St Edward's 150 Years - by Nicola Hunter

St Edward’s: 150 Years

Chapter 6 / St Edward’s and the Wars

WORLD WAR I – IN THEIR OWN WORDS

‘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 war.We 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 twice.We 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.

‘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.

‘I am so glad things are going alright at St Edward’s.We 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 fallen.We 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.

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.

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