gillian h Posted 5 December , 2006 Share Posted 5 December , 2006 I've recently discovered that Ronald Owen Lagden, a Rugby International and 2nd cousin-once-removed of mine, was killed at St Eloi on 1 March 1915. I know little about Ronald other than that he played cricket for Oxford University, and I know nothing about St Eloi. Any information about Ronald and about the fighting at St Eloi would be most gratefully received. Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 5 December , 2006 Share Posted 5 December , 2006 Gillian, From 'The Annals of the KRRC' Regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 5 December , 2006 Share Posted 5 December , 2006 Captain R.O. LAGDEN is commerated as missing on the Menin Gate at Ypres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 6 December , 2006 Share Posted 6 December , 2006 For Oxford graduates there should be brief biographical details in Alumni Oxonienses found in any good reference library. Alan Tucker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 6 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 6 December , 2006 Thank you SO much for the excerpt from the Annals of the KRRC. I'm sorry to bother you but could you please look at the excerpt again and tell me if the missing word at the end is "well". Your excerpt comes to a rather sudden end, suggesting that the word "well" is missing. Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 6 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 6 December , 2006 Thanks, Alan. I can't easily get to 'any good reference library' (at least not a British one) since I live in Finland, but perhaps I'll find something on the Internet. Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 6 December , 2006 Share Posted 6 December , 2006 Sorry Gillian, Rest of text. Regards, Cnock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 6 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 6 December , 2006 Thank you so much, Cnock. I'm glad I guessed right. Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cnock Posted 6 December , 2006 Share Posted 6 December , 2006 From 'British Battalions on the Western Front' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 6 December , 2006 Author Share Posted 6 December , 2006 Thank you again, Cnock. The more I read about the First World War, the more I understand that the 'great' in Great War really means Great Tragedy. Gillian PS. Perhaps you can tell me why I've been made a Lance Corporal though I was never in the British or any other army and never will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian-hunter Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 Here is his Obituary from The Times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 Not the best of pictures when resized but this is a picture of him representing Oxford against Cambridge at Raquets. There arealso pictures of him in the Oxford 1909 & 1910 rugby team. These all come from 'Fifty years of Sport' at Oxford, Cambridge and the Great Public Schools. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 This is his entry in 'Biography of Blues' Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 Not a lot, but from "Bond of Sacrifice" Vol.II... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 Quite a sportsman, I also have pictures of him in the Oxford Cricket team, all in group shots in 1909, 1910 & 1911. Rugby teams of 1909, 1910 & 1911 and Hockey teams of 1910 & 1911. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 23 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 23 April , 2008 My goodness, thank you all so much. I've now added all this new information to my family records and put the photograph in the family album. I hardly dare ask another question, which actually has nothing to do with this forum, but perhaps one of you can guide me in the right direction. Ronald's brother, Reginald Lagden, died in Karachi in 1944. The year of his death suggests he may have been killed in the war. Is there a similar website for the Second World War? Gillian By the way, I still don't know why I've been made a Lance-Corporal!! Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 23 April , 2008 Share Posted 23 April , 2008 Gillian, If you would like all the photographs that I have of him from his Oxford days, full size, then drop me a pm with your e-mail address on and I will send them to you. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 24 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 24 April , 2008 Gillian, If you would like all the photographs that I have of him from his Oxford days, full size, then drop me a pm with your e-mail address on and I will send them to you. Andy Thank you very much for your offer, Andy. Yes, please, I would like the photos - very much. My e-mail address is gillian.hakli@pp.inet.fi. Re my request y'day for information about a WWII website similar to the Great War Forum, I am happy to say that I discovered why Ronald's brother Reginald died simply by googling his name. He did indeed die during the Second World War, but not while serving in any of the forces. Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 24 April , 2008 Share Posted 24 April , 2008 Gillian, I will scan these for you and send them to you shortly. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 24 April , 2008 Share Posted 24 April , 2008 By the way, I still don't know why I've been made a Lance-Corporal!! Forum 'rank' is based on the number of posts you have made. As you make more posts, you will be 'promoted' again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 24 April , 2008 Share Posted 24 April , 2008 Gillian, All sent, Racquets, Rugby 1909 1910 & 1911, Hockey 1910 & 1911, Cricket 1909 1910 & 1911. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 24 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 24 April , 2008 All received. Thank you very much for your trouble, Andy. It's late up here in Finland now, so I'll wait till tomorrow to download them. I'll get back to you then. Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian-hunter Posted 28 July , 2009 Share Posted 28 July , 2009 Gillian, I recently wrote a short biography of Ronald Lagden that may hopefully be of interest to you. You can find it online at http://therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk/lagden.html Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 22 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 22 March , 2010 Gillian, I recently wrote a short biography of Ronald Lagden that may hopefully be of interest to you. You can find it online at http://therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk/lagden.html Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillian h Posted 22 March , 2010 Author Share Posted 22 March , 2010 Many thanks, Adrian. I'm sorry I haven't thanked you before but I haven't been to The Great War Forum since last April. Will it be all right if I quote from your article, giving your name, in my family records. They are private and only go to family members. Gillian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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