  Lieutenant, working hard and gaining the esteem

  and affection of officers and men alike by his cheer-

  ful evenness of temper and devotion to duty.

  Recovering from an attack of trench fever, he was

  again sent into the front line, and was killed

  instantaneously by the bursting of a shell while

  leading his company in an attack near Arras on

  August 1st, 1918.

 

  MARKS, JAMES ALBERT (‘07), was sent to the East soon

  after receiving his commission as Second-

  Lieutenant in the 10th (now 7th) Batt.

  North Staffordshire Regiment. While in Mesopo-

  tamia he was twice wounded, at the attempt to

  relieve General Townsend, besieged at Kut, and

  subsequently contracted enteric fever. He spent

  several months at Bombay, in India, and was

  afterwards ordered again to Mesopotamia where,

  gallantly leading his men in some of the severest

  fighting, he met his heroic death before Baghdad on

  February 25th, 1917.

 

  MARKS, JOHN (‘08), trained with the D.U.O.T.C. and

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Page 40

 

  was commissioned as Second-Lieutenant in the

  D.L.I. in May, 1917. He was wounded during the

  German offensive on March 21st, 1918, and went

  overseas again immediately after his recovery at

  home. He was killed in action on October 23rd,

  1918.

 

  MARKS, LEONARD GEORGE (‘07), joined the 12th Batt.

  N.F. and was transferred to the 17th Batt. Royal

  Sussex Regiment. He was a Corporal when he

  went to France in August, 1917, and was killed in

  action while serving near Armentiers on October

  10th, 1918.

 

  MERSON, DAVID (‘00), served as a Private with the

  Australian Imperial forces and was killed in action

  April 16th, 1918.

 

  MERSON, JAMES LESLIE (‘97), joined the Australian

  forces and attained the rank of Sergeant. He was

  killed in action on August 31st, 1916.

 

  METCALFE, FRANK, M.B., B.S. (‘00), joined the 1st

  Northumbrian Field Ambulance in September,

  1914, as a Lieutenant, and was promoted to the

  rank of Captain six months later. He went to

  Flanders in April, 1915, and was mentioned in

  despatches for his splendid work. In September

  of the following year he was invalided home and

  was treated at Newcastle. He made an apparent

  recovery, and although he knew he had not long to

  live, he returned to France at his own request in

  the Autumn of 1917. He went through the fight-

  ing of the following winter and also the German

  offensive of March, 1918, but was again invalided

  home. He died at Framlington House, Newcastle,

  on July 10th, 1918. A writer in the Durham

  College of Medicine Gazette says: “Metcalfe

  was of a very retiring disposition, but the quiet

  exterior concealed a strength of character that he

  only revealed to his intimate friends. He was

  kind, genial, and possessed of considerable moral

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Page 41

 

  courage and grit and staying power; yet his out-

  standing characteristic was his strict sense of

  honour. No man played the game better than

  Francis Metcalfe.”

 

  MILLER, HERBERT (‘96), received his commission as an

  Assistant Paymaster R.N.R. in November, 1914,

  and after a few weeks spent at Portsmouth was

  sent to the Lowestoft Naval base. In July, 1917,

  he was promoted Paymaster-Lieutenant, and early

  in the following year was appointed secretary to

  Commodore Alfred A. Ellison, C.B., R.N., Senior

  Naval Officer at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth

  naval bases. He died of pneumonia supervening

  a bad attack of influenza on December 6th, 1918.

 

  MILVAIN, CHARLES EDWARD FRANCIS (‘97), took up the

  profession of an electrical engineer and in April,

  1912, went out to Canada. On the outbreak of war

  he joined the 1st Canadian contingent. On reach-

  ing England he received a commission as

  Sub-Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. and was attached

  to the “Hawke Battalion” which sailed for

  Gallipoli in May, 1915. He, after some weeks of

  severe fighting, was wounded on June 19th

  while leading his men on a night attack on the

  Turks. During the whole time they were under

  heavy shell fire and only one Officer of the company

  was left. Lieutenant Milvain was removed to

  Ras-el-tin hospital, Alexandria, where he arrived

  on his thirty-first birthday, and died on the follow-

  ing day, June 25th, 1915. A brother Officer

  wrote: “During the time he was with us we had

  learned to appreciate him, to value his efficiency as

  an Officer and to esteem him as a good comrade.”

 

  MOFFAT, WILDON DAVID (‘04), joined up at the 62nd #

  Casualty Clearing Station, R.A.M.C., on March

  10th, 1915, and proceeded to France on January

  9th, 1917. He was promoted Sergeant, and

  appointed senior and confidential clerk to his

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Page 42

 

  Colonel. Whilst he was stationed at the 62nd

  Casualty Clearing Station, near Haringhe,

  Belgium, the hospital was bombed by enemy air-

  craft on November 29th, 1917, and he was mortally

  wounded. His Colonel wrote: “The death of

  your son is a personal loss to me; his work in life

  requires no praise, and his death is beyond all

  praise.”

 

  MORLAND, ALBERT (‘12), joined the 3rd Batt. Cold-

  stream Guards as a Private on February 15th, 1917.

  He was drafted to France in the October following

  after training at Windsor. While taking part in

  the Cambrai action of November, 1917, he was

  wounded in the head. He fell in action to the east

  of Cambrai on October 9th, 1918.

 

  MORRISON, EDWARD FITZHENRY (‘99), after leaving

  school went out to New Zealand where he joined

  the forces. He was a Corporal in Lord Liverpool’s

  Own Regiment when he was sent to France in

  1917. After being transferred to the Rifle Brigade

  he was employed as a stretcher-bearer. While

  engaged in his duty he was hit in the head by a

  bursting shell and died fourteen days later.

 

  MORTON, WILLIAM A. (‘05), enlisted in the 1st Life

  Guards in December, 1915, and was trained at

  Windsor. He went to France in November, 1916,

  and was killed in action on December 10th of that

  year.

 

  MURRAY, ARTHUR ERNEST (‘07), was a medical student

  when he joined the D.U.O.T.C. in 1914. He

  served in France with the 2/8th Batt. London

  Regiment and was killed near St Julien on

  September 5th, 1917.

 

  NESBITT, FRANK WALLACE ROWLANDS (‘10), was com-

  missioned as Lieutenant in the 7th Batt. D.L.I.

  He was wounded on the morning of April 12th,

  1918, while in action near Melville on the Lys and

  was taken prisoner. According to a report received

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Page 43

 

  seven months later he died in the Polytechnic

  Hospital, Lille, on April 19th, 1918.

 

  OLLIFF, William (‘98), volunteered in the Victoria

  Rifles, in British Columbia in 1914, and came to

  England in the following year, being one of a

  hundred picked men for Princess Patricia’s Light

  Infantry. Drafted to the Canadian Scottish

   (Gordon Highlanders) he went with them to France

  in 1915 and was killed by an explosive shell on the

  night of April 26/27th, 1915.

 

  ORD, B. PAGET (‘05), Private in the 9th Batt. N.F., was

  killed in action on October 2nd, 1915, at “Hill 60”

  whilst rescuing a wounded comrade whose life he

  saved but lost his own in so doing. A comrade

  writes: “He was a splendid fellow, always cheery

  and a real help. His death was a fine one – he went

  to help another man who was wounded and was shot

  whilst helping him.” Another comrade says:

   “This was a bad day for the Quaysiders as early

  in the morning we lost a couple of men. Paget

  Ord, who was held in high esteem by all, was said

  to be ‘the little man with the big heart,’ and quite

  true, as he had no fears whatever when in the

  trenches.”

 

  PARK, ANDREW (‘01), joined as a Private in the Tyne-

  side Commercials (16th Batt. N.F.) on September

  8th, 1914, and proceeded to France with the rank of

  Second-Lieutenant. He was killed in action at

  Ovillers on July 14th, 1916, aged 25, after only

  eight months’ service in France.

 

  PAXTON, SAMUEL T. (‘12), joined up in the 6th N.F. in

  November, 1914, when only 17 years of age. In

  January, 1916, he obtained his Second-Lieutenancy

  in the 9th Batt. D.L.I. He went to France with

  them five weeks later and was killed in action at

  Butte de Warlencourt on November 5th, 1916.

 

  PIRRIE, ROBERT BOURN (‘04), was gazetted Second-

  Lieutenant in August, 1914, and attached to the

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  1st Batt. King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He

  was posted to the 3rd Batt. Border Regiment and

  obtained his Lieutenancy. A few weeks later he

  was serving in France, and during an assault on

  the Hooge trenches on August 10th, 1915, he met

  his death, aged 21. A writer in the College of

  Medicine Gazette says: “His keen sense of

  humour, his warm responsive nature, his great love

  of all true sport, and above all, his unfailing cheer-

  fulness endeared him to us, and earned for him the

  wide popularity which he enjoyed from the time of

  his entrance into the College. No one was keener

  to do his duty, no one more determined to fight

  than ‘young Pirrie’ as we always called him.”

 

  PRESTON, WALTER (‘12), joined the forces in the early

  part of 1917, and after training at Hornsea was

  posted to the 9th Batt. D.L.I. He went overseas

  in January, 1918, and was engaged in the battle

  of the Marne in July of that year. He was killed

  whilst fighting with the Durhams at La Maisonette

  on July 23rd, 1918. “Always bright and cheerful

  he endeared himself to all who knew him,” said

  one who knew him well.

 

  PRINGLE, GEORGE (‘07). A few weeks after leaving

  school in February, 1914, he joined the 6th Batt.

  N.F., and was called out on mobilisation, becoming

  attached to the machine-gun section. He left

  England with the Northern Division in April, 1915,

  and went straight into the fighting of the second

  battle of Ypres. In September, 1916, he was pre-

  vailed upon to take a commission, and was about to

  return to England for training. On November 14th

  he was engaged, being then Sergeant, in a heavy

  charge near Butte de Warlencourt. Twice on that

  day he was seen to be wounded, but was able to

  attend to his wounds. Nothing has since been

  heard of him.

 

  PRITCHARD, RALPH BROOMFIELD, D.S.O., M.C. (‘02),

  enlisted as a Private in the 16th Batt. N.F. in

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  September, 1914, and was commissioned to the

  27th Batt. in May of the following year. He was

  promoted to Captain in February, 1916, and Acting-

  Major in October, 1917. He took part in the “Big

  Push” on the Somme front in July, 1916, and was

  awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry and

  good work on July 1st, being also mentioned in

  Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch of the 4th January

  following. While engaged in the hard fighting

  near Ypres on April 16th, 1918, he was severely

  wounded and died ten days later. He was at this

  time attached to the 2nd Lincolnshire Regiment,

  and for his work was awarded the D.S.O. in

  May, 1918, and mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s

  despatch of December 27th, 1918. The London

  Gazette says: “When the battalion was ordered

  to fill a gap in the front line, this officer, in charge

  of the advance guard, acted with such dash that it

  was mainly through his fine work that his battalion

  was able to do so. Later he advanced again and

  occupied the old line, getting in touch with the

  flanks, and capturing three men of an enemy patrol.

  He held the line for the next four days while under

  heavy fire, and was severely wounded when leading

  his company in a counter-attack when it gained

  its first objective.

 

  PRITCHARD, WILLIAM ALWYN (‘02), enlisted as a Private

  in the 3rd Batt. NF. in January, 1916. He was

  wounded at the battle of the Somme in July, 1916,

  and in November, 1917, was gazetted Second-

  Lieutenant in the 3rd Batt. D.L.I. After the

  fight at Mont Kemmel on April 26th, 1918, the

  day on which his brother, Major Pritchard, died

  of wounds received in action, he was missing, and

  the authorities have concluded that he was killed

  on that day. He was at that time attached to the

  1st Wiltshire Regiment.

 

  PROCTER, CHARLES GORDON (‘08), joined the Royal Air

  Force, and was gazetted Flight-Lieutenant. On

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  Sunday, February 20th, 1916, he was taken up

  twice, on the first occasion for half an hour’s

  instruction in flying, and afterwards for instruction

  in landing. He had full control of the machine the

  whole time, framed well and was very promising.

  Being considered proficient he then went up alone,

  and rose to the height of three hundred feet, when

  going round the aerodrome the second time, the

  machine nose-dived to the ground. Lieutenant

  Procter must have fallen out as the machine turned

  over in mid-air, for he was picked up fifty yards

  from the wrecked machine. He was buried on

  February 24th in Benton Churchyard.

 

  RAYNES, Robert (‘07), joined the Duke of Wellington’s

  Regiment as a Private in August, 1914, and

  obtained his commission in the 14th Batt. D.L.I.

  in January, 1915. In the following September he

  proceeded to France, and within ten days of land-

  ing was engaged in the attack on Loos, when he

  was shot in the head. A fellow-officer carried him

  to the shelter of a haystack where he remained for

  thirty hours. He died at Le Treport, near Loos,

  on September 28th, 1915.

 

  RICHARDSON, Arthur (‘02), joined the R.A.F. in

  Canada and was accidentally killed in Deseronto

  on October 4th, 1918.

 

  RIDLEY, PATTISON REAY, M.C. (‘93), joined the

  Northern Cyclists’ Batt. in 1912, and volunteered

  for service overseas with the 62nd Division in July,

  1916, having attained the rank of Lieutenant. He

  was later on attached to the 2/5th West Riding

  Regiment (Duke of Wellington’s), and while with

  them was awarded the Military Cross. “On the

  evening of 27/28th February, 1917,” says the

  Gazette announcement, “he was in charge of three

  officers’ patrols, of one officer and one hundred and

  fifty ranks, detailed to rush Orchard Valley from

  Gudgeon Trench. Lieutenant Ridley was respons-

  ible for maintaining the direction, marching on a

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Page 47

 

  compass bearing for five hundred yards across

  unknown and difficult country. This officer led

  his party with great dash, shooting one German

  and capturing another on entering the trench. He

  showed considerable coolness and ability in the

  attack and in organising the defence of the trench.”

  The Commanding Officer heartily congratulated

  him on being the first officer of the battalion to be

  awarded an honour for distinguished service in the

  field.

  On May 3rd, 1917, Lieutenant Ridley was

  reported wounded and missing, and since that date

  no further news has been received.

 

  ROBINSON, ARTHUR (‘05), entered the accountants’

  department of the North Eastern Railway after

  leaving school, and on November 10th, 1915,

  enlisted as a Private in the Argyll and Sutherland

  Regiment. After training at Edinburgh he went

  to France on Good Friday, April 21st, 1916. He

  was posted to the 2nd Batt., and went into action

  near High Wood on the Somme. On August

  18th, 1916, he made the supreme sacrifice. He

  went into action on that day, and was last seen

  crossing “No Man’s Land.” Many letters re-

  ceived from his associates in the Army testify that

  he had earned their good will to a very high degree.

 

  ROBINSON, GEORGE (‘05), Quartermaster-Sergeant,

  Army Cyclist Corps, died.

 

  ROBSON, ERNEST WEATHERSTONE (‘97), was a resident

  student at the Hartley Primitive Methodist College

  and Victoria University, Manchester, when, with

  twenty-five others, he enlisted in the 135th 

  Division, Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., in

  October, 1915. He went overseas on June 1st,

  1916, and died of wounds received while acting as

  stretcher-bearer in the battle of Cambrai, November

  24th, 1917, aged 25. Many letters have come to

  hand since his death which reveal how greatly he

  was admired and loved.

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Page 48

 

  ROSS, JOSEPH (‘09), Private in the 15th Welsh

  Regiment in 1917, was later on promoted Lance-

  Corporal. He was killed in action May 10th, 1918,

  and was buried near Martinsart, north of Albert.

 

  ROUTLEDGE, JOHN FREDERICK (‘94), joined the Duke of

  Lancaster’s Yeomanry when war broke out and was

  afterwards gazetted Second-Lieutenant in the 13th

  Batt. N.F. Later he was attached to the Nigerian

  Regiment and served in the Cameroons. He pro-

  ceeded to France early in 1917, and was killed in

  action on September 3rd of that year, aged 34 years.

 

  SAUNDERS, KENNETH (‘99), obtained a commission as

  Second-Lieutenant in the 16th N.F. (Commercial

  Battalion) and was in training at Alnwick. On New

  Year’s Eve, 1914, he went out with a fellow Officer

  on a motor-cycle, and when returning in the early

  evening from Newton on the Moor, the cycle, after

  skidding several times, eventually overturned.

  Lieutenant Saunders was found dead beneath the

  machine on the road side. He was buried at St

  Andrews’ Cemetery, Newcastle upon Tyne.

 

  SELLERS, JOHN HARRISON (‘09), held a scholarship at

  Armstrong College, had passed his first B.Sc

  examination and was at Messrs Swan Hunter and

  Wigham Richardson’s works when war broke out.

  He was one of the first of the D.U.O.T.C. to apply

  for a commission, which he obtained on August

  15th, 1914. He had joined the 3rd Batt. N.F. but

  was attached to the 2nd Batt. and left England for

  France on May 12th, 1915. He was killed on May

  24th, 1915, on the eve of the eighteenth anniversary

  of his birthday.

 

  SHACKLETON, WILLIAM LAUNCELOT COLLIER (‘97),

  received a commission as Second-Lieutenant 26th

  N.F. (3rd Tyneside Irish) in December, 1914,

  and was promoted Lieutenant in April, 1915. He

  proceeded with his battalion to France in January,

  1916, was wounded, and returned to England in May

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Page 49

 

  of the same year. On his recovery he resumed

  duties at Hornsea, and then went to France again

  in October, 1916. He was again wounded on April

  23rd, 1917, and, after having his wounds dressed,

  rejoined his men, and fell mortally wounded on the

  following day.

 

  SHUTTLEWORTH, WILLIAM M. (‘12), joined the forces as

  a Private in the 15th Batt. D.L.I. From June to

  September, 1918, he had seen much fighting. On

  September 9th, 1918, he was killed while going over

  the top during an attack on Chapel Hill, near

  Villiers Guislain, aged 19 years.

 

  SMALLWOOD, ROBERT (ROBIN) HENRY (‘07), joined the

  16th N.F. (1st Commercials) as a Private in October,

  1914. He received his commission in the 16th Batt.

  N.F. in September, 1915, and went to France in

  May of the following year. He was engaged in the

  great attack against Thiepval on July 1st, 1916,

  when he was slightly wounded, but remained on

  duty. Before the end of the month he was suffer-

  ing from trench fever and was sent home. He was

  gazetted Lieutenant on March 18th, 1917, and went

  overseas in the following September attached to the

  4th Batt. N.F. Later he was Acting-Captain with

  the 50th Division, and while engaged at the Chemin-

  des-Dames on May 27th, 1918, he was severely

  wounded, and died after being taken prisoner.

  Writing of him, the Chaplain says: “He was a

  man of real capacity and force of character, and

  soon won and sustained his place.”

 

  SMITH, WILLIAM DAVIDSON, B.A. (‘03), being rejected

  for a fighting unit, enlisted in the R.A.M.C. on

  Whit Monday, 1915, was promoted Corporal and

  proceeded to France with the 92nd Field Ambulance.

  He was engaged in hospital work in Albert and was

  sent with his unit to the advanced dressing-station

  on July 1st, 1916, when the great advance on the

  Somme began. About eleven p.m. on that day he

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  was killed by a piece of German shell while engaged

  in dressing the wounds of a soldier in the open field.

  He lies buried at Bouzincourt, near Albert.

 

  SPENCER, HARRY JOHN (‘86), joined the 16th N.F. (Com-

  mercial Batt.) in September, 1914, and a few weeks

     later was promoted Sergeant. He obtained his

  commission as Second-Lieutenant in the D.L.I. in

  November, 1914. In July of the following year he

  went overseas and served in the Ypres salient. He

  was severely wounded in June, 1916, whilst fight-

  ing in the neighbourhood of Kemmel, and was sent

  home. He returned to France in September, 1916,

  and was promoted Captain, being transferred to the

  150th Brigade, Trench Mortar Battery, Northum-

  brian Division. He was killed while fighting near

  High Wood on the Somme on November 17th,

  1916, aged 42 years.

 

  STEPHENS, LINDSAY NELSON (‘05), was one of the first

  to commence training under Colonel W.H. Ritson

  on the outbreak of war. He joined up in the Quay-

  siders Company of the 9th N.F. and went to France

  with that battalion. On Saturday, May 6th, 1916,

  he was out in charge of patrol, putting out wire in

  front of the trenches, when he was shot and

  instantly killed. His Captain says of him: “I

  had hoped that he might get his commission any

  day, and no one deserved to get one more than he.

  He did extraordinarily well when in the trenches

  and I knew his sterling worth. No one worked

  harder than he for the welfare of the battalion and

  I owe a great debt of gratitude to him for his help.

  His was indeed a splendid disposition and a fine character.”

 

  STEPHENSON, ROBERT BREWIS, M.C. (‘10), enlisted as

  a trooper in the Northumberland Hussars before the

  outbreak of war. He went to France in January,

  1915, and was transferred in August, 1916, to an

  Officers’ Cadet Batt. He obtained his com-

  mission as Second-Lieutenant in the N.F., returned

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Page 51

 

  to France and was wounded on June 6th, 1917. He

  won the Military Cross on October 10th, 1917, and

  shortly afterwards was reported as dangerously

  wounded. A few days later his death in hospital

  was announced. The Gazette announcement

  of the M.C. is as follows: “Second-Lieutenant R.

  B. Stephenson for conspicuous gallantry and

  devotion to duty in leading his men to the attack

  at Passchendaele. As soon as the objective was

  reached he pushed forward with his platoon,

  harassing the enemy as they retired, and inflicting

  heavy casualties. He afterwards, on his own

  initiative, organised two bombing posts and beat

  off a counter attack.”

 

  STEWART, VERNON F. (‘07), joined the D.L.I. shortly

  after war broke out and was for a time Battalion

  Bombing Officer. He transferred to the R.A.F. in

  May, 1916, and obtained his wings in a little more

  than two months. Before going to the front he

  was in the London Night Flying Squadron. By

  November, 1916, he was Second-Lieutenant,

  R.A.F., and in France. He took part in the heavy

  aerial fighting during the May offensive of 1917,

  and was brought down on several occasions with

  damaged machine. He was killed in action on May

  13th, 1917, aged 24. His Commanding Officer

  writes: “He was always keen and thorough, and

  has done splendid work during the eight months

  he has been with the squadron. I could always

  rely on his carrying out efficiently any duty which

  I gave him, and in many cases he succeeded in his

  work in the face of hostile opposition which would

  have justified him in abandoning all attempts.”

 

  STOPHER, F.C. (‘12), joined the D.U.O.T.C. and then

  volunteered for the R.A.F., but on being sent to

  Hastings for training for a commission, was rejected

  on account of ear defects. He was transferred,

  first to the 19th, and later to the 29th, London

  Regiment. He died of pneumonia in Colchester

  Military Hospital, December 17th, 1918.

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Page 52

 

  STROUD, HENRY CLIFFORD, B.A. (Cambridge), B.Sc.

  (Durham) (‘05), spent two years in the D.U.O.T.C.

  and was gazetted Second-Lieutenant in the

  Northumbrian Division, R.E., in June, 1912. On

  the outbreak of war he volunteered immediately for

  foreign service. He went to France with the 1st 

  Field Company, N.R.E., and was severely wounded

  on February 8th, 1915. He was in hospital at

  Versailles until April 30th, 1915, when he was sent

  to Birmingham and thence to Newcastle. On his

  recovery he acted as Instructor in field engineering,

  and from November, 1915, to July, 1916, was

  engaged in the Northern Command Bombing

  School, and was promoted Captain, June, 1916. As

  his wounds prevented his engagement in active field

  work he felt it his duty to join the R.F.C. This he

  did in July, 1916, and by September 22nd he had

  qualified for his wings and been gazetted Pilot. In

  the early autumn of 1917 he joined the defence of

  London, and was stationed at Rochford Aerodrome.

  He was engaged in practically every raid till the

  penultimate one, on the moonless night of March

  7/8th, 1918, when he was killed in action.

 

  TANNER, ARTHUR EDWARD (‘09), was a Lance-Corporal

  in the 6th Batt. N.F. on August 4th, 1914, and was

  engaged on defence work between Newcastle and

  the coast. He went to France as Company-

  Sergeant-Major in April, 1915, and took part in

  the second battle of Arras. Invalided home in

  July, 1915, he returned to France as Second-

  Lieutenant in September, 1916, and was attached

  to the 16th Batt. N.F. He served in the Beaumont

  Hamel and Serre districts, afterwards taking part

  in the advance on St Quentin, He fell mortally

  wounded on June 10th, 1917, during the heavy

  attack on Nieuport.

 

  TAYLOR, RONALD WOODHOUSE (‘04), was a medical

  student when war broke out. He was gazetted

  Second-Lieutenant in March, 1915, to the 11th Batt.

  N.F., and went to France a few months later.

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Page 53

 

  From that time onward he was engaged in much

  fighting, not only through the autumn, but through

  a long and trying winter. At length, on July 7th,

  1916, in the battle of the Somme, he went over the

  top for the last time in the third wave of a direct

  attack upon the German lines. He was struck by

  machine-gun bullets in the chest, and as he lay

  dying, just before losing consciousness, he said to

  a companion who survived, “Anyhow, we have

  taken the trench.” It was thus he gave his life for

  his country. His Commanding Officer wrote:

  “He was a gallant lad and died a gallant death.

  He was a great favourite with everyone.” He had

  taken the Collingwood prize on leaving the school.

 

  TELFORD, HILTON R. (‘02), went to France with the

  Northumberland Hussars in October, 1914. He

  was transferred to the N.F. (Tyneside Scottish) and

  received his commission as Second-Lieutenant,

  acting as Transport Officer to the battalion. Twice

  he was invalided home but again went overseas

  in February, 1917, and took part with the Northum-

  berlands in their brilliant attack on September 8th,

  1917, when he was fatally wounded. Captain

  Telford lies buried in the British Cemetery at

  Tincourt.

 

  TELFORD, ROBERT BERNARD (‘88), volunteered for

  France in 1917 as a surveyor of road construction,

  being attached as Second-Lieutenant to the D.L.I.,

  and was transferred to the R.E. with the rank of

  Lieutenant. He came home on February 16th,

  1919, and died five days later of pneumonia caused

  by exposure during eleven days’ journey from

  Spa.

 

  TELFORD, WILLIAM (‘93), served as a Private in the

  Gordon Highlanders, and was killed in France,

  September 20th, 1917.

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Page 54

 

  THOMPSON, ARTHUR (‘05), joined the 16th Batt. N.F.

  in September, 1914, and on obtaining a commis-

  sion was gazetted to the 24th Batt. N.F. He had

  attained the rank of Captain when he was killed

  in France on July 1st, 1916, at La Boisselle.

 

  THOMPSON, WILFRID TAYLOR (‘07), was in the

  D.U.O.T.C. when war broke out, and was soon

  After commissioned to the 14th Batt. D.L.I.

  During the following winter he was promoted

  Lieutenant, having come under the notice of the

  General commanding the division while drilling

  his men. He crossed to France on September 11th,

  1915, and the division was rapidly brought forward

  to the firing line prior to the great attack upon

  Loos and “Hill 70”. In spite of hardship and

  privation the division fought magnificently,

  though advancing more or less in the open. At

  dawn on Sunday, September 26th, Wilfrid Thomp-

  son shared command of the first line reserves, and

  led his men to the charge with great dash and

  courage. There was no holding him back. He

  was seen rallying his men after three successive

  assaults in the last of which a ridge of Hill 70

  was taken. Unhappily, when firing over the

  parapet of a captured trench he was shot in the

  head and instantly killed. One who met him speaks

  of him as “A fine fellow, dignified, reserved, always

  a gentleman, and an example of what a man and a

  soldier should be.” A brother officer says: “He

  had sound judgement and winning ways, with brains

  and will power enough to do well and wisely in any

  circumstances.”

 

  THWAITES, HARRY HUTCHINSON (‘97), joined the

  Northumberland Hussars Imperial Yeomanry on

  the declaration of war, and went with them to the

  front as a Trooper. He was in the thick of the

  fighting in the vicinity of Ypres, and it was not

  far from that town that he met his death on

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Page 55

 

  November 6th, 1914, through the bursting of a

  shell whilst having their first night’s rest after

  nineteen days hard fighting.

 

  TRIMMER, E.H., M.C., B.Sc. (‘10), on leaving school

  entered Armstrong College. He obtained a com-

  mission as Second-Lieutenant in the East Lanca-

  shire Regiment, and was subsequently promoted

  Lieutenant. He was mentioned for his good work

  in Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch of February, 1916,

  and was subsequently given the Military Cross.

  He died of wounds received in action.

 

  VINCENT, THOMAS ARUNDEL COLLIER (‘10), was a

  Private in the 1/4th Leicestershire Regiment before

  he was seventeen years of age. He was killed on

  October 13th, 1915, in an attack led by the 4th 

  Leicesters on the Hohenzollern Redoubt.

 

  WALLER, HERBERT WILLIAM, M.C. (‘00), obtained his

  commission as Second-Lieutenant in the 21st N.F.

  (2nd Tyneside Scottish) on March 8th, 1915. He

  went to France in January of the following year,

  having attained the rank of Captain, and took part

  in the memorable battle of the Somme. In

  January, 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross.

  Concerning the attack on Vimy Ridge, General

  Ferna says: “Captain H,W. Waller, who had

  returned duty with the 2nd Batt. as a Company

  Commander, on one of those occasions (i.e., when

  an attempt was made to drive us off the ridge)

  greatly distinguished himself both by the excellence

  of his dispositions and by his gallantry and initia-

  tive in a personal encounter which had disastrous

  results for the Huns.” At the battle of Arras on

  April 10th, 1917, he had taken his men into action

  and had gained his objective. Of the battle

  General Ternon writes: “To my extreme regret,

  among the officers killed, alas, was Captain H.W.

  Waller, a serious loss indeed not only to his

  battalion, but to the Brigade. Owing to his being

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Page 56

 

  from time to time attached to the Brigade Staff one

  had got to know him well and to value his sterling

  qualities. Always deeply interested in his work,

  highly principled, greatly liked and respected by his

  superior officers and his subordinates as a brave and

  thoroughly efficient officer, he had made his mark

  and his advancement was assured. He met his

  death while engaged in hunting down an enemy

  Sniper who had been giving trouble on the top of

  the ridge, after the enemy had retired and the battle

  was over.”

 

  WALLER, THOMAS WILLIAM (‘09), was a Private in

  the N.F., and after serving twelve months in

  France was drafted to Italy where he was killed in

  action on October 27th, 1918. He had become a

  Signaller, and during the advance on the Piave, an

  Austrian gun, hidden behind a house, opened fire,

  and he was shot through the head.

 

  WARRENER, G.V. (‘05), joined the Australian Army

  Medical Corps in September, 1914, and three

  months later was sent to Egypt. He served in the

  Dardanelles, and in November, 1916, was attached

  to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance in Belgium

  and later in France. He was killed at the battle

  of Messines, June 7th, 1917, while carrying a

  wounded comrade.

 

  WATSON, NORMAN OCTAVIUS (‘08), joined the 16th

  Batt. N.F. (Commercials) in August, 1914, and was

  drafted to France in 1915. He was killed in action

  on March 3rd, 1916, and was buried at Millencourt,

  near Albert.

 

  WATSON, RAYMOND VICTOR (‘10), was in the

  D.U.O.T.C., but decided to join the ranks. He

  was later transferred from the 6th N.F. to the West

  Yorkshire Regiment, and went with them to France

  in August, 1916. He was gassed at Thiepval, and

  returned to England towards the end of the year.

  At the beginning of 1917 he was gazetted Second-

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Page 57

 

  Lieutenant and attached to the 8th Batt. N.F. On

  June 24th he left with a draft for France, and fell

  in action at St Julien on August 16th, 1917.

  “Your son was killed,” says a fellow-officer,

  “while leading his men into action. All who were

  with him when he fell are either killed or wounded.

  He was a good soldier and a good comrade; always

  keen and eager to do his best, he worthily upheld

  the traditions of his regiment and his country –

  even unto death.”

 

  WEST, H.M. PELHAM (‘07), carried with him the

  Collingwood prize when he left school for Hertford

  College, Oxford. When war broke out he applied

  for a commission, and in November, 1914, was

  gazetted Second-Lieutenant in the N.F. In the

  June following he was promoted Lieutenant, and

  went with his battalion to France in August, 1915.

  He was later invalided home with trench fever,

  But returning, was wounded during the battle of the

  Somme. He again rejoined his battalion at the

  front, holding then the rank of Captain. On

  September 20th, 1917, his battalion was called upon

  to attack a very strong position. During the fight

  he was twice wounded, but refused to go back. He

  gained his objective, but was fatally hit soon after.

 

  WILKINSON, MAURICE HEWSON, M.C. (‘87), was

  engaged in mining work in China at the outbreak

  of the war. He returned home and obtained a com-

  mission in the South Wales Borderers, afterwards

  transferring to the R.E. He went to the front in

  June, 1915, and after two years’ service, during

  which he was wounded and gassed, had attained

  the rank of Major, and had won the Military Cross.

  He fell in action on July 31st, 1917.

 

  WILKINSON, THOMAS HERBERT (‘09), joined the Army

  Cyclists’ Batt. when he was 18 years of age, and

  was afterwards transferred to the Loyal North

  Lancashires with whom he went to France. He

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Page 58

 

  died of wounds received at Messines on June 7th,

  1917.

 

  WILSON, JOHN BRADY (‘98), served with the Royal

  Scots and with them went to the front. He was

  killed in action on September 20th, 1917.

 

  WOOD, THOMAS CHARLTON (‘98), left his farm in

  Canada in March, 1915, and joined the 191st Batt.

  Canadians. He went overseas, attached to a reserve

  of the 50th Batt. While acting as stretcher-bearer

  after the great fight for Passchendaele Ridge he was

  wounded in the head and died a fortnight

  after wards at Camiers Hospital, and was buried in

  Etaples.

 

  WOODMAN, W.E. (‘00), joined the N.F. as a Private

  and was recommended for a commission. Before

  he was gazetted he was ordered to proceed to

  France – he was then Lance-Corporal. Six days

  after leaving England, he fell in action at St Julien,

  on April 26th, 1915, while carrying a message to

  his General during heavy rifle and machine-gun

  fire, for which he was subsequently mentioned in

  despatches. His Captain wrote: “He was a

  gallant soldier and one who was always the first to

  do any work that was required.”

 

  WOOLF, BERTIE GORDON (‘00), was with the 2nd

  Brigade Canadian Field Artillery prior to going to

  the front in September, 1916. He was wounded in

  April, 1917, and had just rejoined his battery when

  he was killed in action at Vimy Ridge on May 9th, 1917.

 

  YEAMAN, DENIS JOHN (‘10), was gazetted Second-

  Lieutenant in the N.F. in June, 1915, and in the

  following autumn was transferred to the 21st King’s

  Royal Rifles. He went to France in September,

  1916, and three weeks later, on October 6th, was

  killed in action at Flers, north-east of Albert.

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Page 59

 

  We record with much regret the loss of those old boys

  of the School, whose names follow. They lost

  their lives subsequent to leaving the Army or after

  the close of the War, but in most cases from sick-

  ness engendered by the War.

  ————-

    

  BELL, WILLIAM (‘03), M.B., B.S., joined in February,

  1915, as Surgeon, R.N., being attached to H.M.S.

  Victory at Haslar Hospital, Portsmouth. Two

  months later he was transferred to the light cruiser,

  H.M.S. Talbot, and left for the Dardanelles. He

  returned to England in October, 1916, and after

  serving eighteen months at Portsmouth, joined

  H.M.S. Thunderer in the Grand Fleet, till demo-

  bilised , 1919. He then went through a

  special medical course at Oxford, but his health had

  been so undermined that he succumbed to an attack

  of pneumonia January 6th, 1922

 

  BATES, JOHN (‘93), enlisted in the Northumberland

  Yeomanry but was discharged as unfit for further

  service. He emigrated to Australia, where he was

  accidentally killed on the railway at Culcairn,

  N.S.W., on May 30th, 1919.

 

  FINNEY, HENRY GEORGE R. (‘11), was a Sapper in the

  Northumberland Division, R.E., but was dis-

  charged as unfit for further service. He died June

  11th, 1918.

 

  GIBSON, CHARLES (‘68), M.D., J.P., was Physician at

  the Royal Baths Hospital at Harrogate. During

  the war he organised the Medical Board at Ripon,

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Page 60

 

  was Consulting Physician at the Furniss Auxiliary

  Hospital for Officers, and Honorary Secretary of

  the local Medical War Committee. He died at

  Harrogate on October 1st, 1921.

 

  KENT, GORDON (‘05), obtained a commission as Second-

  Lieutenant in the N.F. and went to France in June,

  1916, being attached to a trench mortar battery.

  He resigned in May, 1917, on account of ill health,

  and died on July 8th, 1918, from pneumonia.

 

  LISTER, G.D. (‘86), youngest son of the late Canon

  Lister, chose the army as a career. He was

  Gazetted Second-Lieutenant in the 3rd D.L.I.

  Militia in November, 1892, and in 1896 was trans-

  ferred to The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent)

  Regiment. He fought through the campaign in

  South Africa, and proceeded to France as Captain

  with his regiment on August 23rd, 1914. He was

  badly wounded and taken prisoner at Mons. After

  suffering severely at the hands of the Germans he

  returned to England in June, 1918. He was given

  command of the battalion, and proceeded with it

  to Calcutta in February, 1920. There he had two

  severe illnesses, and on returning to England

  Lieutenant-Colonel Lister died at Netley Hospital,

  on November 21st, 1921.

 

  * The date refers to the year of entrance to the School.

  ————-

 

  The School deeply regrets the loss of one member of the staff.

 

  MACKENZIE, B.S.M., Second-Lieutenant in the

  Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, was killed

  in action on March 28th, 1918.

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