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St Edward’s: 150 Years
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Chapter 6 / St Edward’s and the Wars
‘We broke up on July 28th under circumstances that seemed little
different from the ordinary, the OTC going to camp and the rest home.
The first thunder-clap of the storm was heard the very next morning,
and in seven days, England and Europe was at live in an
atmosphere so different that we scarcely know ourselves. All the old
aims of life have shrivelled up, and left one single purpose in the hearts
of all. God help us to its fulfilment.’
– Chronicle leader of October 1914 written by Wilfrid Cowell.
‘The weather of course was the chief trouble and that was what did for
me.The last time I was in the trenches, the water was up to our knees
in parts and mud up to our waist in the communicating trenches.The
result of being in this for 55 hours was frost-bite.They tell me that if
you have it very severely, you have your feet cut off, so I have a lot to be
thankful for!’
– Letter, dated January 1915, to Cowell from Leslie Fairweather
(C, 1909–12). After serving in France he had been sent home
temporarily with frost bite. He was to die of his wounds in 1916.
‘The dirty dog of a Boche blew up a mine in my trench on May 2nd
1915 and in the argument that followed, I got in the way of a rifle
grenade and collected half a dozen wounds. None are serious and all
are healing quickly except one that caught me just under the ear.’
– Roger James Cholmeley (Roll No 597, 1885–90), a brilliant
Classical scholar, in a letter written toWarden Sing. He died in 1919,
fighting for the ‘White’ Russians.
‘Following the example of His Majesty King George, the School has given
up alcohol for the period of the war.’
– Chronicle, June 1915.
‘I was in three bayonet charges and got gassed lost 10
officers and 450 men out of our regiment which was pretty heavy
considering it was our first action.The Huns are jolly fine fighters
and although they are infernal curs, are very clever at fighting.
Some of the tricks they played on us are beyond words for cunning
and barbarism.’
– Letter dated October 1915 to Cowell from Clive Martyn
(B, 1911–14). He survived the war.
‘I am so glad things are going alright at St Edward have not had much
rest as it takes a long time to settle down in a new part of the front.The
worst of it is that the whole place is infested with rats and the habits of the
French, who were here before, have made the increase in flies considerable.
I imagine we will be in their trenches or in their billets behind for the rest
of the war! We are quite close to the German lines – at one place only 40
yards, it sounds incredible, but is perfectly true.’
– Noel Hudson (D, 1903–12), son of former Warden, to ex-Warden
Sing, 25 August 1918.
‘I have had many narrow escapes, one in particular when a German plane
dropped three 60 pound bombs into my company, killing 51 men and
wounding 20 or 30 others. I was only a few yards away but was only hit by a
few fragments.’
– Letter to Cowell from Clarence Brutey (D, 1897–1900), published in
the October 1917 Chronicle. He survived the war.
‘We have tried several times to correct the rumour that Captain N.B. Hudson
has are happy to state that he is well and in England on six
months home leave.’
– Printed in the Chronicle of February 1918, about Noel Hudson (at
SES 1903–12), son of a former Warden. He was much decorated and
wounded at least 15 times. After the war he was ordained and later
appointed the Bishop of Ely.
‘I have had no parcels or letters and am anxious for both, but am quite well. I
was taking photographs a long way over German lines and was about to turn
back when the oil pressure in the engine failed and there was no alternative
than coming down in enemy territory as it was too far to glide back to our lines’.
– Letter, printed in the Chronicle dated July 1918, to Cowell from Arthur
Matson (A, 1906–13) RAF, while in enemy hands as a Prisoner of War in
Germany.
‘I cannot believe he will never come back, the thought is too awful for words
and he was coming home next week and the days were being counted. I feel
so proud of him – he never did a mean thing in all his life and his thoughts
were always for others’ happiness.’
– Letter, dated 31 August 1918, to ex-Warden Sing fromPatricia Hobbs,
mother of Thomas Hobbs (D, 1901–05).
‘Dudley-Smith recently had a single-handed encounter with seven
Fokkers. He shot one down, and though his machine was simply shot to
pieces, managed to make a good landing in our lines unhurt. He is in
Arras and has only been out for two months.’
– Report in the October 1918 Chronicle regarding Sydney Dudley-
Smith (B, 1910–16), serving in the RAF in France. He survived the
war.
‘Our prayers have been mercifully granted, and the enemy, who in
his pride, threatened the world, has fallen, as Lucifer, into the pit of
humiliation.’
– Armistice, November 1918, as recorded in the Chronicle of
December 1918.
‘Water and mud are our chief discomforts – and rats! The other day they had
a full course dinner in my pack! The menu consisted of half a pair of socks,
a cake of Coal’s Tar Soap, two covers of 7d. novels and a tube of vermin
destroyer. I believe there is nothing rats won’t eat, except metal!’
– Letter, dated May 1916 and published in the Chronicle of November
1916, to Cowell from Noel King (B, 1899–1903). He was killed in action
in Flanders in June 1916.
‘Poor boy, he enlisted when he was only 17, a few days after war was declared
and got his Commission in December 1914. He went out to France in
February last and was killed in action, a few days before his 19th birthday.’
– Letter, dated 28 August 1916, to Warden Sing from Frank Wilkinson,
father of GeoffreyWilkinson (B, 1912–14), one of thepupilswho left the
School early toenlist. Hewas killed inaction in1916during theBattleof
the Somme.
‘He had a terrible adventure.While flying over German lines at 7000 feet,
the enemy with splendid accuracy burst two shells, one on each side of the
plane.These knocked off the propeller, cut two extremely important wires,
nearly threw out the observer and hit the machine in 27 places.The pilot
(Nethersole) was of course half stunned, and the machine fell side-slipping
and out of control 1500 feet, but he regained control and succeeded in
gliding back to his own aerodrome – a fine achievement. It is not surprising
that he was found to be suffering from shock which necessitated more than
two months’ special treatment.’
– Report concerning Michael Nethersole (C, 1905–9) printed in the
Chronicle of October 1916. He survived the war.
‘His body lies where he fell facing the enemy in open country now pitted
with shell holes, but in a spot which will in a comparatively short time, regain
its natural beauty.’
– Letter from Chaplain C.S. Woodward, dated 5 October 1916, to G.H.
Prynne, father of Edgar Prynne (A, 1906–9), who was killed in action
during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
‘I read the last copy of the Chronicle, perched upon a bicycle inside a steel
tree, observing about 400 feet behind the front line.’
– Letter to Cowell fromThomas Snow (D, 1911–15) dated April 1917
and published in the Chronicle of May 1917. He survived the war.
WORLD WAR I – IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Cartoon of 1959 in Top Spot magazine showing Louis Arbon
Strange in May 1915 when he lost control of his plane while
reloading his guns.