20 replies to this topic

[Charles Booth]

For interest and information... Apologies for any transcription errors. The date(s) in brackets denote(s) the date the blue was awarded, the final date the date of death. I would be very interested in any corrections, observations, or suggestions.

Oxford

T.G. Brocklebank, Eton & Trinity College (1904), Captain RFA, August 5, 1916.

J.J.J. De Knoop, Eton & New College (1896, 1897), Captain, Yeomanry, att. Indian Camel Corps, August 7, 1916.

G.O.C. Edwards, Eton & New College (1897, 1898), 2^nd Lieutenant, Duke of Wellington's Reg^t, July 7, 1916.

W.A. Ellison MVO, Eton & University College (1878), Colonel, Royal Berkshire Reg^t, November 1, 1917.

R.W. Fletcher, Eton & Balliol College (1914), no details of service, October 31, 1914.

W.A.L. Fletcher DSO, Eton & Christ Church (1890, 1891, 1892, 1893), Lieutenant Colonel, King's Liverpool Reg^t, February 19, 1919.

A.J.S.H. Hales, Rugby & Corpus Christi College (1904, 1905), Captain, Wiltshire Reg^t, July 5, 1916.

R.P. Hankinson, Winchester & New College (1913), Lieutenant, Indian Army, February 23, 1917.

M.B. Higgins, Melbourne University & Balliol College (1910), Captain, Australian Light Horse, January 7, 1917.

W.F.C. Holland, Eton & Brasenose College (1887, 1888, 1889, 1890) Captain, Durham Light Infantry, November 8, 1917.

G.E. Hope, Eton & Christ Church (1907), Lieutenant Colonel, Grenadier Guards, October 10, 1917.

F.S. Kelly DSC, Eton & Balliol College (1903), Lieutenant Commander, RNVR, November 13, 1916.

A.G. Kirby, Eton & Magdalen College (1906, 1907, 1908, 1909), Staff Captain, Royal Artillery, March 29, 1917.

A.T. Herbert (later Lord Lucas), Bedford Grammar School & Balliol College (1898, 1899), Flight-Commander, RFC, November 4, 1916.

D. Mackinnon, Rugby & Magdalen College (1909, 1910, 1911), Lieutenant, Scots Guards, October 9, 1917.

G.S. Maclagen, Rugby & Magdalen College (1899, 1900, 1901, 1902), 2^nd Lieutenant, Royal Warwickshire Reg^t, April 25, 1915.

E. Majolier, Eton & Christ Church (1910), Lieutenant, Yorkshire Reg^t, November 26, 1918.

C.P. Rowley, Winchester & Magdalen College (1889, 1890, 1891, 1892), Major, Royal Garrison Artillery, October 29, 1916.

R.W. Somers-Smith MC, Eton & Merton College (1904, 1905), Captain, London Reg^t, June 30, 1915.

E.H.L. Southwell, Charterhouse & Pembroke College (1907, 1908), Lieutenant, Rifle Brigade, September 15, 1916.

The Hon. R.P. Stanhope, Eton & Magdalen College (1908), Captain, Grenadier Guards, September 15, 1916.



Cambridge

C.F. Burnand, Downside & Trinity College (1911), 2^nd Lieutenant, Grenadier Guards, March 13, 1915.

J.S. Carter, Eton & King's College (1903), Captain, Grenadier Guards, September 27, 1918.

O.A. Carver, Charterhouse & Trinity College (1908), Captain, Royal Engineers, June 17, 1915.

W.H. Chapman, Eton & Trinity College (1899, 1902, 1903), Captain, Yorkshire Reg^t, August 7, 1915.

A.B. Close-Brooks, Winchester & Trinity College (1907), Captain, Manchester Reg^t,January 10, 1917.

S.P. Cockerell, Eton & Trinity College (1900), 2^nd Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps, 20 March, 1915.

C.P. Cooke, Geelong & Trinity Hall (1910), 2^nd Lieutenant, Shropshire Light Infantry, August 22, 1917.

D.I. Day, Repton & St John's College (1914), 2^nd Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery, September 7, 1915.

G.E. Fairbairn, Eton & Jesus College(1908, 1911) 2^nd Lieutenant, Durham Light Infantry, June 20, 1915.

K.G. Garnett MC, Croix de Guerre, St Pauls & Trinity College (1914), Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery, August 21, 1917.

H.M. Goldsmith, Sherborne & Jesus College (1906, 1907), Lieutenant, Devonshire Reg^t, May 9, 1915.

R.O. Kerrison, Eton & Trinity College (1893, 1894), Lieutenant Colonel, Cavalry Reserve, att. Australian Artillery, September 18, 1917.

C.R. le Blanc-Smith, Eton & Trinity College (1910, 1911, 1912), Lieutenant, Rifle Brigade, November 27, 1915.

L.E. Ridley, Eastbourne & Jesus (1913, 1914), Lieutenant, Royal Berkshire Reg^t, August 18, 1916.

J.A. Ritson, Rugby & Trinity College (1914), Captain, 5th Lancashire Reg^t, July 23, 1916.

R.H. Sanderson, Harrow & Trinity College (1899, 1900), Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Artillery, April 17, 1918.

H.J.S. Shields, Loretto & Jesus College (1910), Lieutenant, RAMC, October 25, 1914.

E.P.W. Wedd MC, Cheltenham & Caius College (1905), Major, Yeomanry and RAMC, July 13, 1918.

E.G. Williams, Eton & Trinity College (1908, 1909, 1910), Lieutenant, Grenadier Guards, August 12, 1915.

B.R. Winthrop-Smith, Eton & Trinity College (1905), service not listed, November 15, 1914.



Sources:

Drinkwater, C.G. & Saunders, T.R.B (1929). The University Boat Race: Official Centenary History. London: Cassell.

Cook, T. (1919). Henley Races. London: Oxford University Press.

[Charles Booth]

I would add that the Cook book lists all the Great War fatalities who rowed at Henley Regatta (approx. 270, including the blues listed above). I did a rough count on ranks, which was revealing:

Privates (or Gunners or Troopers): 3%
Non-coms: 1%
2/lts: 20%
Lts: 31 %
Captains: 30%
Majors: 7%
L/Cols and above: 3%
Other, including clergy, RN, RNVR etc: 5%

EDIT: The non-coms and other ranks must have been considered 'gentlemen' as Henley rules explicitly forbade anyone 'who is or has been by trade or employment for wages a mechanic, artisan or labourer, or who has engaged in any menial activity'. This was later to cause quite a kerfuffle (Times leader, etc) at the 1919 Henley Peace Regatta, when a crew of former officers declined to certify that they met the Henley rules and were thus prohibited from entering for the King's Cup, a race specifically established, for that year only, for ex-servicemen.

[IPT]

R.W. Fletcher, Eton & Balliol College (1914), no details of service, October 31, 1914.

They didn't have the internet in those days, but still seems strange...

Name:FLETCHER, REGINALD WILLIAM
Initials:R W
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service:Royal Field Artillery
Unit Text:118th Bty. 26th Bde.
Age:22
Date of Death:31/10/1914
Additional information:Son of C. R. L. and Katharine Fletcher, of Norham End, Oxford. Scholar of Eton College, 1905-1910. Commoner of Balliol College, Oxford, 1910-1914. B.A. (Oxford) 1914. Oxford University VIII, 1914.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:Panel 5 and 9.
Memorial:YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

[ianw]

Interesting that the inevitability of averaging evens out the casualties  (although the dark blues just shade it!)

Much evidence of the well trodden road from the playing fields of Eton, to the dreaming spires and finally to the killing fields of Flanders.

[Tim Fox-Godden]

Many thanks for the Charles, I will have to find the Cook book.

I undertook a pilgrimage earlier in the year just after the boat race to visit the graves and memorials of the 1914 crews. I would like to make this a wider trip now and try to take in all the chaps on that list.

Kind regards,

Tim

[Charles Booth]

Many thanks for the Charles, I will have to find the Cook book.

I undertook a pilgrimage earlier in the year just after the boat race to visit the graves and memorials of the 1914 crews. I would like to make this a wider trip now and try to take in all the chaps on that list.

Kind regards,

Tim

Tim

You can access it online, I have only just now discovered. Needn't have gone up to the BL. Fantastic resource! Chapter VII (pp. 407-429) contains the list of Henley Oarsmen who died. The pdf file for the whole book is enormous, so page by page might be better.

http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/ilharve...okth0001henrac/

Warmest regards

Charles

[Tim Fox-Godden]

Tim

You can access it online, I have only just now discovered. Needn't have gone up to the BL. Fantastic resource! Chapter VII (pp. 407-429) contains the list of Henley Oarsmen who died. The pdf file for the whole book is enormous, so page by page might be better.

http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/ilharve...okth0001henrac/

Warmest regards

Charles

Charles,

Thank you for the link, what a marvelous resource. I shall have a peruse through.

Kind regards,

Tim

[Charles Booth]

And the other missing one:

Name:WINTHROP-SMITH, BERNARD RIDLEY
Initials:B R
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Lieutenant
Regiment/Service:Scots Guards
Unit Text:1st Bn.
Age:31
Date of Death:15/11/1914
Additional information:Son of Francis N. Smith, of Wingfield Park, Ambergate, Derbys.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery:SOUTH WINGFIELD (PARK) BURIAL GROUND

[Kate Wills]

Frederick Septimus Kelly was one of those blessed souls who are gifted in every course they persue. Sepp (as he was called by his friends) was a concert pianist, composer (of, amongst other things) the Elegy for strings inspired by Rupert Brookes death (he was a pall bearer at his funeral on Skyros), and an Olympic oarsman. I'm sure he wrote a textbook on rowing techinques.

[Tim Fox-Godden]

Frederick Septimus Kelly was one of those blessed souls who are gifted in every course they persue. Sepp (as he was called by his friends) was a concert pianist, composer (of, amongst other things) the Elegy for strings inspired by Rupert Brookes death (he was a pall bearer at his funeral on Skyros), and an Olympic oarsman.

He was a fascinating chap by all accounts. I walked the ground of his battalions assault on Beaumont-sur-Ancre at the same time I visited the other rowers' graves. There is a good account of him in The Lost Generation by Reginal Pound and another in the more recent Harris and Whippy study of sportsmen in the war.

Kelly's diaries are available from the National Library of Australia.

Kind regards,

Tim

[Tim Fox-Godden]

An interesting blog regarding Kelly:

http://hear-the-boat-sing.blogspot.com/sea...el/F.S.%20Kelly

Regards,

Tim

[Tim Fox-Godden]

Tim

You can access it online, I have only just now discovered. Needn't have gone up to the BL. Fantastic resource! Chapter VII (pp. 407-429) contains the list of Henley Oarsmen who died. The pdf file for the whole book is enormous, so page by page might be better.

http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/ilharve...okth0001henrac/

Warmest regards

Charles

Charles,

I have just had a chance to read through parts of this. It is an incredible piece of work, quite enthralling.

Thank you again for the link.

Kind regards,

Tim

[erniecrisp]

Capt Somers Smith M C was killed in action in the German lines near Gommecourt village on 1st July 1916; not 1915 as you quote; believe he also rowed in the Olympics Chris

[izzy]

W.A.L Fletcher is buried in my local Churchyard. The family coat of arms are on the Wall of the church. There are 2 family graves in the Churchyard [St Nicholas Halewood]. I have a file on the Fletcher family if you need any more information let me know.

[Charles Booth]

Capt Somers Smith M C was killed in action in the German lines near Gommecourt village on 1st July 1916; not 1915 as you quote; believe he also rowed in the Olympics Chris

My fault: Cook lists two Somers-Smiths and I conflated them. Sincere apologies:

SOMERS-SMITH, J. R.,  July 1, 1916; M.C. ; Capt, London Regt. ; Eton eight, 1905 (won Ladies' Plate) and 19.06; captain of boats, 1906 ; Magdalen (Oxford) eight and four, and captain of Boat Club ; won O.U.B.C. fours, 1906 (str.), 1907, and 1908 (str.); won Visitors' and Wyfold, 1907 (str.); Stewards', 1908 (str.); Olympic Regatta fours, 1908 (str.) ; records for Stewards' and O.U.B.C. fours ; O.U.B.C. trial eights, 1907 and 1908 ; spare man, Oxford eight.

SOMERS-SMITH, R. W.,  June 30,1915 ; Second-Lieut., K.R.R.C.; Eton eight, final Ladies', 1902 ; Merton (Oxford) eight and four; O.U.B.C. trial eights, 1903 ; Oxford Blue, 1904 and 1905 (won).

So Captain J R Somers-Smith MC (the Olympian) died 1 July 1916. Second Lieutenant R W Somers-Smith (the Blue) June 30th, 1915.

[Martin Elliget]

An interesting postscript to the life of this talented man, Kelly's lost Gallipoli sonata has been rediscovered.

ABC article 13 May 2011 "Lost Gallipoli sonata returns home".

Martin

[maricourt]

If you pm me I can let you have R W Fletcher's obituary from the Balliol College Memorial Book.

regards ... Maricourt

[IrishGunner]

A little belated, but thank you for this great information!  I happen to have the Victory Medal named to Capt. JS Carter, 1903 Cambridge crew.

I originally posted about Capt. Carter's Victory Medal on this forum in March 2007. http://1914-1918.inv...71819&hl=carter

Here's a link (on another forum) with all I know about Capt. Carter.  http://gmic.co.uk/in...capt-js-carter/

[erniecrisp]

Somers - Smith was killed on 1 July 1916 at Gommecourt; 5th London's senior officer in the enemy trenches; not in 1915 as quoted. Chris

[HERITAGE PLUS]

One missing from the Cambridge list;

Graham Macdowall MAITLAND
son of David Maitland, Cumstoun, Kirkcudbright
born 20 May 1879
Marlborough Jan. 1893 - Mid.1897
Rifle Corps and Shooting VIII 1896-97
Shot for the Spencer Cup 1897
Trinity College, Cambridge B.A.
Rowing Blue 1901
Bar; Inn. Temp 1905
2nd. Lt. Irish Guards 1914
Despatches
KIA Klein Zillebeke 1 November 1917.

Source: Marlborough College Register (1933)

Menin Gate, Panel 11.

See: http://en.wikipedia....Graham_Maitland

and  http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic641.html

and  http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=1151

Dave

[Charles Fair]

Martin Elliget, on 14 May 2011 - 02:42 AM, said:

An interesting postscript to the life of this talented man, Kelly's lost Gallipoli sonata has been rediscovered.

ABC article 13 May 2011 "Lost Gallipoli sonata returns home".

Martin - Thanks for posting this, what an amazing story.