We will remember them

Frederick Leycester Barwell (4.1910-14), killed in action, 29^th April 1917.

Later it was discovered through evidence of German prisoners that he had single handed, engaged five or six German planes in a fight which lasts a full-half hour, and was watched by enemy troops in the neighbourhood with intense admiration for the courage of the Englishman, who again and again attacked his opponents. He appears to have brought his machine to within a few feet of the ground when he expired, his machine crashing. The enemy with military honours buried him. His Squadron Commander wrote: ‘It was one of the bravest deeds I have ever heard of, and it shows that the Royal Flying Corps has lost a very gallant officer … He died one of the finest deaths in quite the finest way’.

Noel Charles Boosey (5.1905-10), died of wounds, 22^nd July 1915.

Duty first, self last, briefly described his character. He was full of life with high ideals, and he had a great sense of humour. He was not cut out to be a soldier, being essentially a man of peace; but when the call sounded, and he thought it was his duty to respond, he did so at once. A fellow officer, and OM, wrote: ‘Noel had the most charming personality of anyone I ever met, besides an excellent officer. He was quite the most popular officer in the Battalion. The men all loved him. I think we would have lost anyone rather than him’.

Richard Bernard, Earl of Shannon (SH.1911-15), killed in action, 13^th April 1917.

Shannon was a thorough Irishman, high spirited, venturesome, and independent. He was one of those boys who are more likely to find scope for full development of their qualities in later life than at school, for his bent was towards Natural History, sport, and all kinds of machinery, rather than games or ordinary school work. Entirely fearless, he was certain to make his mark in the war, and no member of his family could have better right to have borne its motto: Spectemur agendo [Let us be judged by our acts].

Edward William Burke (2.1911-15), killed in action, 14^th September 1916. The Burke Military Prize was founded by a bequest from him.

In the seven weeks he was out, he made many flights over the enemy lines and won a great name for himself, as he was absolutely without fear. His pilot records the gallant way in which he died: ‘I selected him as my observer before the others as he was one of the very best. We and another machine were somewhat behind on a reconnaissance when a strong hostile patrol came up and attacked the other machine. As the pilot was young and inexperienced I turned to help him. We kept off the enemy, your son fighting like a hero. It was then that he was shot. He became unconscious but he recovered consciousness, and no sooner had he done so than he started working his Lewis gun, and actually fired another drum of ammunition before again losing consciousness’.

Ronald William St George Cartwright (9.1908-10), killed in action, 26^th February 1918.

On leaving school Cartwright took up farming and eventually went out to British Columbia. He had only been there a few months when war broke out. He joined up immediately in Victoria and came over with the Canadian contingent in early 1915. After only a few days in England, his company was ordered to the front, and soon came into action. On one occasion Cartwright was buried by a big shell. Shortly afterwards he was invalided home, where he underwent an operation for appendicitis. He suffered from shell shock for eighteen months but made a marvellous recovery; almost before he was really fit again, he obtained commission on the RFC [Royal Flying Corps] and went to the front in September 1917. He was killed in action on February 26^th. Modesty, vivacity, pluck were all strongly marked in him, and he was a general favourite wherever he was.

John Paxman Everitt (8.1910-14), killed in action on the first day of the Somme, 1^st July 1916.

Full of grit, a thorough gentleman, with high ideals and with a cherished hope for the welfare of his School and House, he answered the call of his country in the same grand spirit that was characteristic of him throughout his schooldays. An extract from a letter to his mother from a private in his regiment shows in what admiration he was held by his men: ‘I am proud to be able to say that he was always kind and a gentleman. I admired his principles; he was well liked and admired by his men, and what few of them remain join me in sending our deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement.’

Sidney Hannaford Hellyer (5.1904-06), died of wounds, 8^th May 1915.

A shrapnel shell burst right in the middle of our company, killing four of us outright and wounding eight, including Mr Sidney, who had his arm blown off, the other arm broke in two places, and several other wounds in other parts of his body. But wounded as he was, he would not let anyone touch him until all the others had been attended to. I have never met a braver man in my life, and our platoon owed their lives to him, time and time again, by the way he handled them.

Beresford Winnington Hill (6.1905-11), killed in action, 4^th March 1917:

Beresford Hill gained no distinction in games, but no boy at Malvern, in his day, was better known or more highly respected. He owed his position to his scholarly taste, his genial buoyant temperament, and the obvious uprightness and honesty of his character. Few boys have exercised a wider, certainly none a more wholesome, influence over their fellows, and it is safe to say that no-one came into contact with him that was not the better for it. Let us give him the highest praise at our command, and say that he was one of the finest types of Public School boys. Nothing can be added to that praise.

Francis Edward Robinson (8.1909-12), killed, 27^th October 1914.

His brother officers have written of him with praise and affection … speaking of his wonderful calmness and pluck under fire. On the day of his death no less than five officers had been killed or wounded and he was left in command of the company; and it was while going around to see that they were safe that he met his end.

Ronald Francis Taylor (3.1903-07), killed in action, 9^th August 1915:

He took the greatest interest in all that belonged to school life, and his cheerful disposition together with a sense of humour made him a splendid companion. As Head of House in No.3 he showed the qualities of a real leader, he never spared himself and by his kindness and patience he always got the best out of others … He was killed in Flanders on August 9^th aged 27. He met his death while in command of an advanced trench, a shell killing him instantaneously while he was endeavouring to bind up the wound of one of the corporals.