Oxford University OTC

[Hugh2]

After being commissioned in the Rifle Brigade in May 1915, my grandfather spent a month on a course in Oxford with the University Officer Training Corps.  He wrote in his diary:
"The staff were Col. Stenning (C.O., Wadham), Capt. Wace (Adjt, Brasenose), Matheson (Keble), Beck (R. Artillery), Wm Hamilton Fife my company commander."

John Frederick Stenning (1868-1959) was later Warden of Wadham College.  From an Army List, the adjudant appears to have been H.C. Wace, and the Keble man F.W. Matheson, but I don't know what those initials stood for, nor their dates.  Can anyone help, or perhaps identify the other two?

 

[Ron Clifton]

It is possible that "Beck" is Major Archibald Frank Becke, Royal Field Artillery. He is well known to Forum Pals as a member of the team which compiled the Official Histories, and in particular the Order of Battle volumes.

Ron

[Acknown]

In the Oxford Brasenose College Register 1509-1909 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/943:34828 (Ancestry) there is a Henry Charles Wace 1886. This may be the Revd Henry Charles Wace, MA, Fellow, Chaplain, & Bursar, Brasenose College. I suppose age was not an issue for an adjutant of a UOTC, so this may be him.

Acknown

[Acknown]

And here's an MIC (Ancestry). Note 'OTC R of O' under his name:

I'm now trying to determine if they are the same person.

Acknown

Addition: In fact he can be found online in a number of places, e.g: https://www.thepeerage.com/p7804.htm

Edited 5 April , 2022 by Acknown

[PRC]

I was going to put this one forward tentatively. The online Keble College Roll of Honour has a Second Lieutenant Claude Bruce Matheson who went up in 1910. In the mini-biography it says he had a brother, Frederick William Matheson, who went up in 1902. https://heritage.keble.ox.ac.uk/great-war/roll-of-honour/matheson/

To try and see if Frederick William Matheson served as an officer, I tried searching the National Archive - and found they have long papers for a Captain Frederick William Matheson, Oxford University Officer Training Corps, which have been indexed as covering 1899-1921. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C716850

He is one of only two Frederick Matheson's for whom there are surviving long papers - the other is a Charles Frederick of the Royal Flying. There may of course be others under all the possible variations on Frederick.

Can't guarantee it's the same individual, but seems like Frederick William will be the correct first names.

Cheers,

Peter

Edited 5 April , 2022 by PRC
Typo

[Acknown]

4 minutes ago, PRC said:

Frederick William Matheson

This chap? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Matheson. 
Acknown

Edited 5 April , 2022 by Acknown

[PRC]

1 minute ago, Acknown said:

This chap? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Matheson. 
Acknown

Would seem likely and could explain why his Army papers start from 1899 if he had jointed the OTC at Trinity College, Glenalmond before going up to Keble.

Cheers,
Peter

[Hugh2]

Thank you all for your swift replies.

 

[adrian 1008]

I have a picture of an OTC at Wadham College, I have posted it before but will try again if felt relevant

[PRC]

3 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

Wm Hamilton Fife my company commander

The National Archive has long papers for a Lieutenant William Hamiliton FYFE, on the unattached list. They are indexed for the period 1915-1919.https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C696261

Assuming he was born in England & Wales, (a BIG assumption), then there is the birth of a William Hamilton Fyfe which was registered with the civil authorities in the Kensington District of London in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1878.

And on the 1911 Census of England & Wales there is a 32 year old married man, William Hamilton Fyfe, born Kensington, who was recorded as head of the household at 17 Merton Street, Oxford. His occupation - Fellow, Tutor and Dean of Merton College, Oxford !

Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hamilton_Fyfe

Picture in later life along with biography https://www.queensu.ca/encyclopedia/f/fyfe-sir-william-hamilton
That biography add " During WWI, he served with the rank of Major in the Intelligence Department of the War Office."

Again later in life at the National Portrait Gallery https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp103444/sir-william-hamilton-fyfe

Cheers,
Peter