Roll of Honour 2023

P AG 71

W ORLD W AR O NE (1914 - 1918) INCLUDING THOSE WHO DIED LATER AS A RESULT OF THIS WAR

S T . E DWARD ’ S S CHOOL , O XFORD R OLL OF H ONOUR

Name HAROLD JOHN FOTHERINGHAM JEFFRIES (Lt Cl)

Lef SES 1901

Set / House D

Roll Number 892 Died 26:09:1915

Arrive SES 1896

Where YPRES, FLANDERS, BELGIUM Serving with 5TH, LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT

Age 32

Buried Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium Remembered Leicester Tigers Rugby Club Memorial, The St. Edward’s School Chapel (Wooden Plaque) and The Cloisters Stone Memorial Born 1883 Redford, Chiswick, London - the eldest of three SES brothers, sons of a solicitor, who was a distinguished and well-remembered member of the School community of his day. He was a School Prefect, a member of the Rowing IV and VIII 1900 and 1901 and the Rugby Football XV 1901 and one of the best gymnasts of his time, winning the Junior Competition in 1897 and 1898 and the Senior version 1899-1901. He was in the 4th Form. After leaving St. Edward’s he went up to Wadham College, Oxford in 1901 where he later gained his BA. He also stroked his College boat in the Torpids and VIIIs as well as representing them at Rugby Football. He later qualified as a solicitor in Market Harborough in his father’s firm. During this time he also played rugby football for the Leicester Tigers. He was engaged to be married but was lost before the wedding. When the war broke out he was commissioned in the Leicestershire Regiment as a Captain, then Major in quick succession due to the loss of officers at this time. In May 1915 he was on the Western Front as an Acting Lieutenant Colonel when he was killed ‘by a random bullet in the course of an ordinary routine movement not some gallant and glorious attack in September 1915’. He had served in several parts of the line but was now in the most dangerous Northern Sector. ‘Our loss is great, He had a real gift for always regarding everything on the bright side’ (Company Commander).